N/History/High Inquisition
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This article is about an event in Lorica.
This article is about the third period, Diabla Magia.v
[edit] High Inquisition
- 1046: King Jendin II restructures both religion and politics to gain greater control. He declares himself both King of Men and Ecclestial Incarnate, meaning that state and religion are one, and he is the highest authority of both law and supernatural affairs.
- 1047: King Jendin II recrowns himself Emperor Lagellium, and passes a set of edicts known as the Rite of the Order of Lagel which establishes Lagel as the state religion, and creates the High Holy Council to sustain religious and political governance, and eliminate the "enemies of Lagel." Targeted are followers of Kirin Tor, as well as anyone who fails to adhere strictly to the Rite of the Order of Lagel. This also acts as a tool to destroy anyone the Emperor views as a political threat. Most commoners have no choice but to adhere to the Lagel faith.
- 1047-1049: The High Holy Council, which has its own Knightly Order, massacres thousands of dissidents. The victims range from various groups: Kirin Tor followers, others who practice magic in an "un-Lagellian" fashion, academics and intellectuals who oppose the Lagel religion or the Emperor's politics, and those perceived to be militaristic threats.
- 1050: Emperor Lagellium and the High Holy Council pass the Inquisitionatory Act, which gives the Knightly Order of the High Holy Council its own authority to interrogate any member of the citizenry they see fit in order to determine his or her loyalty to the Lagel faith.
- 1050-1056: Is known as the time of High Inquisition. Countless subjects, most with no political or religious deviance to the Emperor, are tortured, raped, and killed by the elite Knightly Order. The Knights seek confessions of "evil sourcery" from peasants and slaves. Hangings, burnings, crucifixtions, and impalements are common during this six year period. In one instance, the population of the entire village of Grimgorum, some 200 people, are slaughtered by freelance Knights, killing in the name of the Emperor.
- 1057: Fearing political instability and plots against him, Emperor Lagellium orders the Knights to execute several prominent members of the aristocracy, including several members of the High Holy Council. This creates a schism between the Emperor and his Knights. Fearing a coup, the Emperor ponders disbanding the Knights, but fears a peasant revolution. Instead, he repeals the Inquisitionatory Act of 1050, and aims to slowly curtail the size of the Knightly Order.
- late 1057-early 1058: The High Holy Council, fearing the Emperor may target them next, join together and hold a session to determine if the Rite of the Order of Lagel gives them the authority to deem the Emperor himself an ememy of the state religion. The ultimate ruling is that although the Council does not have such authority, it has absolute control over the Knightly Order, meaning the Emperor cannot disband the Knights.
- 1058: The Emperor is on loose ground, hated by both his High Holy Council as well as the general public. The High Holy Council, while not able to reinstate the Inquisitionatory Act, has since ordered the Knights to suppress and terrorize the citizenry to prevent a possible revolution.
[edit] The Death of the Emperor
The Emperor had essentially become a puppet manipulated by the High Holy Council. Believed to be infertile, he had failed to produce any heirs with the numerous concubines in his chamber. He never took a queen, believing it would jeopardize his power. In the summer of 1058, the Emperor, by order of the High Holy Council (enforced by the Knightly Order) was forced to appear in public during the Tranellium Feast, marking the 11th annivesary of his taking the title of Emperor. The Council claimed it would help boost morale amongst the commoners.
The feast day, held in the capital, went smoothly at first. Although many intellectuals had been slaughtered in the capital between 1047 and 1049, the city was one of the few places that had seen little bloodshed since, remaining fairly immune to the Inquisition as it had been the one city that both the Emperor and Council did not want to see in civil chaos. Crowds cheered and music played as the Emperor, sitting on a large throne carried by six Knights of the Holy Order, waved and smiled at his subjects. Suddenly, as he was being paraded through the streets of the capital, the Emperor was struck by three arrows shot from afar. The Emperor slumped back, an arrow in his eye, a second through his throat, and a third in his chest. Chaos and pandemonium ensued as the Knights scrambled to secure the scene. A riot errupted, dozens were slaughtered as the lamented his fatal wounds.
It is said that the Emperor was the last victim of his Inquisition. Conspiracy theories abound as to whom shot the arrows, ranging from followers of Kirin Tor, the Knights themsleves under order of the High Holy Council, other rival groups, or simply a lone subject tired of Emperor Lagellium's oppression. With no heir, the High Holy Council assumed full command of the throne, and ushered in a new era known as Pax Religium, in which political rhetoric stated the Church of Lagel would provide peace and prosperity to Lorica. Compared to the reign of Emperor Lagellium (née King Jendin II), the following years would prove to be more peaceful and prosperous for the people Lorica. It is estimated that in his 12 year reign, the Emperor oversaw the death of over a quarter of his citizenry.
