Emperor Jonathan I celebrates ten years on the Throne

It was ten years ago today – 20 January 2013 – that His Imperial Majesty Emperor Jonathan I ascended to the Austenasian Throne.

To mark this momentous occasion, today’s Imperial Ascension Day – an annual public holiday – has been declared the start of a Decennalia year, during which various celebratory events will take place to observe the tenth anniversary of the Emperor’s first year on the Throne.

Emperor Jonathan I has published an Imperial Edict thanking those who have supported him in his reign and recommitting himself to the promises made at his coronation.

The Edict also contains a small honours list. The Emperor’s cousin Lord Timothy has been made Archduke of Gallia, and three other imperial rulers – Quentin I and the deputy monarchs of Imvrassia – have been given Austenasian dukedoms.

To further mark today’s jubilee, His Imperial Majesty also donated coins of historical emperors to the Imperial Numismatic Museum.

The first major Decennalia event is an online chess tournament which will take place tomorrow, in which twenty people are expected to take part.

Jonathan I is the fourth Emperor of Austenasia, and the only one to have reached this milestone of ten years on the Throne.

He became Emperor upon the abdication of his immediate predecessor Declan I, having been Heir to the Throne as son of Austenasia’s founding Monarch, Terry I.

His Imperial Majesty will address the Senate on this momentous occasion later today.

Consuls appointed for 2023

Lord William Wilson, Duke of Taysha, yesterday as Prime Minister appointed the two Consuls for 2023.

Annually appointed to a yearly term, the Consuls are Austenasia’s highest judicial authorities, responsible for sentencing convicted criminals. In following ancient Roman practice, they also give their names to the year.

This year’s Consuls have been announced as Shiro Mephistopheles and Sir Anthony Clark.

Mephistopheles previously served as Minister of Defence from 2018-19, and was recently elected Chairman of the Grand Unified Micronational.

Sir Anthony has served as Attorney-General since 2020, and also holds office as Governing Commissioner of Amerdansk.

Both became Austenasian nationals on the same day, 6 August 2018.

Consular years are named in Latin; 2023 is therefore the year of the consulship of Lucinus Mephistopheles and Antonius Clericii Eques.