Heavenly Light

The Heavenly Light is the title for the head of state of Jingdao. The Jingdaoese also refer to Her/Him as Emperor. Those who respectively want to refer to Him/Her, talk about She / He Who Is Jingdao.

Since the beginning of the Jingdaoese Diaspora in 5081 ASC, there was no Empire anymore. Sisera, however, still held the position. Even after Her death, when She became a Catologian Goddess, She kept the title. It wasn't until the end of the Diaspora, when king Rollin conquered the six isles in the Antican Sea, that the Jingdaoese had once again a place where they could rule. It was, however, Rollin's successor, Jezza Rasmus, who claimed the Heavenly Throne. The return of Sisera from the Celestial Realm brought back an even more powerful Heavenly Light.

It's commonly believed that the Emperors are reincarnations of the Goddess Sisera or the two Prophets Mordechai or Simon (the two first Emperors). The people see the rule of the Heavenly Light as a blessing, even if She doesn't rule directly but lets the Grand Secretariat act on Her behalf. To quote the government official policy: "Of course, all these stipulations in constitution and lesser laws, are only valid as long as Her Divine Majesty does not object to them".

After the Destruction by the Obedience Machine in 5984 ASC, the Dashi Emperor died and no successor came forward. A provisional government, headed by the Myxosean noble Takano Myksos, announced the (temporary) end of the Heavenly Mandate. Instead, after some debate, a member of the Erasmus Dynasty was appointed as Emperor of the Jingdaoese Empire. It's common belief that Jingdao without a Heavenly Light who's ordained by the Gods of Heaven, is doomed to fail. Therefore, the Heavenly Mandate became an indispensable part of the Jingdaoese political scene.

Imperial style

The imperial style of the Heavenly Lights is:

The (insert name here) Emperor, True Holder of the Heavenly Mandate, Bringer of Harmony, Descendant of Cato and Germania, Living Reincarnation of Sisera, Heavenly Light of the Holy Grand Jingdaoese Empire, Mater / Pater Familias of the Great Jing Dynasty, Caudillo of the Armed Forces of the Empire, Preserver of Aracigrad, King / Queen of the Batavians, Dutch(ess) of Kildare, Prince(ss) of Aryasht, Lord Protector of the River Warriors.

Family

The Imperial Family was made up of the Emperor and His / Her spouse as the primary consort and Mother / Father of the Nation. In addition, the Emperor typically had several other consorts and concubines, ranked by importance into a harem, in which the spouse was supreme. Imperial convention dictated that at any given time there should be one Huang Hou (the Imperial Spouse), one Huang Guifei (the Imperial Noble Consort), two Guifei (Noble Consorts), four fei (Consorts) and six pin (Imperial Concubines), plus an unlimited number of other consorts and concubines.

Although the Emperor had the highest status by law, by tradition and precedent the mother of the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, usually received the greatest respect in the palace when it came to household affairs and was the decision maker in most family affairs. At times, especially when a young emperor was on the throne, she was the de facto ruler. The Emperor's children, the princes and princesses, were often referred to by their order of birth, e.g., Eldest Prince, Third Princess, etc. The princes were often given titles of peerage once they reached adulthood. The Emperor's brothers and uncles served in court by law, and held equal status with other court officials. The Emperor was always elevated above all others despite any chronological or generational superiority.

List of Head of States

Not all Head of States were Emperor. Those receive no number.

South Batavian Era (4521 - 4635 ASC)

Civilis Dynasty

Officially this dynasty didn't deliver a Heavenly Light, but a Grand Duke. However, it paved the way for the creation of the Empire.

Nr	Picture	Regal Name	Name	Reign	Notes
		None	Herman Civilis	4521 ASC - 4635 ASC	Herman was simply a Grand Duke and never claimed the position of Emperor.

First Heavenly Era (4635 ASC - 5081 ASC)

Erasmus Dynasty

Nr	Picture	Regal Name	Name	Reign	Notes
1		Mengjiang Emperor	Mordechai Ben Erasmus	4635 ASC - 4779 ASC	Became the first Heavenly Light and Emperor while the country was not yet independent. He is the ancestor of all Emperors in a direct line.
2		Kaiming Emperor	Simon Ben Erasmus	4779 ASC - 4835 ASC	Declared Jingdao independent and took the title of Heavenly Light. In 52 EGA He took part in the Shanglu Campaign, where he disappeared. His tasks were temporarily taken over by Yuan Windsor.

Yuan Administration

Nr	Picture	Regal Name	Name	Reign	Notes
		Yuan Diwang	Yuan Windsor	4835 ASC - 4877 ASC	Succeeded in a plot to become the Head Regent of Grand Duchess Sisera. He took the title of Diwang.

Erasmus Dynasty

Nr	Picture	Regal Name	Name	Reign	Notes
2		Kaiming Emperor	Simon Ben Erasmus	4852 ASC - 4955 ASC	Disappeared (kidnapped by - according to Imperial Sources - barbarians who had allied themselves with Yuan) in 4835 ASC and returned in 4852 ASC. Together with his daughter, Sisera, he could push Yuan back to the western parts of Jingdao. In 4877 ASC Yuan finally was murdered and the Empire reunited under one banner. Introduced the Imperial Charter of 4913 ASC in which the political system was drastically changed: an elected Imperial Council was introduced; the Diwang became a symbolic prime minister and the Secret Council became the official second chamber. At the end of his reign, the Kaiming Emperor had to fight off the Baishens, which drove him crazy. The ancient capital, Zijincheng, was burned to the ground and Sisera had to go in hiding. Between his death and the ascension of the Zanding Emperor to the Throne, the Empire was ruled by Magister Miguel Windsor of the Church.
			Regency Council	4955 ASC - 4961 ASC	The Magister of the Church acted as Regent as long as no Emperor was placed on the Throne.
3		Zanding Emperor	Jacob Ben Erasmus	4961 ASC - 4987 ASC	The Zanding Emperor was appointed the new Heavenly Light by Decree of the Church at the beginning of 4961 ASC, but the coronation only followed at the end of the year in the new capital, Zhongjing. The Zanding Emperor disappeared (according to gossips murdered by Sisera bat Erasmus), possibly because he didn't have any real Erasmi blood but was married into the family.
4		Ci Emperor (Ci Empress)	Sisera Bat Erasmus	4987 ASC - 5081 ASC	The Ci Emperor was the first female monarch of the Empire. Because the title always was male, they decided to keep it that way. It's unlikely to ever hear anyone speak about the Empress. She was the first High Priestess of the Cult of Germania. This would, in contrast to her father, have given her the spiritual power to beat off the dangerous influences of the Baishens (the Kaiming Emperor was driven to madness at the end of his reign). In 5081 ASC she was forced to destroy large parts of her Empire to fight evil spirits who threatened the world. This was followed by the Jingdaoese Diaspora.

Diaspora (5081 ASC - 5165 ASC)

The Jingdaoese still see Sisera Bat Erasmus as their ruling Heavenly Light, even while in exile throughout the world. Even after her death, when she becomes a goddess, the people believe that she still holds the title. This only changes when, in the Second Heavenly Era, Jezza Rasmus receives the title of the Gods.

Second Heavenly Era (5165 ASC - 5555 ASC)

The Second Heavenly Era is the revival of Jingdaoese society after the Diaspora.

Mor'Ler Dynasty

Nr	Picture	Regal Name	Name	Reign	Notes
		Rollin the Conqueror	Rollin Mor'Ler	5165 ASC - 5188 ASC	Landed on the coasts of Urndel and married into the House of Mor'Ler, establishing the base for future conquests of the islands. He never claimed the Heavenly Throne but paved the way. His son, Magister and Crown Prince Pius, was murdered. Rollins bastard son, Andreas Wijsneus, helped Jezza Rasmus on the Heavenly Throne.

Erasmus Dynasty

Nr	Picture	Regal Name	Name	Reign	Notes
5		Duchang Emperor	Jezza Rasmus (Jezza Erasmus)	5188 ASC - 5216 ASC	Took the Throne with support of Rollins bastard son, Andreas Wijsneus. He thanks his regal name to his dubious past as owner of casinos in Ishrua ('Duchang' means 'casino'). The Emperor stepped down voluntarily when Sisera Bat Erasmus returned from the Celestial Realm in 5216 ASC. It was revealed after his reign that Jezza actually belonged to the Erasmus Dynasty, but had kept this silent to avoid conflict for once Sisera would return.
6		Tianhou Emperor (Tianhou Empress)	Sisera Bat Erasmus	5216 ASC - 5223 ASC	During the Purity Ceremony of 5216 ASC, the Catologian Goddess Sisera came to Micras and took back the Heavenly Throne as Hers. The Duchang Emperor showed himself loyal and became Her Field Marshal of the Tegong. In 5223 ASC the message was spread that the Empress-Goddess had disappeared and probably had returned to the Celestial Realm. The Heavenly Palace announced that her last wish was that the Duchang Emperor would retake the Throne and rule as Her Clearest Reflection.
5		Duchang Emperor	Jezza Rasmus (Jezza Erasmus)	5223 ASC - 5273 ASC	Retook the Throne after the Thianhou Emperor ascended once more to the Celestial World.
7		Jinken Emperor	Hirohito	5273 ASC - 5326 ASC	Limited the Ministry of Purity's discretionary powers to perform roadside executions to persons, as defined by the Law on the Protection of Human life, who do not have Xing- or Jingstatus. His name refers to this (Jinken means 'human rights'). Forbade the Jingdaoese people to pray or offer to any God but His Divine Majesty himself, it also introduced the Jingdaoese national morning prayer. Abolished decrees from the period of Jingdaoese occupation of Batavia and declares Jingdao to be neutral with regards to the Batavian issue.
8		Feixing Emperor	Sisera II	5326 ASC - 5327 ASC	Died while giving birth to Mordechai II. Famous for flying everywhere with the Sisera One, Her private jet. It earned Her the name Feixing (Flying) Emperor.
			Regency Council	5327 ASC - 5333 ASC
9		Yuandi Emperor	Mordechai II	5333 ASC - 5489 ASC	Called the Yuandi (Garden) Emperor because of His love for nature. He transformed the Empire in His own little backyard.
10		Goburin Emperor Erlkönig	Simon II	5489 ASC - 5719 ASC	Gave up all territories of the empire, retreated to a submarine base on Leng [1]. Due to the effects of the cold and radiation, he and his crew turned into goblins.

Third Heavenly Era (5719 ASC - present)

The Third Heavenly Era is the third revival of Jingdaoese society after the Second Diaspora.

Nr	Picture	Regal Name	Name	Reign	Notes
11		Haigui Emperor	Sisera III Haigui	5719 ASC - 5855 ASC	Led Jingdao during its largest annexation: integrating large pieces of Central Apollonia and the Apollonian Republic. Her rule saw the mass celebrations of 1,000 Years Independent Jingdao, which was an important and popular event that was celebrated in all corners (even the newly annexed) of the Empire and strengthened national unity.
12		Dashi Emperor	Mordechai III Dashi	5855 ASC - 5984 ASC	Killed by the nuclear blast which destroyed large parts of Epoli (other nuclear detonations happened in other large Jingdaoese cities).
			Provisional Government	5984 ASC - 5989 ASC	Composed of several representatives of the more influential provinces from the Jingdaoese Empire [2]. Headed by Takano Myksos.
13		Zettai Emperor	Gradus	5989 ASC - 6080 ASC	Appointed by the Provisional Government as Emperor, and not as Heavenly Light. Soon after ascending on the Throne, he pushed through reactionary proposals - with support of the Nationalists - which limited the liberal freedoms which had been guaranteed by earlier constitutional proposals (effectively starting the Minshu Period). His actions concerning pushing for a more absolute monarchy, earned him the posthumous title 'Zettai' (meaning 'absolute').
14		Kattei Emperor	Heinrich	6080 ASC - 6137 ASC	Heir to the throne of Großwalstadt and to the houses of Erasmus, Blutwasser and Ayreon-Kalirion. Kattei is Jingdaoese for 'Reborn', referring to the Emperor's position as Heavenly Light after it had gotten in disuse.
15		Danya Emperor	Simon	6137 ASC - 6243 ASC (6171 ASC)	Danya is Jingdaoese for 'Simple and elegant' Disappeared during his campaign in the Northern Territories against the mutant slaves in 6171 ASC.
16		Sheng Emperor		6243 ASC - 6407 ASC	Sheng is Jingdaoese for 'to win'. Started a campaign against the traitorous Jexit Kingdom which had occupied most of the country. Ended the liberalised Minshu Period. Start of the Sheng Restoration.
16		Mingshi Emperor		6407 ASC - 6457 ASC	Came to power with help of Jung Shun, who was promoted to Diwang, following the Jingdaoese Spring. Voluntarily took up a more ceremonial role and went to meditate overseas, where He was influenced by Shirerithian spies who were dressed as Ergonian beggars. Declared war upon Shireroth and its allies on 6448 ASC. Military failures led to His unfortunate "accident" by tripping on a banana and falling through an open window. This happened on the same day that His Diwang, who He had ordered to be purged (and who in turn had ordered the arrest of the Heavenly Light), died at the hand of poison.
16	File:Huihang Emperor.png	Huihang Emperor		6457 ASC - recent	Proclaimed that the absolute power of the Heavenly Light had to be curved in favour of a more democratic legislature. He convinced more conservative members of the administration that the Emperor would remain an overseer, with veto privileges.