Empress Nicolette I Ananto Crowned Empress of Ananto and Kalistan
Coronation is greeted with celebrations in Ananto, Sulari and Vrassa CityKaliburg, Ananto
February 1, 5458Empress Nicolette I Ananto, Empress of Ananto and Kalistan, Grand Duchess of Ananto, Countess of Davon and Eveari, Sovereign of the EmpireEmpress Nicolette I Ananto was crowned today in a public coronation ceremony by the Head of Government, the newly named Chancellor of the Empire Michael Johnson. Empress Nicolette's coronation caps a decades long initiative on the part of the Institutional Party to restore the Empire and place the Anantos back onto the Throne of Ananto and Kalistan. "We are quite pleased with the choice of the People of Kalistan in our sovereign," said Chancellor Johnson. "Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress will serve as the face and voice of this Empire overseas as Kalistan rebuilds its widely respected reputation among other countries. The people are ready for the Empire, and in Her Imperial Majesty, we have an Empress we are very proud of."
Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress has spent the last several years formally training in Public Policy and Public Administration to prepare for her role as Final Arbiter of the Law in Kalistan. "We fully expect that the Empress will want to take an active role in the formulation of our National and International Policies, and I look forward to working very closely with her on all matters of National importance," said Johnson. Asked if he is to become a noble because of his role, he noted, "My office is a political office. I serve in an advisory role to the Empress, and must stand for election each term, so nobility is not in the cards for me. At the end of the day, all decisions emanate from the person of Her Imperial Majesty, and it falls on me to carry out her will as faithfully to my understanding of her desires as possible."
Following the Coronation, the newly crowned monarch was offered the opportunity to speak to the assembled crowd of government officials, public persons, and Kalistani Citizens who were gathered at the Kaliburg National Assembly for the event. "Kalistanis, all. We thank you for this opportunity to represent your hopes and dreams, and to serve you as your face and voice. Though we may no longer walk among you, our thoughts shall always dwell on the General Will and the Common Good for the People of this Empire. We shall strive to always elevate you to those of other nations, to always represent you in the best possible light, and to never tire of fighting for your interests. We share this mutual ambition: We seek to see our Nation and its people prosper, in tranquility and dignity, and we will not shirk our responsibility to you, our People. Kalistan will once more take our place at the front of the movements for peace, ecological sustainability, financial responsibility, cultural and social progression, human rights, and fair trade. We ask for your faith in us and in our Government, and we promise to you that we will never knowingly do anything to break that faith that you have bestowed in us. We wish you peace and good fortune in this coming year, and look forward to the next opportunity we shall have to speak with you."
The assembled crowd broken into polite but reserved applause for the Empress' speech. Following the ceremony, as the Empress posed for photos on the throne, she began conducting business with the Chancellor and the Royal Council of Ministers. Her first official act was to name personal secretary and close advisor Donna Green as Grand Duchess of Kalistan, marking the position going forward as a kind of viceroyalty. Duchess Green is expected to nominate candidates, likely Institutionalist Party Loyalists, to the post of Duke for the four Kalistani Duchies, while the Empress will retain the title of Grand Duchess of Ananto. The Dukes will then be charged to name Counts to the various counties on the Mainland, while Counties in Ananto will go to the Empress' direct nominations. Additionally, the Mayors of the various free Cities on both the Mainland and Ananto are expected to remain in place over the transition, and report directly to the Empress.
Celebrations following the Coronation spread throughout various cities in both Ananto and on the Mainland. The largest celebrations were held in areas where the Empress enjoys strongest personal support- Kaliburg, Eveari and Luxon all had the biggest celebrations of the affair. Sulari, Vrassa City, and Eshar also hosted large Parties to welcome the Empress and to officially kick off the Imperial Period, all of which featured music, food, alcohol and lots of dancing. The festive atmosphere spread to other towns in Kalistan, though formal festivities were not arranged. Bars across the Mainland offered drink specials, and many gave free toasts to the health of the Empress. Very few pockets of anti-monarchy sentiment remain in Kalistan's cities, and most people involved certainly appreciated the free drinks and food, even if their toasts to the Empress were less than full-throated.
Most of those interviewed said that they were proud to have such a beautiful and intelligent level headed monarch as Empress. "She's a role model," said Jennifer Bennante, of Vrassa City. "I mean, I've watched her for years, and as she kind of came up through the Party, I would always think, you know, 'will she be the one? Will she do it?' and here she is. I mean those kinds of heights are not really something we can achieve, because I wasn't born in that family, but of all the geezers they have had while they were looking for the right candidate, I'm really glad they picked a smart one, and she's pretty too." Another partygoer and well wisher, Tommy Abernathy, said "Yeah, I wish her well. She's the Empress right? The one who is gonna be? I mean, just became, right? Anyway, if she's like the symbol of this country, I don't think we could ever ask for a better on. Go on Your Highness. You will make us proud!"
Chancellor Johnson stated that the Empress would like the opportunity to travel now that the coronation is over, and meet various other heads of State. "She looks forward and visiting the land of her ancestors in Lourenne as a sitting Anantonese Empress. She would also like to visit Lodamun and Dolgava, and see Hutori. She also made a special point of noting that she wants to visit Indrala in her first year. There has long been talk of a new Friendship Treaty between Kalistan and Indrala, and she has said that it is her intention to make this happen. Her list of places to visit is quite long."
We here at
The Republic wish Her Imperial Majesty well as she begins a new phase of her life and career.
Editor's Note: As with the last Imperial Period, The Republic will likely not change its name. Our Paper Predates the Anantos in Kalistan, and we have long built this brand as an independent source of reliable and factual news in Kalistan. We serve as the Canon of History. We will continue that tradition during which ever constitutional Arrangement Kalistan happens to find itself in, and will keep our Brand in tact. --FGG, Editor in Chief of The Kalistani Republic