Kathedraal van 's Koningenwaarde

[Joseph B. Windsor]

*Joseph pinkt even een traantje weg.*

[Hendrik des Vinandy]

* Op de trappen van de kathedraal blijft de koning staan, rondom hem staan de voorzitter van het Lagerhuis, de aartsbisschop en de bevelhebber van de Bataafse Strijdkrachten. De Bataven juichen en voor het bordes paradeert de koninklijke garde voorbij. Dan wordt de Gouden Koets voorgereden, de Koning daalt de trappen af en stapt in de koets. *

* The king stands on the steps of the cathedral, the speaker of the House of Commons, the archbishop and the commander of the Batavian Armed Forces stand around him. The Batavians cheer and the royal guard marches past the platform. Then the Golden Carriage is prearranged, the King descends the stairs and gets into the carriage. *

[Joseph B. Windsor]

(En nu... feestje? )

(And now... a party? )

[Hendrik des Vinandy]

* De koets zet koers richting het Arkadiusplein en Koninklijke Militaire Kapel zet de muziek in *

* The carriage sets course towards the Arkadiusplein and Royal Military Band starts the music *



* Over de stad vliegt de Koninklijke Luchtmacht over *

* The Royal Air Force flies over the city *



* In een park aan de rivier wordt een kanonsaluut gegeven *

* A canon salut is given in a park by the river *



* En het carillon van de kathedraal laat de klokken luiden *

* And the carillon of the cathedral makes the bells ring *

[Kalgachi Envoy]

"Quite a magnanimous speech by the King," said Rubina to Roy as they filed toward the cathedral entrance. "More than I would have offered." Stepping into the light of day, she momentarily paused to return the salute of a passing Natopian equerry. "If one proceeds on the convention that national sovereignty is a right rather than a privilege," she continued, "then surely the restoration of Batavia is a debt paid rather than a debt owed?"

"Never mind that," said Roy. "Can you believe the music? Benacia hasn't heard a pipe organ hammered that hard since the liches were in charge..."

[Hendrik des Vinandy]

"Never mind that," said Roy. "Can you believe the music? Benacia hasn't heard a pipe organ hammered that hard since the liches were in charge..."

IRL: The organist, Martin Mans, is known for his loud organ play. I once met him, nice man. His interpretation is Palladio by Karl Jenkins is another example of all organ stops open.

The coronation concert starts here.

[Kaiser Ayreon IV]

What a proud day this had been for the Batavians! The Kaiser was so pleased. It was a wonderful day. The ceremony was beautiful – it reminded him of his own coronation some years ago – and he was happy that soon Batavia would be reunited.

It was also probably for the better that it was not his cousin Prince David who was coronated today, but a wise man, a man able to unite the Batavian people. And indeed, soon that new king would have to be a king over the millions of former Shirerithian Batavians rejoined to their motherland.

The Kaiser was proud. He felt like a Batavian nationalist today.

Batavia will prevail, he thought for himself.

[Nathan II]

The Natopian emperor and his sister, the Natopian chancellor, sat and watched the coronation near the Shirerithian Kaiser.

He was pleased that the reunification of Batavia was achieved and it had a strong king leading it into the future.

After the ceremony he greeted the Jindaoese and Kalgachi representatives, several Batavian ministers.

Later on during his visit he presented a coronation gift to King Arkadius, a solid Thalassan silver statuette of a Batavian lion, with golden mane, Alrodean blue sapphire inlaid eyes, and Mar Saran ivory inset teeth, as a gesture of hope for cooperation between the two states in the future.

[Hendrik des Vinandy]

What a proud day this had been for the Batavians! The Kaiser was so pleased. It was a wonderful day. The ceremony was beautiful – it reminded him of his own coronation some years ago – and he was happy that soon Batavia would be reunited.

It was also probably for the better that it was not his cousin Prince David who was coronated today, but a wise man, a man able to unite the Batavian people. And indeed, soon that new king would have to be a king over the millions of former Shirerithian Batavians rejoined to their motherland.

The Kaiser was proud. He felt like a Batavian nationalist today.

Batavia will prevail, he thought for himself.

Thank you very much for your kind words. The generosity of your country is unparalleled.

While the Landsraad finishes the vote and the Batavian bureaucrats are studying the immigration laws of Shireroth, I would like to talk with you about the construction of highways and railways between our countries, scheduled flights, etc.

[Hendrik des Vinandy]

The Natopian emperor and his sister, the Natopian chancellor, sat and watched the coronation near the Shirerithian Kaiser.

He was pleased that the reunification of Batavia was achieved and it had a strong king leading it into the future.

After the ceremony he greeted the Jindaoese and Kalgachi representatives, several Batavian ministers.

Later on during his visit he presented a coronation gift to King Arkadius, a solid Thalassan silver statuette of a Batavian lion, with golden mane, Alrodean blue sapphire inlaid eyes, and Mar Saran ivory inset teeth, as a gesture of hope for cooperation between the two states in the future.

Thank you very much for your gift, this will be given a prominent place in the palace. The presence of you and your beautiful sister here is certainly an invitation to enter into diplomatic relations between our countries.

[Kaiser Ayreon IV]

What a proud day this had been for the Batavians! The Kaiser was so pleased. It was a wonderful day. The ceremony was beautiful – it reminded him of his own coronation some years ago – and he was happy that soon Batavia would be reunited.

It was also probably for the better that it was not his cousin Prince David who was coronated today, but a wise man, a man able to unite the Batavian people. And indeed, soon that new king would have to be a king over the millions of former Shirerithian Batavians rejoined to their motherland.

The Kaiser was proud. He felt like a Batavian nationalist today.

Batavia will prevail, he thought for himself.

Thank you very much for your kind words. The generosity of your country is unparalleled.

While the Landsraad finishes the vote and the Batavian bureaucrats are studying the immigration laws of Shireroth, I would like to talk with you about the construction of highways and railways between our countries, scheduled flights, etc.

Your Majesty, congratulations on your accession and coronation. I will be most happy to discuss these matters. I shall call on my minister for the exterior to take the minutes.

[Jonas]

*Een menigte verzamelt zich rondom de Catodraal van 's Koningenwaarde. Sinds de vroege ochtend hebben Bataven zich rondom de hoofdweg en het Forum d'Arkadius verzameld. Allen wachten vol spanning af tot de Gouden Koets met de Koninklijke Garde passeert. Portretten van de nieuwe koningin, Salome, hangen her en der omhoog. Bataven zwaaien lustig met hun vlag, terwijl de politiediensten met enige zenuwachtigheid alles in de gaten houden. Toeristen van verschillende nationaliteiten - variërend van Jing tot Shirerithiaan - staan klaar met hun fototoestel. De Union Jing Broadcast test voor een laatste keer uit of alles naar wens verloopt, en dan... galmen de trompetten die de komst van Salome de Eerste van Batavië aankondigt.*


*A crowd gathers around the Catodral of 's Koningenwaarde. Since early morning Batavians have gathered around the main road and the Forum d'Arkadius. All are eagerly waiting for the Golden Carriage to pass with the Royal Guard. Portraits of the new queen, Salome, hung up here and there. Batavians happily wave their flag, while the police services watch everything with some nervousness. Tourists of different nationalities - ranging from Jing to Shirerithiaan - stand ready with their camera. The Union Jing Broadcast tests for the last time that everything goes according to plan, and then... the trumpets echo, announcing the arrival of Salome the First of Batavia.*

[Kaiseress Salome]

Salome leaned forward to watch the crowds that lined the road.

They seemed so happy to see the Golden Carriage, escorted by mounted guards before it, behind it, and riding alongside. The energy in 's Koningenwaarde had been very different from that in Shirekeep. Shirekeep was eeriely quiet when her mother brought her there, half abandoned, with weeds growing out of every crack in the paving. During that particular procession, she had spotted a small boy being led by the hand off the street by his mother, and him straining to see.

A flash caught Salome's eye, and she looked at the crowd blurring by. There was a teenage girl pointing towards the Golden Carriage with one hand and waving a small Batavian flag in another, smiling from ear to ear. Within moments, she had vanished back into the crowd.

"Mamyr?"

Her personal assistant on this journey, Daute, waved his hand to regain her attention. He was dressed in the finest rendition of Laqi folk costume that Salome had ever seen. Glistening black boots stuck out from under his long coat, black with red piping.

"Gwyšy'eh teležybah?"

"Batevbze gwyšy'eŝepq." Salome said, leaning back forward to look through the window. When he protested, she replied, "Se ʐwyġeh sepłyh... okay?"

As soon as she began looking back out at the crowd, however, the Golden Carriage turned. Instead of facing the rows of cheering people, Salome found herself gazing up at the entrance of the catodral and the dignitaries awaiting her outside.

[Jonas]

Before entering the catodral, Salome was welcomed by a number of less important clergymen (and -women). They open the large wooden gate, while shouting clearly:

"De Koning - geprezen zijt Cato - is hier!" ("The king - Cato be praised - is here!")

Even though Salome is not the new king - or queen - she is welcomed by the traditional words, as it should be.

The Koninklijke Garde (Royal Guard) forms a line: their halberds go straight up in the air when the soon-to-be Staatsholder pass them. Their faces, ridden from emotion, stand in contrast with the enthusiasm of the crowd which was sitting on their church benches only a moment ago, but are now standing up to receive a glimpse of this foreign woman who will soon ascend the old Throne. Some show discontent, but most seem happy to see a new ruler arrive, even though she is foreigner and an Empress of a far-away country.

Salome walks slowly towards the Throne and the bishops in front of the catodral, while as tradition wants it, the Royal March is played.




Next to the Throne, the Archbisshop, Pius II, awaits the new monarch. He bows towards her and proclaims loud and clear:

"Hear! Hear! The powerful Cato has been asked for a new king for Batavia. The mighty Cato has answered and appointed Salome Ylva Octavia Ayreon-Kalirion ibn al-Majeed al-Osman bin Sathrati of Waffel-Paine as temporary replacement of our Line of Kings. That is why I ask you, Salome Ayreon-Kalireon, the question: are you willing to be crowned Staatsholder of Batavia, representing the Crown until Cato Our God decides otherwise?"

The new Staatsholder shows her willingness to accept by repeating the words:

"I am willing."

The Archbishop nods, after which Salome raises her hand and says loud and clear:

"I promise to the peoples of the Kingdom that I will always preserve and maintain the Constitution. I promise that I will defend and preserve the independence and territory of the Kingdom with all My ability; that I will protect the freedom and the rights of all Batavians and all residents, and to maintain and promote prosperity will employ all means which the laws make available to Me, as a good and faithful Staatsholder is to do. I promise."




The choir starts to sing "Vivat in aetuernum" on the sign of the Archbishop. He beckons his two fellow bisshops (one of Vinandy, the other from Davignon) towards him. They bring the crown jewels towards the King and Archbisshop.




It once again becomes silent and the choir starts playing the "March of the Dietse Dukes". Meanwhile, the Archbisshop takes the crown from a gilded coffin and holds the crown above the head of the new monarch.

"I hereby lend you the Willemian Crown, forged on behalf of good King William the Second, which serves as a symbol of dignity. It connects You with Your function as head of state of the Nation and as Ruler over Your subjects."



After placing the crown on the head of Arkadius, the archbishop hands over the Royal Globe, which has been passed down from king to king.

"This globe symbolises Your power, both wordly as spiritually, as King over Micras and this Kingdom."




Then it's time for the sceptre, symbol of the justice with which the Head of State serves His country. The Bisshop of Davignon cautiously places the sceptre in the hands of the Archbisshop. He in turn focuses on the King:

"The sceptre symbolises justice, and the King as highest shepherd and judge of the nation."



The Bisshop of Vinandy then takes a robe from the coffin and gives it to. The robe, made from wool mixed with gold from the Nederburgian gold mines, weighs a lot and is worth a small fortune. A reminder of an era of Batavian international trade, even before Nederburg had become a colony (which is nowadays lost).

"You are hereby granted the Golden Fleece, a woolen robe made of the finest gold wire. It has been part of the regalia for many generations and was in the possession of the Royal Family which once ruled the Kingdom of 's Koningenwaarde, before it united the territories into one country. Made with the gold of the mines to the east of Bosdaal and fabricated by crafstmen from all across the country."




Throughout the catodral, a choir of angels starts to sing. The catologian bisshops bow towards their new King and make a catologian sign. The faithful attendees follow the example of the clergy.*

"May Cato bless You, Salome the First of Her Name, and protect You against evil and protect our Kingdom, as it has in the centuries before."


Salome now stood in front of the crowd. Silence fell over the cathodral, as Salome would now address the nation as Staatsholder.