Coronation of Emperor Nathan III

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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:

Foreign Guest List

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

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.

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 ancester 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.

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