Emperor Belias II

In 765IY, 47-year-old Emperor Belias II was crowned upon the death of his father , Ignatius III. His wife was the oft-admired Paradena, patron of fine arts, a formidable artist herself, a loving wife and mother. Their union brought them only daughters, a fact that often pained the Emperor.

The first decade of his rule was spent in a highly usual fashion: Occasional tax increases, minor improvements to the military and many lavish gatherings. The only occurrence that sets the reign of Emperor Belias II apart from others was the deteriorating relations with the kingdom of Kutara.

Thirteen years into his rule, Emperor Belias II declared war on the kingdom. The War of the Iron Spear had begun. Initially, Kutaran light cavalry tactics proved effective against the Empire’s infantry. The first year taught many of the Empire’s commanders harsh lessons. They used what they had learned, and devised specialized spear formations, designed to halt advancing Kutaran cavalry with minimal losses. Swiftly the tide of war turned. The Empire won a great many battles against the Kutarans, and seized over half of the kingdom’s territory for itself before signing a treaty in 793 IY. Critically, many Kutaran iron mines were seized to bolster the Empire’s military industry. For the result of the war, Emperor Belias is looked upon favorably by historians as a man who effectively managed his commanders, and brought glory to the Empire. Spending 6 more years on the throne after the treaty, he abdicated in 799 in favor of his nephew, Horatio I, having vastly expanded the Empire’s holdings and resources.