Lyonine Monarchs

The Monarchy of the Lyonine Empire is the of the Lyonine Empire, and its Commonwealth of Realms. The monarchy is also a and  position whose incumbent is styled the Emperor or Empress (Floren:''Hegezar/Hegezarin de Lyonine"). The monarch also serves as the country's.

The current monarch and head of state is Astolfo VII Arleaux, who assumed authority as Hegezar of the Lyonine Empire on February 15, 1977.

The Lyonine monarchy has its origins in the various Kingdoms referred to as the Lyonic Realms which dominated the area of modern Lyonia following the fall of the Arlesian Hegemony. The modern Lyonine monarchy traces its ancestry back to the rulers of the Arlesian Hegemony which collapsed in the 3rd Century BCE. The Lyonine monarchy has joint powers with the civilian government and retains authority through the Constitution of the Nation, though there are plenty of checks and balances to prevent the same kind of corruption and overreach experienced during the latter years of the Absolutist Period.

House Tolengia (766 - 965)
House Tolengia (Tolengians) ascended to the throne following the long and arduous Unification Wars lasting from 741-766 which were finally completed under Astolfo I. In 766 Astolfo Tolengia was the first ruler to be crowned sovereign of the Lyonic Realms though at the time they were the Arlesian Realms successors to the Arlesian Hegemony nearly a millennia prior. The first to reign in this new era was Astolfo I Toelgia and the last of his line would be Astolfo IV in 965, who with no legitimate heirs would see the throne pass to his a distant relative of a different dynasty.

House Armagnon (965 - 1070)
Following the death of Astolfo IV in 959 the nation descended into absolute chaos as a group of northern and western nobles proclaimed that Queen Melisande of a neighboring kingdom to be the new Sovereign. With their forces occupying the capital she was accepted by the Curia though this was rejected by the remaining nobility. Open civil war erupted in 960 and would see the full intervention of Queen Melisande's kingdom in the conflict. The war became known as the War of Lyons. Eventually Queen Melisande having the superior numbers and resources was able to secure a peace and was installed as a foreign Hegezarin, the bulk of her reign would be spent ruling from her capital rather than the City of Lyo. Many view this period as the Dark Century, the first of this era would be Melisande I "the Unworthy" and the last would be Elias III.

House Caligorante (1070 - 1463)
Following decades of instability and resentment towards the foreign sovereigns occupying the Lion Throne, the nobles of the south and east rose up in open rebellion. Their forces stormed the capital Aveia and executed the Armagnon ruler. After several days of violence and horror the House of Caligorante was proclaimed by consent of the Curia to take up the Mantle and sit upon the Lion Throne. The period was marked by the stability and growing prosperity of the realm though the first two centuries saw great expansion against the former areas to the north of the Lyonic Realms. The last sixty years saw a slow build up towards the eventual civil war dubbed the Lyon's Folly.The first of this line would be Isybelle II "the Destined" and the last would be Elias IV.

House Miramonte (1463 - 1666)
With the events of the Lyon's Folly taking place in the period of 1459 - 1463 it is sometimes dated as House Miramonte taking the throne in the beginning due to their holding of the City of Lyo early in the opening months of the conflict however the Hegezar Elias III was not forced to officially abdicate and renounce all claims to the Lion Throne until 1463 and thus is the traditional start date. The remainder of House Miramonte's time upon the throne and as sovereigns was mostly bellicose fighting several long wars and many smaller ones against their neighbors, primarily Acronius to the north. The culmination of the issues would be over the northern most realms that had become apart of the Lyonic Realms following the Queen Melisande I's successful usurpation of the throne after the end of the First Dynasty. The first of this era is Madeleine I and the last is Madeleine II.

House Arleaux(1666 - Present)
With the Year of Three Sovereigns transpiring and ending with the successful inheritance of the throne by House Arleaux the nation entered a period of great reforms. With the wars with Acronius finally coming to an end and peace settling over the Empire, the successive governments of the Sovereigns began to divest more and more authority to a civilian government with the first true elections being held in 1717 though full emancipation of the public wouldn't take place until 1802 when women, minorities and others were given full voting rights. The Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution, Social Revolution and the Great Wars would all take place under the watchful and ever vigilant gaze of House Arleaux. Known for their compassion, erudite tendency and their remarkable ability to remain above the political fray has earned the House a reputation of great respect. The first of the era is Renald IV and the last being the current sovereign, Astolfo VII.