Emperor Bitgaram
Emperor Bitgaram was an Emperor of Cantha, successor to Emperor Kyobok,[1] and father of Empress Haebaragi.[2] He oversaw the first steps of Cantha's recovery in the aftermath of the Zhaitan Disaster and witnessed the growing influence of the ambitious Minister Yeongi and the Ministry of Purity.
Biography[edit]
Bitgaram was born to the Imperial Family of the Empire of the Dragon. He became the acting Emperor of Cantha after the deaths of Emperor Kyobok and much of the Imperial Family in the Zhaitan Disaster in 1729 CC (1219 AE).[1] However, some written sources claim that Bitgaram had actually preceded Kyobok as emperor at some point in the past.[3]
Bitgaram was crowned in 1730 CC (1220 AE) after much of Old Kaineng City had been submerged in the aftermath of the Great Tsunami. In response, the new emperor oversaw the foundations of New Kaineng City in a naga swamp to the south which the imperial forces had claimed for humans,[4] increased the funding of Cantha's armed forces as well as gave orders to both the imperial army and navy to halt the Risen invasion, and bestowed Minister Yeongi of the Ministry of Purity even more authority to ensure the continued survival of Cantha in 1730 CC (1220 AE).[5] In the same year, Minister Zal of the Ministry of Flame and Officer Jimin, who would later become the head of the new Ministry of Security, managed to enter Raisu Palace and confirmed the deaths of the Imperial Family as well as several other casualties before they had to flee due to increased Risen presence.[1]
Shortly after the Zhaitan Disaster, Minister Tao, head of the Ministry of Air, was revealed to be a high-ranking official in the Am Fah who had been taking bribes for docking permits. Both Bitgaram and his daughter Haebaragi made great efforts in working to cleanse the new city of Old Kaineng's problematic history; as a result, Tao was arrested for her crimes and her family was exiled.[6]
Bitgaram's health began weakening in 1737 CC (1227 AE), and the cause was speculated to be stress from the Zhaitan Disaster coupled with his advanced age. He left New Kaineng and rested in the imperial family's estate in Shing Jea Island while Haebaragi led the city building efforts.[7] As the emperor's daughter was still a child at the time, Minister Yeongi argued that the powers invested in his office to combat the Risen gave him the authority to overrule the regent cadidate brought by the Imperial Court, causing a heated dispute among courtiers.[8]
Despite Bitgaram's proclamations and Yeongi's ambition, support for both the Ministry of Purity and Yeongi's belief in Cantha's seclusion gradually began to crumble in the years following the Zhaitan Disaster.[9] Bitgaram was succeeded by Haebaragi once she had reached legal age to be crowned in 1743 CC (1233 AE).[10]
Trivia[edit]
- Bitgaram (빛가람) means 'shining river' in Korean.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c New Kaineng Zoning Record 0024
- ^ New Kaineng Zoning Record 0039
- ^ Research Log 1282: Casualties in the Zhaitan Disaster
- ^ New Kaineng Zoning Record 0001
- ^ Proclamations on the Risen Threat, 1730 CC
- ^ History of the Ministry of Air
- ^ New Kaineng Zoning Record 0072
- ^ Ministry of Justice Rulings, 1738–1741 CC
- ^ History of the Ministry of Fire
- ^ New Kaineng Zoning Record 0111
