New Era of Holzborg

[Nathan]

Herren und Damen,

Holzborg has recently been annexed to the Natopian Empire for care and preservation of its history and culture. My predecessor, Kaiser Frederick II, has entrusted me with this nation and I shall not let him or its people down. As the new kaiser I will work to integrate Holzborg into Natopia as a functional and relevant protectorate while maintaining and fostering its cultural growth.

[Johann Boyen]

YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY, the Kaiser Nathan, Kaiser of Holzborg, Supreme Sovereign of the Holzer Reich, King of Holstein et alii, greeting.

My name is Johann Boyen. I have been a citizen of Holzborg for quite some time; indeed for years I have been in and out of the country, ruling my lands as a nobleman and serving the Empire as Minister of War. You may read about my ancestry here (a link - the forums colours do not show it thus unfortunately) and about my personal fief here (another link).

Your predecessor, Frederick Augustus II, was in his heyday a great leader of our people. I hope you shall follow in his footsteps and rule Holzborg with wisdom and compassion, with prudence and a respect for the noble traditions of our country. However, during the latter days of his reign, he seemed to grow fraught with some kind of madness - I am no physician, but he did not consult any of his trusted advisers such as myself and the Fürst zu Lichtenberg, Victor Drosselmeyer, and indeed sought to change his name before the end. Truly a tragic case. I hope the stress of ruling the nation does not also get to you, Your Majesty.

While some may object to a non-Holzer, indeed a foreign ruler, taking the post of Kaiser, to them I say it would be a good thing to go to the great Königriver Büchersammlung and withdraw a book on Holzer history. Indeed, the Reich has something of a tradition of foreigners ruling our nation, all the while exhibiting the virtues that many of our true Holzer monarchs have not shown. So to them I say, boo! and may our new Warlord not follow in the footsteps of the cruel and intolerant Kaiser Hans-Friedrich, an Alexandrian.

I conclude this address by offering unto you, the new Kaiser of this nation, a basket of assorted fruits hand-picked by the citizens of Beiersdorf-Freudenberg, the territory I call home, and this longsword forged by my great-great-grandfather Hans Boyen in his days as a smith. Take these offerings as you would the meagre gifts of a personal servant in your own house which he would present to you on a special and joyous occasion.

[Nathan]

Mein Herr,

I truly thank you for this meaningful gift. What it lacks in price it more than makes up for in riches, for it represents the people of Holzborg and their pride in their nation. I humbly accept with utmost respect your heirloom sword and shall guard it as I guard the crown jewels of Holzborg.

With the assent of the people of Holzborg, this shall truly be a new era for the empire! To celebrate the marking of a new beginning we shall celebrate an imperial coronation soon to legitimize and lay to rest any doubts about the future of this great nation.

[Johann Boyen]

Hip! hip! huzzah! The Kaiser returns to Holzborg. Welcome back your Majesty. A new era of glory for the Empire! Lead us, Warlord, that we might follow to greatness.

A coronation would be a most excellent idea. Might I humbly suggest first that the current session of the Reichstag be ended and a General Diet of Noble Recognition be called whereby all the nobles from the greatest King to the lowest Count be given an opportunity to officially recognise you as the new Kaiser of the Empire? This would surely satisfy even the most rebellious enemy of our nation's stability with regard to your legitimacy as ruler of our noble people.

If at any point your Imperial Majesty does require or desire any assistance with the coronation, general operation of Holzer institutions or matters of state, "my office is only down the hall" as it were and I am most willing to serve. Though I am in no doubt you shall prove yourself to be a great leader of the Holzer people, you are a foreigner: a fact to be proud of, for sure, as your experience has lead the people of Natopia to dizzying heights of glory-- or so I hear. Nonetheless, it does leave you lacking in only one respect, the knowledge of the traditions of the Empire. That said, allow me not to forget my place as a mere subject before a sovereign. The state is yours to malleate into whatever shape you would like to see it. But put simply, I am here if you need me.