Titan of State: Official Biography of the 29th Imperial Archancellor, Princeps Minuvas Melphestaus

[Minuvas 2965]

OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY  of the

 XXIX IMPERIAL ARCHCHANCELLOR 

PRINCEPS MINUVAS MELPHESTAUS

From the Remnant Imperial Archives

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I Foreword

II Young Citizen - Helena

III Early Political Life - From Scribe to Council of State

IV Late Political Life -Imperial Princedom

V Notable Events: Imperial Princedom
 

 

 

I FOREWORD

 

With notable exception during the 8th Empire the power and management of the Imperial realm of Oren had shifted decisively from the nobility to the great bureaucracy of the State. The pinnacle leaders of this institution were the Imperial Archchancellors, cunning figures who managed to climb the Imperial ladder of power to receive appointment by the Imperial Crown. Among one of the more beloved, and controversial, of these Archchancellors was the Empire's first and only Elven Archancellor - Minuvas Melphestaus.  

 

The Empire has had many titans of state, the great Simon Basrid comes to mind among historians, yet Minuvas and his legacy should count him among one of the giants of its history. Every human Government today that traces its lineage from the Empire follows the conservative organization of the execution of the state as directed by Archchancellor Melphestaus in similar fashion: lean, effective and a combination of career government employees and pressed peers. The purging from human governments of title holders occupying positions of significance for the sake of their own self-importance is a direct result of the Archchancellor's radical change in the management of the Imperial State. Further, it is all but unthinkable today to imagine the wide scale racism against Elves in human realms that existed in the time of Minuvas’ childhood. A direct result of his efforts to end long standing legal and cultural racism against elves.

As Imperial scribe to the Melphestaus House and his Chancellery, I had the distinct opportunity to shadow the Archchancellor throughout his entire political career - until he dismissed me from his personal service upon assumption of his title of the Princeps of Ebonwood. Having not received contact from Minuvas in nearly a century, as keeper of these archives, I see it my responsibility to continue to protect and promote his legacy from the turbulence of the collapse of the 8th Empire.

What follows is my account of the last Titan of the 8th Empire - the 29th Archchancellor of the Holy Orenian Empire, His Imperial Excellence, Imperial Princeps of Ebonwood Minuvas Melphestaus.

 

I YOUNG CITIZEN

House Melphestaus Family Crest

Born in the city of Helena to Elven Imperial Patriots Maelgar and Ilira Melphestaus with brothers Thucydides and Hieran,  Minuvas could trace his family’s involvement with the Empire as early as the Johannian era under the reign of Emperor Philip the First. His Father, Maelgar, was a brilliant Elf who was rumored to have worked on the Thanium Bomb in Johannesburg. The family were devout Canonists, and it is no surprise that House Melphestaus would produce no less than Two Holy Knights and a Priest of the Canonist Church as well as the construction of the shrine of St. Pius of Sutica during Minuvas’ stewardship of the house. Maelgar worked quietly as a legal clerk and private scribe for generations of Imperials, maintaining a middling patrician lifestyle. Yet, it was rarely a life of peace and quiet for House Melphestaus.

The High Elves of Hael’unor had pursued the family relentlessly, trying to capture High Elves outside of their borders to be tried for impurity - House Melphestaus, who had adopted many human customs and traditions, were a frequent target of raids. Simultaneously, Elves lacked equal rights in the Empire - good enough to fight in their armies, but still the subject of wide scale discrimination in business and politics.  This duality would haunt the Melphestaus family well into Minuvas’ adulthood, where he often struggled against petty and jealous men and zealous high elves alike - at the highest levels of government.

What allowed him to arise above such struggles was rugged determination. An Early letter, written in a pigeon dialect of Elven colloquially called ‘Imperial Elven’ Minuvas would write to his mother of a parade hosted by Emperor Peter III among the streets of Helena (Translation provided in brackets)

“Halter [Mother],

  Itae [I] have seen the Daecus’Lyte [Emperor] ride, we are destined to rule the continent - Itae will be apart of it.
                                  -M”

When the demons began to savage the continent under Ibleese, there was another figure known to have inspired the young elf. Dame Viktoriya DeNurem, whom had held the demons at bay as they fled to the continent of Almaris. He was proud to have [redacted by Imperial Censors]

Destitute from the Ibleesian destruction, Minuvas mother was killed in the evasion - sending his father into a depression. He not only ejected his 18 year old Elven son into the unforgiving Empire, Minuvas was left to lead House Melphestaus with the aide of his brother and nothing else.
 

 

III EARLY POLITICAL LIFE

When Minuvas was released into the Empire proper in Providence, his ambitions were limitless. He put in desperate hours trying to find work, until he was eventually hired as the Comital Scribe to Dobrov  as a member of the Countess Dobrov’s court.

The Countess paid him handsomely for collecting written works as well as writing his own. During his time as a Committal scribe he would produce no less than 15 written political works, writing on a variety of subjects that had gained audiences globally. His works became renowned amongst Imperial circles, and it was from here that he earned a degree from the Imperial University. His book, ‘The Imperial Primer on Citizenship’, although one of his least dense topics gained such popularity that he was asked to serve as a tutor for numerous Novellen children and other Orenian noble houses. This propelled him into social circles that gave him chance encounters with two important figures in his political career.

 

First, was his run in with Henry Penton. A miserly statist and later Archchancellor in his own time - Henry first met Minuvas during business negotiations to publish the Elf’sworks. Henry refused to publish Minuvas’ books, as the Elf’s writing was Monarchist centric - and it would become known much later in Henry’s career his absolute disdain for the peerage. This sparked a small rivalry between them that bordered on respect and acrimony.

Yet far more important, was the patronage of the Princess Imperial, Princess Josephine (Augusta) Novellen. This would be the most consequential relationship Minuvas would have in the first century of his life. 

 

A beloved daughter of the Imperial Household, the professional and scholarly princess had taken an instant liking of the work of the Elf - and more importantly, looked beyond his racial upbringing. In an act that would set the course for the remainder of his political career, she immediately brought him into the Ministry of Civil Affairs and put him to work. In her spare time, she provided him with a world class education fit for the Imperial Household - herself the author of the Imperial Epochs.
 

Civil Affairs - In Books there is Freedom

Arriving in a Ministry bloated with Imperial Nobles who had sent their incompetent sons and daughters to linger within the ministry, Minuvas was surrounded by many people of noble birth with little ambition. Having gained the trust of the Princess through his recruiting efforts, Minuvas was placed in charge of the immigration ministry. This initial impression of Imperial Government would remain within through his entire career - despising largesse and bloat at every new level of Government he was promoted to.

Within a year, the Elf was managing over 300 arrivals to the Empire on an annual basis - this effort immediately gained the attention of the powerful Imperial Council of State and for the first time in many years the Ministry of Civil Affairs began to receive significant national funds.

In lightning speed, Minuvas was then named the Vice Director of the Ministry. Providing detailed census, election and immigration data to the Council of State on a frequent basis.  The Princess Imperial was free to deal with business in the Imperial Household and the Council of State exclusively, allowing Minuvas to significantly expand the ministry's operations. Under his leadership, Minuvas reinvigorated the Petrine Laurel,  oversaw the production of one of the most successful newspapers of Almaris - The Providence Post,  engagement in large scale immigration efforts that brought hundreds of individuals to the Empire, and managed elections across the entire breadth of the Empire. This experience allowed him to come to know the many citizens to which he would one day lead. Under the continued tutelage of Princess Josephine Augusta, Minuvas learned the inner workings of Imperial government and how to navigate its many layers.

The Elf seemed unstoppable and his rise began to become meteoric. The Emperor, John II, had asked Minuvas to serve in the House of Commons. At this time it was unusual that such a senior member of the Government would also serve within the House of Commons, and this would only be one of the first of many unusual assignments for the Elf. His most consequential action while in the house was to call the Solicitor-General of the Ministry of Justice to a trial of Impeachment. Even the War Department had hired Minuvas on where he served as a Secretary to the Minister of War.

It was no surprise then, when Princess Josephine had been named as Vice-Chancellor, that Minuvas was named as Director of her Ministry to succeed her.

The death knell Minuvas made to the lethargy of nobility that was left in the ministry was immediate, the final purge within the ministry of an Empire that had a bloating of Imperial nobles. Many cousins, nephews and nieces found themselves without Government titles overnight - and now as a signet wearing member of the Council of State, these nobles relented. Civil Affairs had become the best functioning and most well disciplined organization save the War Department.

 

 

The Vice-Chancellery 

The alchemical accident of Archchancellor DeNurem had placed Princess Josephine suddenly as the leader of the Imperial Government and perhaps truly, the real face of the Empire. Emperor Philip II was already known as a weak leader, and many looked to the Princess Imperial as a true successor to the crown - though her brother had the legal claim to the throne. The Princess Imperial choose none other than Minuvas - the very first Elf to ever serve as her second, as Vice-Chancellor of the Empire. Ever speech, every address, every act of the Archchancellor found Minuvas carefully choreographing and aligning the Imperial State in her support - to which outsiders would never know it was the discipline of Minuvas whipping the state into shape.

He would not let such a position be passed up. As Vice-Chancellor, Minuvas used his new position to found the Imperial city of Ephesius and from whose population would eventually join the Princedom of Ebonwood. This became a refuge for Elves living in Human lands fleeing both Elven and Human oppression and it became a home to many hundreds of Elves in its time.  The discipline he brought to the Directorate would follow him as Vice-Chancellor, providing direct and immediate guidance to the Government in which he often led from the shadows. Every member of the Council of State suddenly found themselves in his office, justifying every expenditure and employee of their Ministries- with efficiency as his goal.

He quickly assessed a terribly dark secret of the Empire. It had grown weak, and its patriotism faltering. He had not known it then, but this apathetic behavior was from a scheme brewing in the shadows that would shake humanity in the coming decades.

 

Early into the Crestfall Chancellery, the collapse of Ando-Alur plagued the shores of Orenia and Minuvas directed the ISA to conduct a survey of the problem. General Erik Ruthern of the Imperial State Army was known to have butted heads with Minuvas numerous times in this period. As an active Vice-Chancellor involved in Government, Minuvas was no stranger to taking to horseback and accompanying military expeditions, prioritizing resources, and speaking directly with Imperial military officers. This was met with initial hostility, as the ISA had grown accustomed to decades of Imperial Nobility serving in such positions who preferred a more uninvolved stance  - and were surprised by the direct leadership of the Vice-Chancellor.

 

Concurrently, his brother Thucydides was named as the first elven President of the Imperial Diet and his other brother Hieran named as a Captain in the ISA. Melphestaus’ sat in important positions across the entire Empire, and using this newfound authority - they enacted legislation of equality, eliminated discrimination in many corners.

As Vice-Chancellor Minuvas favored a lean but effective bureaucratic estate. One in which he felt the rule of Law governed the land, and that the Nobility had a burden and obligation to work for the state - not the other way around. This conservatively lean and detailed bureaucracy was not beloved by all, however. His efforts earned further accolades, being appointed to the Society of St. Adrian.

Early into the assignment as Vice-Chancellor he was tasked personally by the Emperor to reform the entire law code of the Empire, this time would serve as the most progressive and performative years of Minuvas life. The Novellens would have other plans for the Empire.

 

IV LATE POLITICAL LIFE

 

 

Novellens - From Great to Gaunt
No crisis seemed more dire than the return of the grandson of Emperor Philip II, who had returned from his exodus and aligned himself with the hostile Kingdom of Savoy. Countering this threat became the primary focus of the Council of State - a task in which Princess Augusta ‘Lion of Orenia’ admirably led the chancellery, but from which Emperor Philip II showed weakness and trepidation.

After a conflict on the Orenia border, in which Minuvas’ niece was threatened to have her ears cut off by an Ireheart Dwarf, war was pressed upon the Dwarven Kingdom of Urguan. The two events did not coincide well. As his niece was a Princess of a Dark Elf Princedom within Urguan and the emerging threat of a challenger to Philip II’s throne had become realized, and creeping voidal poisoning ravaging the farmland estates of Oren- Vice-Chancellor Minuvas found himself beset by conflict all about him. Foreign governments longed to see a weakened Empire.

Haense had worked tirelessly to subvert the Empire, and during this time had managed to subsume cultural control of the Church of Canon. Asserting its influence,Haense had kept the Church of Canon from siding with the Fidei Defensor, Orenia, in the conflict with the Dwarves - which would later allow Haense to join the conflict under veiled pretenses.  To this day, Minuvas credits the skilled political maneuvering of the Haense Crown who took advantage of the distracted Emperor Philip II and Archchancellor Augusta - who had become focused on the threat from his grandson to the throne.

Opportunity and tragedy struck in quick succession. The Crown dispatched Minuvas on a Military expedition to the Urguan front and while observing the defensive positions of the Dwarfs - Minuvas had received a missive from the capital that the grandson of Emperor Philip II, now stylizing himself as Emperor Philip III, had decapitated the government and seized the capital of Orenia.

Returning by carriage quickly, Minuvas found the entire city to be ablaze - the government completely in disarray. The Government bureaucracy had become the enemy of the state itself, with the young boy Emperor rallying his forces to crumble these forces - Minuvas arrived to see many members of the Government being harried, killed, and hung. The ‘Nobility’ had reclaimed their birthright.

There was no government, no law. The boy Emperor ruled nothing, and soon banditry and lawlessness began to overtake this rebellion. Taking charge of the situation, Minuvas saved countless citizens and re-established the Government of Orenia. When the dust had settled, the young Emperor claimed himself without a challenger - and Princess Josephine, Minuvas’ supporter and patron of nearly 70  years, was killed in the struggle. 

 

“Nothing has devastated me more in my life” Came from Minuvas mouth when he delivered the news.

 

The confrontation between the new Emperor and Minuvas was tense. The two exchanged words, and Minuvas had assessed that the boy and his wife had great authority and leadership skills - he had no particular distaste for Emperor Philip III and without a doubt he was better for the Empire than Philip II -  but this same aura attracted to this Emperor a circus of addicts to power who were like a plague, for whom schemes within schemes were layered. The Prince of Savoy,  The Count Da'zor, The Baron De’Rosius and the Treasurer Henry Penton were among the traitors who had willingly allowed the Empire to see such affairs - their plots disheartened Minuvas but reinforced his resolve that the state could not be trusted to Peers alone - for whom always covetously looked at the seat of the Emperor with jealousy.

The loyal General Ruthern and Minuvas briefly contemplated resistance but had seen that the Empire desperately needed trusted and responsible leadership. After their discussion,the boy Emperor decreed Minuvas as his Archchancellor shortly afterwards. The first Elf ever to hold the position in the history of the Empire.

This was a personally difficult time for Minuvas, who promised the Emperor he would stabilize the realm from the rebellion and prepare them for the continued war with the Dwarves should he wish for it. Many lesser men coveted the Elf's position. Yet Minuvas had something many of these conspirators did not. Trust and loyalty, to which the boy Emperor and his Empress had recognized. 

 

Despite this, the now 100 year old Elf found himself leading an Empire highly resistant to the established norms which had made it successful. Numerous, incompetent, conspirators were given positions of responsibility. 

 

Among some of the more faulty appointments by the Emperor, despite extreme protest and against his wishes, the Prince of Savoy was named Minuvas' Vice-Chancellor. The Prince was dangerous, due to his vast amount of energy and his crippling incompetence. Tasked with the unification of Savoy as a vassal state to Orenia, the Prince had managed to entirely alienate the nation which had helped the new Emperor take the throne and was his own peered inheritance. 

 

Nearly overnight the Empire lost a pool of Soldiers that would have helped them fight the war with Urguan. The Emperor and Minuvas grew distant, though they did not dislike each other - Minuvas was accustomed to a Novellen household that listened to its Archchancellor and the new Emperor had surrounded himself with those who did as they were told. The peers had come to recognize Minuvas as a threat to their schemes, and in turn undermined the position of the Council of State. The Government was hollowed, the newly constructed Council of State building was hollowed out - and Minuvas was forced to brief the Empress on matters of the State within the palace, the new de facto center of Imperial governorship.

While the Emperor busied himself in indulging the schemes of his benefactors, Minuvas successfully did as he promised. Despite all of this internal squabbles, the Elf could not be out maneuvered.He reorganized the Council of State, which had begun to be neutered under the Crown, but he returned law to the Empire. Historians credit the Archchancellor with delaying the downfall of the Empire by many decades - a task with which the D’Azor Chancellery would accelerate.

Minuvas  focused his efforts on beating the Urguan threat,  whose King seemed open to capitulation after a staggering field defeat by the Imperial State Army - a field battle the Archchancellor himself fought in. Ruthern had not lost his edge. 

 

 A military victory and a re-invigorated government should have paved away for a new, united, Humanity. However, the Novellens and their Savoyard Prince made a fatal mistake.

 

Crisis of Faith 

While leading negotiations with the dwarves, Minuvas received news that the Emperor had attempted to kill the Cannonist pontiff. 

 

It has been a matter of official Imperial record up until this point that Minuvas himself advised and ordered this effort, yet after a century since its occurrence - the archives deem fit to declassify this event. 

 

Archchancellor Melphestaus was left out of these discussions at the time of its occurrence. Learning of it second hand, Minuvas scolded the Emperor in private -and while not even I was privy to their conversation, a deal was struck between the Emperor and Minuvas. His final words being, "The Crown of the Empire cannot be impugned" Minuvas declared to the Emperor. "I have served your grandfather and his father before him, and so you have my loyalty now - as I hope you will return to me”.

 

IV Notable Events: Imperial Princedom

Crest of Ebonwood

It is from here that the archives completed its collection of personal witness of the Archchancellor - having been dismissed upon his peerage of the Princeps of Ebonwood. It is a matter of public record of the events that follow, of which we have gathered from first or second hand accounts.

Whatever deal was struck between the Emperor and the Archchancellor saw Minuvas appointed as a landed Imperial Prince, without inheritance to the throne. His crowning was attended by thousands from across humanity and elvendom - equal parts awe and curiosity at this oddity. He dismissed the staff of his Chancellery, resigned from the position of Archchancellor and took up administration of the largest Imperial territory outside of the capital and given a permanent position on the Council of State to advise the Emperor.

The now Princeps had realized that if the Council of State had become neutered, he would become the Empire's most senior peer. He had once again outmaneuvered his rivals, having no equal save the Emperor and Empress. He managed an impressive demesne - furthering his own ambitions, while also raising significant financial wealth and military levies for the Imperial State during its war with the Dwarves. His only friends left within the Imperial Government, were General Erik Ruthern and the disempowered Rev Vuilliere the Solicitor General.
 

Of notable occurrence was a rebellion by the Princeps landed vassal, the county of Pinemaw. The Pinemaw rebellion was savagely put down and the titles rescinded, placing the House of Melphestaus in a distant succession to the Kingdom of Rozania as the primary title holders of the county of Pinemaw.


The Brothers War
Ebonwood was beloved by many - Elves and humanity alike. Yet the tragedy of the Princeps ends with the Empire he had devoted his life to. During the Brothers War, Minuvas had begun to negotiate with each of the self-declared rulers of the Empire to determine the true claimant of the Imperial throne. 

 

His extensive service to the Novellen crown, and preservation of the archives - arguably made him the definitive expert to determine rightful succession. On his way to resolve the issue, a sallying party from Elvendom - seeking to ensure the collapse of the Empire and to whom had a personal conflict with Minuvas, nearly butchered Minuvas in daylight.

This near death is considered the tragic end of the Imperial life of Minuvas, of whom was never heard from in an official capacity ever again and who has made no efforts to reconnect with the Empire. If he has made a determination of Imperial succession, he has never revealed it.

 

Minuvas brother, Hieran, would also be appointed as General of the ISA and Lord -Marshal of the BSK of Haense.   Minuvas recalled his brother from service in the ISA during the Brothers War, potentially saving his life. A skilled General in his own right, Hieran lives comfortably in retirement amongst the Melphestaus estate. 

 

Minuvas younger brother Thucydides would marry a Sarkozy in secret, later discovered by the Emperor Philip III and Minuvas. Minuvas secured a pardon from the Emperor for his brother. It is rumored they sired a half Elven child, though the archives cannot confirm this - and do not know whether the child is alive. Thucydides has not been heard from since.

Minuvas legacy lives on today, in almost every crevice of humanity’s government. The children of many great houses, and their grandchildren, were tutored by Minuvas - giving them formative thoughts on the organization of peered households and crowns upon their heads. His organization of government reverberates across humanity, silently enacting fierce policies of Melphistism in the execution of its duties unaware of who created these systems in the first place. Large scale prosecution of Elves and Adunians was eliminated under his leadership. Of thanks or congratulations, the Elf had received it many times over - always privately. That humanity has not once publicly acknowledged the work of its most dutiful Elven servant is further testament to the work ethos of the late Archchancellor, who credited all success to the crown and the Imperial citizens - and whose failures he had declared his own unto the end. Further inspiring to produce this work.

 

May this work put to rest his legacy, inspire future generations of Elves who live in human realms, and count him among one of the greatest Imperials in our time. Even at the highest pinnacles of power Minuvas had detractors, those who disparaged the Elf for any number of unfounded reasons. We do not believe this will sway their hearts, for the Imperial spirit was never with them to begin with.

 

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE REMNANT IMPERIAL ARCHIVES 

 

Authored by,

Archival Scribe of the Melphestaus Household & Melphestaus Chancellery,

CHADWICK HEMMINGTON

 

[Borin 5270]

"Yuck, Elves." [Racist] Bishop Odo states "Titan of arse, didn't do anything useful!"

[Chorale__ 1711]

((great leader during the time!

[sergisala 2805]

"One of the best Imperial Archchancellors that Oren has ever had. A true Titan of State of the Empire" remarked the historian Marc Galbraith when referring to Minuvas.