Istalia

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Eleonora I, Empress of the Istalians

Enthroned in the Transept of Honors of the Palace of the Res Publica, the Empress swears on the Constitution: "I will serve my people with dedication and strength, as my heritage and my duty"

July 5689

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ROMULA - Despite the cold temperatures of this July, a festively decorated Romula, with Istalian flags and Imperial banners flying everywhere, and filled with hundreds of thousands of cheering Istalians, the Enthronement of Her Most Excellent Imperial Majesty Eleonora I, Empress of the Istalians and Sovereign of the Imperial State of Istalia, took place yesterday.

The Enthronement, held in the Transept of Honors of the Palace of the Res Publica, was a ceremony of rare solemnity and splendor, one of the most lavish ever seen in Istalia. Assuming full imperial dignity and powers upon the death of her predecessor, as required by Istalian succession law, the Enthronement, like past inaugurations, is not a formal act of investiture, but represents a public and symbolic celebration of the continuity of the Crown. Head of State and Government and delagations from dozens of country from all over the world gathered in Romula to pay their tribute to the new Empress. Among them, stood out King Leon Alexander of Egelion and New Endralon/Kizenia accompanied by Royal Councilor of Egelion Catalina Mondragon y Astures and the Foreign Minister of New Endralon and Kizenia Cezar Istrati, the Head of the Presidential Council of Nadiya Eva Maria Frolova and the former Tsarina Anastasia Alexanderova, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Empire of Kalistan and Ananto Sir Thomas Harney, the Director for Foreign Affairs of Narikaton & Darnussia Dirk van Held, Emperor Richard II and Empress Valeria of Luthori, accompanied by Prince of Orange William and Princess of Orange Mary and by the Prime Minister of Mordusia Denny Woodfort, the Prime Minister of Pontesi, President of Valruzia Urzsula Pawlik, Queen Arianna of Hutori, the Federal President of Dundorf Wolfgang Prawius, the Premier of Xsampa Sherab Aurousseau, the President of Kundrati Alaiza Kubitchek and the Chancellor of the Republic of Badara, Abdul Jabbar accompanied by the Foreign Minister Salman al-Makhtoum.

Departing late in the morning from Quattroregni Palace, the Empress traveled through the streets of Romula aboard the state carriage, accompanied by Prince Consort Marco. The streets, adorned as mentioned with tricolor banners and imperial banners, were packed with cheering crowds. The Imperial Guards, in uniform and parade armor, escorted the state carriage, preceded and followed by elite units and the official bands of the Armed Forces, which paraded amid trumpet blasts, drum rolls and patriotic marches. On balconies and in the squares, flags and banners were joined by numerous banners celebrating the new Empress, while spontaneous choirs sang the national anthem, "Brothers of Istalia".

Upon arrival at the Palace of the Res Publica, the seat of Parliament, the Prince Consort entered the Transept of Honors first, while the Empress retired to an adjacent room, where the ladies of the court dressed her in the ceremonial blue mantle trimmed with ermine and dotted with small golden bees, supported by four children in cerimonial robes.

Shortly after noon, to the sound of trumpets and the imperial orchestra, Eleonora I, escorted by Guards in cerimonial uniform, entered the great transept where the lights reverbered on the golden mosaics. Accompanied by the Imperial Chant, she walked down the long blue and gold carpet that separated two tiers of descending boxes packed with guests: members of the National Congress, high-ranking civil and military authorities, religious representatives, academics, business and civil figures, and foreign official delegations.

Behind her advanced pages carrying on velvet cushions a Constitution of the Imperial State bound in a precious gold case, the Imperial Rod of the First Marshal of the Empire, and the Grand Collar of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Eagles. At the far end of the transept, in the center of the podium, awaited her the Golden Throne of Caleon, from the collections of the National Museum and once belonging to the Kings of Istalia.

After the entrance, the Archchancellor of the Imperial State, wearing sumptuous ceremonial robes and leaning on a long silver and golden rod, opened the ceremony with a secular blessing, emphasizing the Crown as the "source of identity, unity and national memory".

The most solemn moment then arrived: the Empress took an oath on the Constitution, promising "loyalty to the State, respect for its people, and dedication to the good of the Fatherland".

Immediately thereafter, the Chief of the Defense Staff led the Oath of the Armed Forces to their new Supreme Commander, represented by the Defense Staff and those of all the Armed Forces reunited in a delegation that gathered before the imperial podium

Then, once the military delegation came back to their seats, came the moment for the personal speech of the Empress.

I will serve my people with dedication and strengh, as my heritage and my duty.
I will serve Istalia as the Imperial State serves its people with patience and trust.
My life will be dedicated to the supreme good of the Nation and the well-being of its citizens.
And it is precisely to them, and to their representatives, that I make an appeal to support me in this weighty task, dedicating themselves with integrity to the supreme good of the Fatherland.

With these words the new Sovereign concluded the speech, greeted by a standing ovation from the audience. Then the Empress received the Constitution and the Imperial Rod of First Marshal in her hands and the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Crown of Eagles fell regally upon her chest, ready for the Archchancellor to proceed with the solemn proclamation:

By the will of the Nation and the Constitution,
we proclaim Her Most Excellent Imperial Majesty, Eleonora I, Empress of the Istalians and Sovereign of the Imperial State of Istalia, Protector and Guarantor of the Constitution, Defender of Democratic Values, First Marshal of the Empire Supreme Commander of the Imperial Armed Forces of Istalia.

Another thunderous applause acclaimed Eleonora I amid the blaring sound of brass instruments. Then the Empress, rising with the Constitution and the Rod in her hands, left the Transept amid a standing crowd. Everyone, except for the sovereigns and foreign heads of state, bowed as she passed.

Upon her return to Quattroregni Palace, the Empress and the Prince Consort presided over a grand state banquet, attended by ministers, dignitaries, ambassadors and the international guests. The evening concluded with a grand imperial ball, not envisioned in the original ceremonial but strongly desired by Eleonora, a personal pleasure but also a symbol of her tenure as heir to the throne, which, it seems, she wishes to carry with her throughout her reign.

In front of the palace, thousands of citizens attended the Grand Concert hosted by the Crown, while community lunches and popular festivals were held throughout the provinces, organized by the Crown, the State, and local authorities with the support of civic associations and local institutions. This is in keeping with the tradition of the Istalian Crown, which has sought to make the inauguration of its sovereigns' reigns a major national celebration that engages and delights the people.

The Enthronement of Eleonora I marks the beginning of the reign of the second reigning Empress in Istalian history, the first was Michael I, under the distant First Empire. This inauguration thus ushers really in a new veritable era for the Istalian Monarchy. A reign that promises to be marked by institutional continuity and the memory of Tommaso V, but also by the modernity and social sensitivity that have always characterized the figure of the new Empress.