Coronation of Emperor Nathan III

The coronation of Emperor Nathan III took place in the afternoon of 18 Konil, 1704 (18.XII.1704), the same day that Nathan II abdicated in the morning. The ceremony was held in the Cathedral-Basilica of the Sacred Calf (The Ruined Cathedral) in Lindstrom following a procession through downtown and celebrations throughout the day.

Preparations

Planning for the coronation ceremony began after Nathan II's 59th birthday on 18 Konil, 1703, when he announced to the nation his intent to abdicate in one year, on his 60th birthday, to allow for his young son to provide a stable reign for decades more. The Imperial Court of Natopia began planning the event by appointing the Chief Herald, the Captain of the Satyric Guard, and a representative from the House of Waffel-Paine to serve on the Coronation Committee. It was decided early on that an abdication ceremony would take place in the morning to honor and celebrate Nathan II's years on the throne and then Nathan III's coronation would happen in the afternoon. The committee established an initial budget of ₦30,000,000 for both ceremonies.

Coronation Committee

Claire De Fond was selected to chair the committee. As Chief Herald of Natopia she was responsible for protocol and designing the new coats of arms to be used by Nathan III's consorts. As was customary for each reigning emperor, the herald chose a personal crest to add to the Heraldic Achievement for the duration of their reign. A clenched fist, to represent power and authority, was chosen for Nathan III. Alexandros Epsilon, Captain of the Satyric Guard, served as vice-chair, and was responsible for logistics and security. The Satyrs were the personal guard to the Emperor and, by special decree, protection had been extended to Nathan III and his spouses during this transition period as well. Makhmud Kalimatov was appointed to serve as the House of Waffel-Paine's representative and liaison. As the future Emperor-consort, Kalimatov is prepared to participate in many ceremonies and head of state duties. Nathan III suggested Kalimatov serve on the committee so he may have a period of time to adjust to the expectations of his new public life. Also appointed to serve on the committee was Sigismund Sturm, Director of the Capital City Services Administration, Lindstrom's mayoral position. The Metrobosarch of Tapfer, Vadoma Rowena Waffel-Paine, was appointed to the committee as Pentheral Liaison, as the Pentheros of the Dozan Bovic Church is required by the constitution to officiate the coronation. Andrej Mika, Court of the Calm Waters' Assistant Secretary of Political Affairs was appointed to select the guest list of foreign heads of state and government.

Guest List

Domestic Guest List

A list of guests representing the imperial institutions and demesnes of the Bovic Empire:

•  Arboria
  •  Esmeralda al-Osman, Basileusa and Autokrateira of the Imperial State of Constancia, Princess of Arboria, accompanied by her heiress, Princess Rosamund of Arboria, Duchess of Mar Sara
  •  Augustus Mirkdale, Duke of Cape Isabella, Vicegerent of the Principality of Arboria
  •  Carl Taylor-Citron, Duke of Isabellatun, CEO of Transegale Trading Company
•  Whales
  •  Daniyal ibn Daniyal, Prince, accompanied by paired maidens and youths from each lordship of his demesne, bringing as tribute a gift of the preserved body of a kraken, presented in a gilded silver and gold glass case, and four-hundred narwhal tusks;
•  Flaventia
  •  Clara Sundara, Princess of Natopia, Duchess of Hazelwood, Mankari of Tassity; accompanied by husband Cledwyn Starshade, High Druid of the Hazel
  •  Eiiard Darkroot, President of the Congress of the Lands
  •  Llyr Angus-Moonoak, Duke of Haven
  •  Gwyn Moonoak, Lord Lieutenant of Nova Alrodria
• Waffel Plains and SATCo
  • Bernard Kayyk, Governor of the Board of Coordinators
• Dingo Enterprises
  • Reimund Mathias Rosenberger, Executive Director
•  Athlon and the Dozan Bovic Church
  •  Vadoma Rowena Waffel-Paine, Metrobosarch of Tapfer
  •  Takahashi Shu, Metrobosarch of Cibola
  •  Nathaniel Joellion, Metrobosarch of Benacia
  •  Geraldo Mancilla, Metrobosarch of Apollonia
•  Dos Gardenias
  •  Janus Eadric Sr, Prince of Dos Gardenias and Neridia;
  •  Maria Meir, Countess of Frenzyville and Regent of Natopia;
  •  Francis Joseph IV, Titular Emperor of Alexandria.

Foreign Guest List

A list of foreign heads of state, heads of government, and other invited guests:

•  Benacian Union:
  •  Jeremiah Avon-El, Frumst Frainan (retired), Head of Legation in Lindstrom, accompanied by first consort, Johanna Zebulonsdottar;
•  Constancia:
  •  Giakoumis, Basileus of the Imperial State of Constancia, accompanied by his son, Prince Iñigo of Molivadia, Mesazon and Minister of Defense of the Imperial State of Constancia and Lord of Delfinenstrand.
  •  Olympia, Sovereign Emeritus and Princess of Nivardom
  •  Dāryuš Shah, Khan of Raspur
  •  Azardokht al-Osman, Khanzada and Grand Vizier of the Raspur Khanate
  •  Sarah Dravot-Osman, Imperial Senator
•  Shireroth:
  •  Kaiseress Salome, stepsister to the new Emperor
•  Nouvelle Alexandrie
  •  Manco Cápac I, King of Nouvelle Alexandrie;
  •  Alexandra, Queen of Nouvelle Alexandrie;
  •  Titu, Prince of Rimarima.
• Floria
• Ransenar
•  Sanama:
  •  Anyala Puniso, co-chairperson of the Foreign Relations Committee
• Senya
• Craitland
•  Hurmu:
  •  Li Naomiai, Presiding Officer of the Senate of the Lakes, Chancellor of the Order of the Holy Lakes, and former Empress Consort of Natopia, accompanied by her husband Prince Zahir al Din.
• Jääland
• Lac Glacei
•  Mondosphere
  • Ichirō, Viscount Audon of Varmland, and Yukiji, Dowager Viscountess Audon of Varmland, Regent of Varmland
• Mercury
• Sankt Ludwigshafen
•  Highpass:
  •  Oze IV and Dina, Count and Countess of Highpass
•  Suren:
  •  Mitradokht of Suren, Shahbanu of the Suren, accompanied by her husband and Astabadh, Kalkul Sahib;
•  Normark
  •  Tarjei Thorgilsson, King of Normark, accompanied by the Crown Prince Fredrik and his consort, Elsje.
  • Nathaniel Karrot, Metrobosarch of Elijah's Rest
•  Zeed
  •  Jost Grobba, High Representative of Trans-Euran Command, Raspur Pact, and Supreme Plenipotentiary for Zeed
  •  Siavash Shereen Hashemi, Minister for External Relations
  •  Daniel Hosiahrion, Minister for International Trade
  •  Syeda Sharif Malik, Minister for Heritage Conservation and Cultural Preservation
• Tellia
•  Ralgon
  •  Shizuo Ral, Crown Prince of the Holy Ralgon Empire

Abdication of Nathan II

The abdication service was conducted in the morning of 18.XII.1704 at Vista de Nada Palace. The legal act of abdication took place during a session of the Imperial Council of Natopia. The session began with Nathan II giving a televised address while seated on the throne:

"Beloved people of the Natopian Nation, I sit before you this morning as your emperor, and this afternoon I shall be standing among you as a citizen. I am grateful for the decades of service I was able to give you, through tough times and high points. I inherited the throne as a young boy, surrounded by tragedy as a struggled to come to terms with the death of my sainted mother, Empress Asara. The ripples of her traumatic death echo to this day, it weighs on me . However, it forced me to raise my children to be ready for their future. Nathan-Luix will be a greater ruler than any previous Natopian ruler. His education and experience has directed him to no other goal than to sit on this throne. He is physically strong, bolstered with the resilient genetics of the Athlonic satyrs. He is mentally sharp, educated in the finest universities of our nation. He cannot be coerced by foreign fiends, he is married to a Natopian. Today is my 60th birthday, and while I feel alert, youthful, and sharp how can I guarantee that in five or ten more years? Leading this nation is a cherished and sacred duty, ordained by Bous themself."

During the session he signed the formal abdication papers in the presence of the Chancellor of Natopia, Ministers, and Secretaries. The Emperor also inducted all members of the Imperial Council into the Order of the Black Hole. The Chancellor then read a list of accomplishments and accolades, formally thanked him for his service, and presented the Emperor-emeritus with the Gold Cross of Sovereignty, the highest Natopian honor. Fireworks were set off in Lindstrom Square as a choir sang the Imperial Hymn, How Mighty is Bous Our God.

Procession

A procession route was determined through Old Town that would begin at Empire Ave and Lindstrom Blvd. Temporary festival structures celebrating the new Emperor would be erected in Lindstrom Square and along the parade route. The procession would travel southeast down Lindstrom Blvd to Davis Memorial Mall, circling the Fountain of the Waters before proceeding down Davis St towards Tapfer St and finally ending at the front steps of the Ruined Cathedral, which also faces Lindstrom Square.

Lindstrom Square was the site of several temporary installations that were erected to represent qualities and aspirations for the new Emperor. A thirty-foot papier-mache sculpture of Nathan III, fist raised to the sky holding the Sword of Sovereignty evoked strength and decisiveness. A seated sculpture of the Emperor, in a thought-provoking pose wearing the Imperial Crown, hoped for Nathan to rule with measured reason.

The Fountain of the Waters

Nathan and his spouses were escorted along the parade with elements from each division of the Natopian Defense Force on a modified Matador hovertank with the command turret replaced with a throne daïs enclosed in transparent aluminum.

In Davis Memorial Mall, additional sculptures were added to the Fountain of the Waters to represent other important bodies of water in the empire. Sculptures of Bora'Dera and Egalie, the personifications of Borders Day and the Egale River, were joined by an eagle to represent the Jasonian Sea that Natopia nearly surrounds, a whale to represent the Antarctic coastlines governed by the empire on Cibola and Tapfer, a stag to represent the Arborian estuary of Bruges Bay, and a woman half-emerging from the fountain basin to represent the Gaeos Strait between Neridia and Tapfer.

Triumphal arches were erected at the intersections of Lindstrom Blvd and Haas Ave and Empire St and Tapfer St. The Haas Avenue Arch represented the emperor's Flaventian origins, with emblems and symbols representing the four Lands of Ziegeland, Tas Neemia, Nova Alrodria, and Sororiya. Along the top was a bas-relief frieze showing the unbroken lineage of Nathan III, to Nathan II, Asara, Naian, Nathan Waffel-Paine, Jaynae Waffel, Mona Von'Fel, Zava Sin'Felo, and finally Ephrion Sin'Felo, the ancient and semi-mythical elf progenitor of the Waffel-Paine dynasty. Images of Saint Taznim the Dhury, Kaiser Loki I, and Guinevere Moonoak demonstrated Nathan III's ancient bloodlines and connections to the empire and Micras.

The second arch at Empire and Tapfer streets, was erected by the Church as a gate. The arch had massive doors that were closed until the procession reached it. The doors contained scenes detailing saga leading up to the Miracle at Cape Newport. The Pentheros stood at the gate and asked the new Emperor, "Nathan Luix Elijah Waffel-Paine, would you give your life, your body, your soul to save this eternal empire we call Natopia?" Nathan stood up and spoke to the crowd, "Like the body of my ancestor and first of the name I bear, I am like butter. To be spread and used for the benefit of my citizens. I pledge it, to the people of Natopia, to Bous, and to your Holiness," and bowed to the Pentheros. The Pentheros nodded, and the gates slowly swung open for the procession to end at the steps of the Ruined Cathedral for the coronation.

Coronation

The Cathedral-Basilica of the Sacred Calf, "The Ruined Cathedral"

The processional hovertank stopped in front of the Ruined Cathedral, still ablaze over 100 years after the Butter Bull destroyed it during his reign of pragmatic terror. The Emperor and his spouses had been seated on the dais on the hovertank and now disembarked. They were all wearing the unisex uniform of the Imperial Court. Attendants attached the imperial robe to the Emperor's shoulders as he prepared to walk up the stairs to the cathedral, his husband Duke Makhmud escorted him, and his wives Duchess Christina and Duchess Sophia, walked side by side behind.

The Pentheros was waiting at the door, "Come in to the stable of Bous, my calf. Fear not the fires of His passion. Trust in Bous that he shall not harm his calf, and trust in the Church, that I shall not lead you to harm. Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and wane, But the church of Bous, Constant will remain!" Nathan bowed again and nodded, following the Pentheros through the door into the inferno inside the church. The church was filled with guests on each side of the aisle. The imperial family continued their procession towards the nave, where a single large throne was raised several levels above and behind three smaller thrones to represent the role of the Imperial Consorts to form a barrier between the Emperor and the world. The spouses sat in their thrones and the Emperor sat in his. The Pentheros stood next to the Emperor and spoke.

"It is a holy and divine sight, to see a Quadratic Marriage walk down this aisle to assume leadership over the family of nations constitutes the Bovic Empire. Pentheral blessings on quadratic marriages are rare and reserved for only the strongest bonds, when the very essence of four people merge to represent Bous on Micras. That is why we are coronating the emperor and his spouses together, to represent that a new era of divine leadership is dawning over this eternal empire. The four members of this new Imperial Family will not be bound to represent one facet of Bous, people are not gods, and evolve and change from day to day. I pray, however, that the Imperial Family finds balance and solace within itself, as Bous balances himself, and that the Emperor knows when to call down the wrath of the Bull, invoke the tenderness of the Cow, rely on the wisdom of the Man, and to see beyond like the Spirit."

The Pentheros then proceeded to perform communion rites on the imperial family, offering a pat of butter and sip of milk. "Allow the butter to melt on your tongue, and remember the sacrifices of the Bull and the Man. Allow the milk to soothe and nourish you like the Spirit and the Cow."

"People of Natopia, today we crown the eighth person to be known as Emperor of these lands and people. I remind you all of the Revelation to Pentheros Neoptolemus, given to him as the Nation was achieving its rightful destiny: unifying Tapfer once and for all. Bous commanded Neoptolemus to restore the title of Emperor, which had been disused for a generation prior. Bous chose Nathaniel Ayreon-Kalirion as his divinely adopted and anointed blood will bind the Dominion together for eternity. He will lead us in ways that the church and the government cannot. He will speak for the people, he will be their beloved prince. Since that time, 94 years ago, we have looked to the Emperor to provide a steady constancy. It is why we entrust the occupant of this throne with matters of national defense and diplomacy. This occupant, has been designed and raised since birth to be the ideal Emperor. His genes are fused with our national animal, his and his 3 siblings' births were celebrated as miracles, he is a Progeny of the Once-Living God, the son of saints: A Living Symbol of Unity."

Three attendants walked up to the pentheros with the imperial jewels on velvet cushions. The pentheros first picked up the Fleur-de-Natopi Scepter, on a purple cushion. "The legislative power of the Emperor, shall he use it sparingly and with great reserve," he bowed and handed the scepter to the Emperor, who held it in his left hand. Then the pentheros picked up the Sword of Sovereignty, "The sword of Nett Opaegh, it is power of the Emperor to execute justice and unite our people," the emperor nodded and held the sword in his right hand. Finally, the pentheros held the Imperial Crown above the Emperor's head, "This crown, first worn by your ancestor Nathan I, is the power of the Emperor to rule. I now ask you to repeat after me, as required by the Constitution of the Bovic Empire of the Natopian Nation, to swear this oath, in the presence of me, your family, the nation, the world, and Bous almighty:"

"I, Nathan Luix Elijah Waffel-Paine & Drak, do hereby swear to Bous to maintain, expand, and protect the Natopian Nation and the Dozan Bovic Church."

As soon as the oath was sworn, the Pentheros lowered the crown on the Emperor's head, his satyric horns poking out the front, and proclaimed, "Bous bless His Most Bovic Majesty, Nathan, Third of the holiest of Names, Emperor of the Natopians! Bous bless the Natopian Nation under him!"

The consorts were then crowned, simultaneously, by the Metrobosarchs of Tapfer, Cibola, and Apollonia with consort crowns, "Bous bless His Most Bovic Majesty, Makhmud, Emperor-Consort of the Natopians; Their Most Bovic Majesty, Christina, Imperial Consort of the Natopians; and Her Most Bovic Majesty, Sophia, Empress-Consort of the Natopians!"

The consorts stood up and walked, side by side, down the aisle, followed by the Emperor, leaving the Pentheros standing by the throne.

The ceremony was completed and the coronated Imperial Family returned to Vista de Nada Palace along the same processional route to cheering citizens, fireworks that night, and a Coronation Ball at the palace.

Coronation Ball

As always, a buffet of extravagant varieties of bagels, juice, shrimp cocktails, and dairy-based dishes was provided while guests mingled and danced until the next morning.

International response

•  Batavia: In a letter, the King wrote to the new Emperor: "May I congratulate you on your coronation. In doing so, I express my hope for the restoration of diplomatic relations between our countries."