Reramonsi I, Eadien Emperor

Reramonsi I, Eadien Emperor (9 October 804-14 June 866), was the founder and the first monarch of the Hafra dynasty of the Eadien empire from 829 until 853. He was born to Menshan IV, Duke of Hanthamaya, and his wife Silbarti of Yorte. In March 829, Soya, Viceroy of Mie, started a rebellion against Menshan VII, the last Eadien emperor during the Uton dynasty, and was successful to dethrone Menshan VII. Powerful Reramonsi, currently Reramonsi V, Duke of Hanthamaya, raised his army to fight against Soya, while proclaimed his inheritance to the throne as he was the great-grandson of Kratmaung II. On 25 April 829, Soya surrendered to Reramonsi, and acknowledged his right of inheritance; the former emperor Menshan VII did so simultaneously, marking Reramonsi's accession to the throne known as Reramonsi I and the found of the Hafra dynasty.

Reramonsi I moved the capital from Pharimaula to Nanwa, and confirmed his younger brother Kanaunt, Duke of Insa, his heir-apparent, suggested by his mother as his wife was not able to give him a son. He devoted himself to restore the authority of the empire, and emasculated the power of aristocracy. His complicated family situation bothered his reform and finally ended it, together with his reign. His crown prince Kanaunt was also assassinated. He was succeeded by one of his illegitimate sons, Minsi of Laungshe, namely Minsi II, Eadien Emperor.

Early years in Hanthamaya (804-808)
Reramonsi was born in town of Rangi, Duchy of Hanthamaya on 9 October 804. He was the eldest children of Menshan IV de Hafra, Duke of Hanthamaya, and Silbarti of Yorte. His paternal grandmother, Renée of Eadien, was the favorite daughter of Kratmaung II, Eadien emperor, who briefly served as the regent for his younger brother, Suriya III. Menshan IV was indifferent about Reramonsi's birth as he had never get along well with Silbarti. Belfante Bopwa, a trusted official favored by both Menshan IV and Silbarti,took the responsibility of Reramonsi's junior education and ensured that he would made Reramonsi an upright gentle; the name "Reramonsi" was given by him, which was a hero's name from Eadien Myths. In 808, his younger and only brother, Kanaunt, was born.

Silbarti was an ambitious woman, who was originally betrothed to Suriya III by Kratmaung II and designated to be the Eadien empress, however, Suriya III fell in love with his stepmother's maid, Nipofée Duborum, and Kratmaung II didn't object this because his mother Anne Dumma was of a humble origin. Thus Silbarti lost her chance to marry the emperor, and this was part of reason of bad relationship between Menshan IV and Silbarti. When Silbarti married Menshan IV, she was not satisfied with her title of Duchess. Some people used to comfort her that she was the second lady in the empire only after the empress, but she replied, "I was more willing to be the first lady for just 1 day, rather than the second for 10 years.". From then on, she began to have an idea that put her son on the throne, so she usually asked Bopwa to teach Reramonsi in the standard of the emperor, and planned to send her two sons to the imperial court.

Silbarti had considered to push her husband to wrist the throne, but Menshan IV had no ambition about the title of emperor. Different from his wife who was wild about title and power, Menshan IV was crazy about land and wealth. During his reign, Menshan IV tried his best to expand his territory and collect money. By his efforts, the territory of Hanthamaya expanded by about a third, and according his official Menshan que Dudla, he amassed wealth which was enough to support 10 armies, and one of his chambers was full of golds and jewels. Although Menshan IV didn’t help Reramonsi directly when he started wars to get the imperial throne, Reramonsi was greatly supported by territories and money get by Menshan IV.

Life in Pharimaula imperial court (808-821)
Together with their mother, Reramonsi and Kanaunt had gone to Pharimaula to receive education. They were welcomed by Emperor Suriya III and Empress Nipofée, who didn't have any children at that time, so Reramonsi and Kanaunt were almost raised by this imperial couple, and were treated like their own sons. Although Nipofée gave birth to her son Belfante Alan in 809, she still took care of Reramonsi and Kanaunt. Silbarti began her work to teach court ladies manners, meanwhile she sought chances to cultivate her bases. Silbarti hated the emperor and empress, and was unhappy about they taking care of her sons, so she made efforts to stop Nipofée in touch with new-born Kanaunt, however, she can't do the same with Reramonsi who had his own thoughts.

In 812, Nipofée gave birth to her daughter and only survived child, Sumanee. She considered Reramonsi as her ideal son-in-law, so she was meant to make Sumanee and Reramonsi grow up together. There was no official contract, but both Menshan IV and Silbarti agreed that Reramonsi will take Sumanee for his bride. Reramonsi had developed an intimate relationship with Sumanee. They shared everything in their childhood. When Belfante Alan died in 817, it was said Sumanee may be the empress one day as she was the only survived child of Suriya III, so Reramonsi was thought the future emperor as Sumanee's fiance.

In 815, Menshan IV had died. Reramonsi became Duke of Hanthamaya as Reramonsi V, but Silbarti didn't let Reramonsi return to Hanthamaya because she was afraid if Suriya III died when he was in Hanthamaya, he can't marry Sumanee successfully. Instead, Silbarti appointed her trusted official Kensa de Longte, Viscount of Charasu as the regent of Hanthamaya. Reramonsi asked to return Hanthamaya to rule from 817, when he heard that Longte lived like a duke in Hanthamaya court. To comfort Reramonsi, Silbarti ordered Longte to report his condition in Hanthamaya twice a month, but Reramonsi still felt dissatisfied with Longte.

In July 820, Reramonsi, who never trusted Longte, sent his friends also cronies Joan d'Ope and Kensa de Khacon to Hanthamaya, and commanded them to supervise Longte secretly. As Reramonsi thought, Longte did many things ultra vires. Reramonsi decided to return Hanthamaya with Kanaunt, regardless of his mother's opposition. He also wanted to take Sumanee, but Nipofée thought it inappropriate. On 12 February 821, he reached Hanthamaya, and began to fight with Longte for the domination of Hanthamaya.

Power struggle against Longte (821-824)
Apparently Longte didn't want to give up his power that he showed his obedience to Reramonsi on the one hand, but prevented Reramonsi from handling any government affairs. Longte made up many rules which had never existed before even been ridiculous to restrain Reramonsi's actions. For example, he commanded court guards to follow Reramonsi whenever the duke went out, by which Reramonsi can't go too far from the palace. He also arranged many courtiers to gain the duke's favor, so the duke will draw his attention away from the domination of Hanthamaya. Moreover, Reramonsi's letters were watched in case he sought help.

Reramonsi was angry about the situation, but he quickly calmed himself down and received the fact that he was put under Longte's control. He observed those courtiers elaboratively, and it was found that not all those people were loyal to Longte or adored him, among whom some hated Longte secretly but Longte didn't know. Reramonsi tried to get the trust of those people and draw them over to his side; likewise some other courtiers who were loyal to Longte defected to Reramonsi on account of his bribery.

Reramonsi expressed his favor towards court guards publicly for several times then told Longte that he wanted to praise guards by raising their wages and granted them fiefs, which got opponent by Longte. Reramonsi argued with Longte about it, playing a role of fighting for rights of his guards. Compared with Longte, many guards were more willing to serve Reramonsi, as well as they allowed Reramonsi to tour more his territories.

Reramonsi didn't want warfare, so he averted any clashes with Longte, meanwhile he acted as a peace lover to gain favor of people and nobles. He often showed his care to people's life when he was touring; once he gave his gold ring to a peasant who can't afford medical bills. He suggested temples to do more beneficences, declaring that the top five temples of doing most beneficences will get fiscal appropriation from him every month, which encouraged philanthropy of temples.

Reramonsi's policies made him popular with people, nobles even clergy, and won the name "Reramonsi the People-lover" for him, also, forming his base to defeat Longte. From late 823, some Longte's outrageous behaviors were known and talked among people in Hanthamaya. Not so long after, it spread to more regions including the imperial court. Kanaunt played an important role in spreading those messages, and he followed his brother's order very likely. Many people and nobles condemned Longte, and Silbarti stressed pressure on him to force him to give back his power to Reramonsi. Longte became notorious.

In May 824, Longte was accused of treason that one of his mistresses, Jaliye Perofa, a prostitute, told military information to a foreign client, and it was believed that Longte disembosomed the message to Jaliye although she had a relationship with many people, of whom some were officials. Without any confirmed evidences, Reramonsi consented the legal inquiry to Longte and put him under house arrest. Most of historians deemed that Longte was set up, probably by his political opponents and used by Reramonsi, or framed by Reramonsi himself. Jaliye died in the prison, no testimony left. Longte realized he can't escape punishments whether he disembosomed the message or not. He promised to give up all his power and send most of his possession to Reramonsi. Finally, Longte was banished from Hanthamaya and can't return for his entire life, with most of his property confiscated. Reramonsi really began his reign in Hanthamaya.