Otfried III

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Revision as of 15:53, 1 June 2014

Otofried III (Japanese: オトフリート3世) was the 31st kaiser of the Galactic Empire.

History

As Crown Prince, Otofried III was very popular, and it was assumed he would make a very capable Kaiser. Otofried III was known to have simultaneously occupied all 3 military joint chiefs of staff positions when he was Crown Prince. He also held the position of Prime Minister as Crown Prince. After his coronation, the position of Prime Minister was permanently left vacant and taboo in all subsequent reigns (until being filled by Reinhard von Lohengramm), and its responsibilities taken up by the Premier. This was to prevent any subject from following the same path or filling the same position as a Kaiser. Unfortunately, after Otofried III assumed the throne, a number of conspiracies against the Empire occurred. Most of these conspiracies failed, but they led Kaiser Otofried III to become extremely paranoid. So fearful was he of assassination, he married 4 different women as Kaiserin and changed his designated heir 5 times. It is unknown what happened to his wives after they were divorced, or his sons after they were disowned. It is likely they were either exiled, imprisoned or executed. Kaiser Otofried III died a lingering death, refusing to consume hardly any food, for fear it might be poisoned. (Legend of Galactic Heroes Volume 1: Dawn, Encyclopaedia Die Legende der Sternhelden)

Appendices

Background information

The practice of leaving the former Crown Prince's position permanently vacant is a reference to the Tang Dynasty of Imperial China, specifically Emperor Tang Taizong, who formerly was head of the executive bureau (尚書令). After he became Emperor in 626 AD, the position was left vacant for the remaining 281 years of the dynasty.