Empress Giselle

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Early Life and Election

Empress Giselle de Sarvos was a born politician; clever, manipulative and cunning. Her guild, the Alvetti carta, were long-established players in the games of the Jewelled city and she enjoyed every advantage growing up While she was not lineaged herself, she had ties with several reckoner guilds both through her mother, a naga, and her merrow husband Teodore von Mestra. She never lacked for useful information about the political and financial affairs of her allies and rivals. Through a delicate web of blackmail and patronage she cultivated agents and business interests throughout the League, and made a special point of extending her influence to Siroc, Meade as well.

While her interests were primarily economic and political, she made regular charitable donations to the bishops of Prosperity and Pride, and was an active patroness of the church of the Little Mother. She encouraged politically minded League bishops to take active part in Synod politics; even before she became Empress the League National Assembly enjoyed an unparalleled influence over religious matters.

Some historians credit her with actively fanning the flames of Senatorial worry after the loss of Spiral in 331 YE, encouraging the idea that the Empire would need unified leadership in the wake of that crisis, Most historians see her as being more opportunistic; recognising the chance to increase her power and the power of the League, she did exactly what she had done to become a merchant prince; employ blackmail, bribery and patronage to bring as many senators as possible under her influence.

Reign

Unfortunately the talents that had made her a successful Merchant prince made her a dangerously ineffective Empress. Her habit of playing her supporters off against one another deepened the divisions in the Senate. Her ever-present agents looking for signs of rebellion and for useful blackmail material encouraged an atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia. Her loyalty to the League skewed decisions that might adversely effect one of the cities, even if they were for the greater good.

She encouraged the Senate to spend money as if it was water, and claimed at one stage to be a reincarnation of Empress Richilde despite a complete lack of evidence. .

Death and Legacy

Empress Giselle died at Holberg during an ill-fated attempt to defend the territory against Druj forces. She refused point-blank to accept the repeated advice of her Generals that the battle was a trap, removing the Marcher General Maria of Upwold and the Brass Coast General Xavier i Torelia i Riqueze

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