Friedrich IV

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Revision as of 15:48, 5 October 2013

Kaiser Friedrich IV
Gender:	Male
Affiliation:	Galactic Empire
Occupation:	Kaiser of the Galactic Empire
Status:	Deceased (natural causes)
Died:	796 UC (487 IC / 3596 CE)
Children:	Amarie, Christine, Ludwig
Played by:	Osamu Saka

Friedrich von Goldenbaum IV (Japanese: フリードリヒ・フォン・ゴールデンバウム4世) was the 36th and penultimate kaiser of the Goldenbaum Dynasty.

He died of a heart attack in late 796 UC (487 IC / 3596 CE). (LOGH: 'New Trends')

History

Friedrich von Goldenbaum IV was the youngest son of the 35th Kaiser of the Galactic Empire, Otofried V. As such, he never intended (or prepared) to take the throne, and spent his younger years pursuing personal pleasure, to the point of almost being disowned. Before his father's death, his debts reached 540,000 Imperial Marks.

In 761 UC (452 IC / 3561 CE), Otofried V's eldest son, Crown Prince Richard von Goldenbaum IV, was implicated in a plot to assassinate his father, and executed. Later in 764 UC (455 IC / 3564 CE), it was discovered that Richard had been innocent, and his younger brother, prince Clementz von Goldenbaum had framed him. Clementz died in an accident while attempting to flee to the Free Planets Alliance.

Otofried V died in 765 UC (456 IC / 3565 CE), passing on the throne to his youngest son, Friedrich. Friedrich had little interest in politics, so he left most matters of government to his Prime Minister, Klaus von Lichtenlade. As of December 794 UC (485 IC / 3594 CE), there had been no domestic accomplishments of note after nearly 30 years on the throne. (LOGH: 'The Klopstock Incident', TBT: 'Part One', Legend of Galactic Heroes Encyclopaedia)

Friedrich IV's unwillingness to properly govern the Galactic Empire resulted in several revolts against Imperial rule, such as the Kastrop Rebellion. When Friedrich died, he had no surviving male heirs, leaving the matter of Imperial succession up to debate — debate that would serve as a catalyst for the Imperial Civil War. Prime Minister Klaus von Lichtenlade and Reinhard von Lohengramm supported Friedrich's only direct male heir, his grandson, Erwin Joseph II, but most of the High Nobles supported either Elizabeth von Goldenbaum, Friedrich IV's eldest granddaughter, or Sabine von Littenheim, his younger granddaughter.

The ensuing civil war brought about the eventual collapse of the Goldenbaum Dynasty. Though the dynasty would see two additional Kaisers of the Goldenbaum line after Friedrich's death, they were both children who served as little more than puppets for Reinhard von Lohengramm, who wielded real political power. Friedrich IV was the last "true" Goldenbaum Kaiser, and his inaction ensured the doom of the Empire.

Motives

Although outwardly he seemed interested only in his own personal pleasure, he was aware that Reinhard had ambitions to usurp the throne. His continued promotion of Reinhard to ever higher rank in spite of this suggested Friedrich IV was disinterested in the continued survival of the Goldenbaum Dynasty and was even setting the stage for a dramatic end to it. (Overture to a New War,LOGH: 'Cool, Clear Artificial Eyes')

Appendices

Appearances

Apocrypha

Stage

Played by Hatsunori Hasegawa

Friedrich IV is played by Hatsunori Hasegawa in the 2011 stage adaptation of LOGH.

Memorable quotes

1. "As with the genesis of the human race, there's no reason for the existence of the Goldenbaum dynasty. Just as there is no immortal person, I'm afraid there is also no indestructible nation. The evil truth may be that the Galactic Empire will die out in my era. At any rate, if it is to be destroyed, it should be destroyed as magnificently as possible."