Wrythe given special status as Imperial Capital

An Act of Parliament passed by the new Regent has given Wrythe a special autonomous status. The Imperial Capital Act 2024, proposed and passed during this year’s ongoing Summer Session of Parliament, was given Imperial Consent by Prince Regent Aggelos on Tuesday 28th May. Under the provisions of the Act, Wrythe gains a level of autonomy similar to that of a crown dependency, henceforth no longer falling under the automatic jurisdiction of the central government. Rather, the capital will be governed by the Pater Patriae, a previously honorary title that was given to Emperor Father Terry in 2021. The title has been made hereditary, meaning it will one day be inherited by Jonathan I. Being given a special status as the Imperial Capital, Wrythe is no longer a Town with City status, and will therefore no longer elect a Representative, although Jonathan I – who has served as the capital’s Representative for most of its history – retains an observer status in Parliament. Wrythe is considered by many to be the historical and cultural heart of the Empire, being Austenasia’s first land claim and the site of the Imperial Residence. With the Emperor seeking to withdraw from political life following last month’s implementation of the Regency, this new law has made long-term provision for Wrythe to remain under Austenasian sovereignty regardless of the level of interaction between Jonathan I and the imperial government.

Emperor Father named Pater Patriae on 60th birthday

In celebration of his sixtieth birthday, HIH Emperor Father Terry has been granted the unprecedented title of Pater Patriae by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor. Jonathan I announced the bestowing of the title with the publication of an Imperial Edict this morning. Pater Patriae, which literally translates to “Father of the Fatherland”, was a title originally conferred by the Roman Senate to individuals considered successors of Romulus. In recent centuries, the title has been used more widely to refer to the founding fathers of a country. For Emperor Father Terry, the title will be translated “Father of the Nation.” The unique honour was presented as a birthday present from the Emperor and People of Austenasia as a whole. As such, supporting the Emperor’s decision to grant the title were the Prime Minister, the Consuls, and a vote of the House of Representatives. The Imperial Edict conferred the title “in grateful recognition of his role as Father of the Nation as de facto co-Founder, first Emperor of Austenasia, and Head of the Ancient and Imperial House of Austen in addition to his other contributions towards the country.”