The Emperor of Rokugan was the Son of Heaven, [1] Child of Heaven, [2] Heavenly Sovereign, [3] August Imperial Majesty, [4] a divine being, charged by Lady Sun with overseeing the mortal realm, [5] becoming the ruler of the Empire of Rokugan. The Chrysanthemum became the symbol of the Hantei Dynasty, [6] in emerald green [7] or in a golden color. His heir was known as the Crown Prince [8] and he was attended primarily by his jeweled champions (the Emerald Champion in particular) and by the champions of the Great Clans. [9] His seat of power was the Emerald Throne. [5]
Power[]
The Emperor Hantei allotted land to each of his siblings, who established clans made up of their followers. The Emperor gave them permission to farm it so long as they paid taxes to him. [10] Should Rokugan ever face an existential crisis requiring all its armies be united as a single coalition, the Emperor had the prerogative to appoint a Shōgun, or military commander-in-chief. [11]
Fortunism[]
The Emperor was the official head of the Brotherhood of Shinsei [12] and it was the sacred right of the Hantei to declare a new Fortune, elevating deceased former mortals to the ranks of divinity. [13]
Emperor's Will[]
An Imperial Edict was an order by the Emperor and was considered inviolate by Rokugani law. [14]
Emperor[]
Brides[]
Doji were chosen for Imperial spouses more often than members of any other family. The Empero's wife was protected by a Crane elite unit, the Inner Court Guard. [15]
Succession[]
Imperial succession was generally inherited directly from father to eldest son. Upon rising to the throne the Emperor would cast aside their former name and only be referred to by their dynasty. Eventually the Empire could be ruled by a Sesshō, or Imperial Regent, until the Crown Prince came to age. [16]
Abdicating Siblings[]
The children of the Emperor who did not ascend to the throne ritually abdicated their claims to the throne upon the coronation of their eldest brother. They would abandon the dynastic name, and would be married to a suitable Otomo and given an appropriate Imperial office, [17] which was known as the Ritual of Abdication. [18]
Hantei Dynasty[]
Begun with Hantei at the foundation of the empire. [6] The following are the known Emperors of Rokugan:
| Hantei | 5 - 2nd century |
| Hantei Genji | 2nd century - ? |
| Hantei Murasaki | ? - ? |
| Hantei Fujiwa | Late 4th century |
| Yugozohime's father | c. end of 4th century |
| Hantei Yugozohime | Early 5th century |
| Hantei Muratsugu | c. 445 |
| Hantei XVI | ? - c. early of seventh century |
| Hantei XVII | c. early of seventh century - ? |
| Hantei XX | c. 662 |
| Hantei XXIII | ? - ? |
| Hantei XXVI | ? - ? |
| Hantei XXXI | ? - ? |
| Hantei the Thirty-Seventh | ? - ? |
| Hantei the Thirty-Eighth | 1103 - 1123 |
| Bayushi Shoju (Imperial Regent) | 1123 - 1123 |
| Kakita Yoshi (Imperial Regent) | 1123 - 1123 |
| Bayushi Shoju (Imperial Regent) | 1123 - 1123 |
| Kakita Yoshi (Imperial Regent) | 1123 - Present |
Afterlife[]
Accomplished Emperors of past times lived in Tengoku, the Celestial Heavens. [19]
References
- ↑ Otomo Courtier (Core set flavor)
- ↑ Writ of the Wilds, p. 38
- ↑ A Difference of Lanterns, by Annie VanderMeer Mitsoda
- ↑ Before the Throne (The Chrysanthemum Throne flavor)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Legend of the Five Rings: Roleplaying Game (Beta), p. 6
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Great Clans
- ↑ The Specters of War, by Lisa Farrell
- ↑ Smokeless Fire, by Katrina Ostrander
- ↑ Legend of the Five Rings - Roleplaying, p. 9
- ↑ Emerald Empire: The Essential Guide to Rokugan, p. 10
- ↑ Fields of Victory, p. 10
- ↑ Imperfect Land, p. 6
- ↑ Legend of the Five Rings: Roleplaying Game (Beta), p. 8
- ↑ Legend of the Five Rings: Roleplaying Game (Beta), p. 37
- ↑ Courts of Stone, p. 57
- ↑ Children of the Empire Part I, by D. G. Laderoute
- ↑ Children of the Empire Part III, by D. G. Laderoute
- ↑ Emerald Empire: The Essential Guide to Rokugan, p. 230
- ↑ Emerald Empire: The Essential Guide to Rokugan, p. 135
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