William I Vasa

Tel Majis Imperialò Royo y Imperad, William I
Coronation portrait of William I. Note the Oxerian and Sarovian crowns.
Titles:	King of the Sarovians and Emperor of the Sarovian Commonwealth, Emperor of Oxeria, Grand King of the State, Patriarch of the Zors, Makos, Vasas and Oxerias, Grand Prince of Carolusburg, Defender of the Faith, and Protector of the Realm.
Reign:	247 AS to 258
Predecessor:	Constantine VI & I Vasa
Successor:	Edward I Vasa
House:	Zor-Mako-Vasa
Born:	230 AS
Religion:	Stefanist

Martius Louis William Zor-Mako-Vasa (regnal name: William I Zor-Mako-Vasa-Oxeria) was the King of the Sarovians and Grand King of the State from his reign beginning in 247 AS and Emperor of Oxeria from 248 to 254 AS, before his death and the end of his reign in 258 AS. William I was the second Vasa king of the State and the diplomatic mastermind of the Saro-Oxerian Union, which placed the Sarovian dynasty in control of the old Oxerian Empire rival. Under his reign, the New Sarovian Empire maintained a strong military between both anglophones and lusophones. Scholars call William with the epithet of "the Excellent" for his skillful diplomatic manuevers.

Biography

Early Life

Martius was born as the youngest son of King Carolus XII Vasa, and quickly took up a martial education. Martius accompanied his father and his older brothers, John Vasa and Mathiveas Vasa-Kaine on numerous military campaigns, and served in the later half of the Great War. Martius was however anti-social and considered at first, unremarkable in his stature or dress, prefering studying to the etiquette of court or the glory of the battlefield. However, at the beginning of the Great Northern War and under the direct command of his father, Martius founded the Second Corps, which were made primarily out of Lusophone speakers, some of the finest in New Sarovia. Martius was promoted to Reserve Field Marshal in light of the achievement, before the Corps was established as a permanent endeavour. It was the first nation who made use of the Lusophone population, and their battle prowess were tested and honoured at their heroic victory at Kiev's Drift. Here, Carolus XII died, which led to the Succession Crisis of 236. Martius supported his eldest brother for the throne, but was satisfied with the outcome and the ascension of Constantine VI & I Vasa as Emperor.

Martius was promoted to Field Marshal of the Realm soon after, and was bestowed his Marshal's Baton. Here, Martius took a deeper understanding of the military campaigns and would aid in the development of II Corps. He was sick throughout the Second Great War and would miss the combat, delegating his authority to his second-in-command and middle child, Andrey Vasa, would briefly be invested as the Prince of Kiev during Martius' reign. Martius would return and aid his uncle in various political and military campaigns, as well as briefly serve as the Prime Minister of the New Sarovian Empire through the creation of the Sarovian National Union Party (SNUP), which dominated Sarovian politics for its brief life.

Martius was unaffected by the disappearance of both of his eldest brothers, but never truly comprehended that this would make him the heir to the throne. When Constantine VI was assassinated, Martius was quickly invested as the Prince of Kiev days before the official disappearance of Constantine VI.

Sovereign

When Constantine VI officially was pronounced dead by the Sarovian government, Martius had became the new monarch. He was styled as William I, and began to govern the country which was plunged into mourning by the passing of the previous monarch. This was an almost impossible task, with plenty of Sarovians refusing to work over the loss of Constantine VI and the government was in shambles. Repeated elections failed to actually occur, and William led by decree for the first part of his reign. This time, known as Black July, was known as one of the worst crises in Sarovian history which William led the country through, eventually coming out on top.

The Saro-Oxerian Union

One day according to the diaries of William I, he proposed to his chief advisors to propose a political marriage and union to the nation of Oxeria, in which his uncle had fought and won wars against prior. The advisors were staunchly against the proposal, and did not think it could work. Over weeks, the crafty William I would court and convince the Empress of Oxeria, Emily I, to marry him. At a small ceremony overseen by a Stefanic priest, the two were married and the Act of Union 2018 was signed, which stipulated that the New Sarovian Empire would be the senior partner to Oxeria in the Saro-Oxerian Political Union, or simply the Saro-Oxerian Union or Saro-Oxeria. In order to get his advisors to agree to this plan, the Act was necessary to reaffirm Sarovia's domination over other rivals.

The Act was not followed, however, and was in-fact kept secret from the Sarovian and Oxerian ethnic populations. William I led both New Sarovia, the State and Oxeria with relative freedom and was beloved by many for his tolerance and understanding. He allowed the Oxerian Empire to keep an independent council, their traditional clothing and uniforms, laws and customs, and opened up a Saro-Oxerian legislature to maintain their democratic rights. The Union first saw off a sect of Sarovian rebels known as Slavians, which the combined forces of New Sarovia and Oxeria crushed with relative ease. Wars with the Maverian Kaiserreich and others were also common, which led to swift and decisive Saro-Oxerian victories.

Queen-Mother Cincinnis of Aurea, the grandmother of William I, led the Anti-Union camp in the Saro-Oxerian court, who pursued Sarovian domination of Oxeria or unilateral independence. Her and her advisors saw the Union as an infringement on Sarovian rights and sovereignty. The Queen-Mother published the Act of Union in the Sarovian press, which led to public outrage between both sides. Saro-Oxerians found themselves quickly into three camps: the "Sarovians by excellence" or the Separatists, who believe that Sarovia must separate from Oxeria immediately, the Oxerian Nationalists, who agreed to a national divorce after Sarovian reperations were paid, and the Unionists, who sought to keep the union intact at all times. William and Emily often fought incessantly during the last weeks of the Union, with Emily's necessity to maintain appearances and publicly denounce the fact Sarovia was senior to Oxeria and with William berating his wife's behaviour. Both monarchs were completely and utterly forced to grant a referendum due to the sabotage by the Queen-Mother, which moderately won in the favour of separation.

The Saro-Imperian Wars

After the divorce of the Saro-Oxerian union, the two monarchs tried to remedy the situation by a comprehensive, sovereign alliance signed in Sarholm. Both nations would cooperate and work together in foreign policy and defence, but little more. William was distraught over the failed Union, and would never forgive his grandmother until the day he died. Regardless, the two sides would find their biggest battle yet when the Holy Imperian Empire's chivalric orders of Ordo Magnus and others declared war on New Sarovia. Under skillful field commanders, the married couple would cripple the Imperian's attacks at Poltava, Modena and Upper Preuze. This locked the Sarovians and the Oxerians into a stalemate with the Imperians, who hid in hiding. Every attack they attempted was swiftly beaten back. During this period, the Aureans intervened on the side of the Imperians, and would continue to skirmish with Sarovians.

Death and Succession

In the constant battles against Aurea and Imperia, William's son Andrey left Graal for good, and was declared dead, leaving the succession uncertain. As William began to age, he fell sick and needed a week or two off. The Privy Council declared his daughter and son Brianna and Edward as Counsellors of State in his absence. During this moment, a joint Auro-Imperian attack overran Sarovian defences in all points. The Privy Council begged the Emperor for his decision of an heir, in which William appointed the more martially talented Edward as his heir in the hope the Sarovians would win the war, and William would then leave Graal for good, and be declared dead.

Honours

Throughout his life, William I has received many different honours, decorations and titles.

• Crowns
  • Imperial Crown
  • Crown of the Grand State Kingdom
  • Oxerian State Crown
• Honours
  • Sovereign of the Order of the New Sarovian Empire
  • Sovereign of the Order of the Black Sun
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Oxerian Knights
  • Star of Carolus
  • Star of Constantine
  • Imperial Vasa Star
• Decorations
  • Sarovian Cross
  • Order of the Sarovian Crown
  • Order of the Lion
  • Order of the King
  • Victory Cross

Crowns, honours and decorations of William I

Coat of arms

As the son of Carolus XII, William I's arms were the imperial arms of New Sarovia differenced with a label of three points argent, the usual arms for the heir apparent of the throne. However, he was not granted these until he was formally invested as the Prince of Kiev. When he ascended the throne, through the virtue of being the King of the Sarovians and the Emperor of the New Sarovian Empire, William I was the source of all heraldry and symbols through during his reign and bore the arms of New Sarovia.

Arms of William I as Prince of Kiev.	Arms of William I as sovereign.