Praetor Gilgamesh II

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Gilgamesh II is the third recorded ruler of Arumen, and the second since The Hexarchy had its sovereignty over its current home regions recognized by Micras's premier cartography bodies. Born in 1655 AN to a peasant living in the outskirts of what is now Azul'an, he is now known as the current Great Leader by his own people (similarly to his father). After coming to power following the rise and sudden death of his father in the late 1680's AN, he was directly responsible for greatly strengthening his country and ensuring its sovereignty over the diverse people of his country. After the death of his father Praetor Gilgamesh I, he seized power and greatly expanded the office of the Hexarchy, partly by giving up rights to rule over Pyrax, shifting the national capital from Azul'an to Marduk, and splitting off the rule of the province of Arumen from that of the office of Praetor (the moment the Praetor has a second child to pass the office to, should the office remain dynastic in nature).

He was but a small child during his father's ascent to power in 1652, and survived his elder brother Imarru when the latter perished in battle in his early 20s during 1650 AN, while helping their father seize power over what is now Azul'an. (He was posthumously named "Lord of Arumen" after that conquest was complete.) Gilgamesh II played a much more active role in the slow seizure of power executed by his father barely five years after the country's independence was secured in 1685 AN. Shortly after Gilgamesh I's untimely death in battle in 1690 to a truly massive, exotic beast far to the West of the country's modern border, the 35-year-old man was nonetheless prepared to swiftly take up his father's mantle and strengthen the Praetor's power further than it had been before.

As of 1739, the Praetor is 84 years old, and is expected to reign for quite a number of years longer before he is ready to step aside and let his son Sargon take the reigns. Now, he leads a rapidly expanding and modernizing country that shares land and maritime borders with New Alexandria, with every other direction home to uncivilized people, in his own words, "just waiting to be lifted up out of the darkness."

Family

Gilgamesh II has several known sons in adulthood (with rough translations accompanying their names). Below are the ones most prominently featured in the public spotlight. These princes are all either filling an important capacity in the country, or else traveling abroad by orders of their father. Early in his reign, Gilgamesh ordered each of his sons and daughters to travel the world for an extended period of time to learn their ways and wisdom before turning home to positions of leadership. It is expected that this tradition continue far into the future for princes and princesses in the process of initiation. After the Family Name Convention Act 1695 was passed, his children were privately encouraged to take up family surnames upon either reaching the age of majority, marrying, or accepting a permanent post in the government.

Following title convention, Princes and Princesses of the Hexarchy are given a princely title that describes the order of their birth. Crown princes (or princesses) don't exist in the Hexarchy, as the country is nominally an elective monarchy following the events surrounding the Covenant of 1690 that cemented the rules surrounding both the creation and maintenance of the country's upper echelons of nobility into place. Since Prince Imarru is ineligible for the Praetorship (having been given the post of Lord of Arumen), it falls to the others to decide who will eventually become Praetor (and who will become Lord of other provinces with such vacancies).

Praetor Gilgamesh II has seven known sons (of which four are in adulthood) and three daughters (one of which is in adulthood). There are two sets of twins, all being the youngest of the family. Gilgamesh has but one wife (Esharra of Azul'an), with whom he has had six of his children. The rest come from (mutually consenting) pseudo-marital relations due to Esharra's inability to have children in recent years. Per tradition (and, recently, the law), each child enjoys the same rights and status as any other in a household with more than two active (mutually consenting) parents involved. Until recent years, the concept of a legal idea of marriage barely existed until well into the 1670's, when the country was still gearing towards independence.

Prince Imarru

Imarru-Pilagga Gilgamesh-nadinshumi U-Azul'an Arumenlugal

--- Imarru, grandson of Agga, son of Gilgamesh, of Azul'an, and Lord of Arumen

As the eldest surviving son of the Praetor on his ascension to the position, Imarru is now known as the First Prince.

Per the Covenant of 1690, he is the Lord of Arumen since his father's ascension to the Praetorship in 1691. By virtue of this position, he holds a seat on the Council of Six as a nonvoting member. Because of this same title, however, he can never assume the throne due to measures passed some years prior by his father and the Council of Six. He has chosen not to publish an alternative name that follows modernized naming conventions, nor has he chosen to take a surname for himself. Instead, he has decided to pass the concept of surnames to the next generation by creating the House of Arumenezzar (lit: protector of Arumen) to rule the territory from which his name comes from, partly to differentiate himself from his father and grandfather, who never took such steps during their own lifetimes.

Prince Tiglath

Tiglath-Pilagga Gilgamesh-nadinshumi U-Mardukenacheazul’an

(alternate name: Tiglath Gilgamesh-Pilagga U-Mardukenacheazul’an of Arumen)

--- Tiglath, grandson of Agga, son of Gilgamesh, of Marduk (formerly of Azul'an)

--- Second Prince. He is currently the Prime Minister of Transnational Affairs. His main focus is cultivating the country's relationship with New Alexandria, which is a currently a national priority due to its size, strong economy, cultural ties (from prior generations) and proximity to the Hexarchy. Since the passage National Naming Convention Act of 1694, he instead chose not to take up a surname at all, in keeping with cultural traditions, like his elder brother.

Prince Sargon

Sargon-Pilagga Gilgamesh-nadinshumi Azulpolassar U-Arumenanesser

(alternate name: Sargon Gilgamesh-Pilagga Azulpolassar of Arumen)

--- Sargon, grandson of Agga, son of Gilgamesh, protected by Azul, of Arumen (the pre-eminent).

--- Third Prince. Currently traveling in New Alexandria. Graduated from the University of Gondolin in Adrestia in 1690. Currently in graduate school, studying international relations at the Imperial University in Cardenas in Wechua, New Alexandria. He is currently on break from studies to communicate with the public on topics relating to his country's incredibly diverse culture. Unlike his older brothers, he chose to adopt the legal surname "Azulpolassar" for himself, rather than wait for any children of his to pick something entirely different.

Prince Hammurabi

Hammurabi Gilgamesh-Pilagga U-Marduk

--- Hammurabi, (son of) Gilgamesh and grandson of Agga, of Marduk.

--- Fourth Prince. After graduating from the University of Kobol in 1693 as part of its inaugural class after the Hexarchy's independence, he took an alternative route than his elder siblings. Instead of pursuing a career in politics, instead he chose the life of a professional athlete for the FMF. After a brief stint with Pyrax United, he transferred to the Ashtaroth Eagles just in time for their debut in the FMF World Cup qualification as the country's national football team. He plans to use his time as a professional football player to fulfill his requirement for extended international travel, per his father's orders. He holds the surname U-Marduk, a surname that indicates a mark of local royalty that comes from a certain place. However, this indication of nobility is bereft of power, following his decision to leave politics behind.