Via Imperii



The Via Imperii was a secret society of powerful people based in Europe in The Royal Heir series. They are first referenced in The Royal Heir, Book 3, Chapter 7 at Barthelemy Beaumont's secret lodge, and later vaguely hinted in Chapter 16. Their name and organization are first brought to light in Chapter 19, and they are finally disbanded in The Royal Finale, Chapter 16.

History
"'Power is nothing without purpose. Purpose must be shaped by might. The head that wears the crown must serve the hand that wields the blade.'-The Royal Finale, Chapter 14"

Cordonia
During King Constantine's reign, there were numerous attempts to eliminate or overthrow the Rys monarchy. King Eirik reaffirms some of the events proven on Duke Godfrey's harddrive showcasing Barthelemy's involvement, but not all attempts were credited to Barthelemy. These events are (in chronological order):


 * Assassination attempt against King Constantine, his first Queen, and Prince "Leo" - Unconfirmed
 * Operation: Snowspear. Coup against monarchy by Lionel & Camellia Nevrakis and allies. - Confirmed.
 * Assassination of Queen Eleanor by Godfrey and Barthelemy. - Confirmed. However, desired outcome (replacing Eleanor as the main influence in Constantine's ear) was not achieved. Opposite outcome achieved. Therefore, mission was a failure.
 * Assassination of Jackson Walker - Originally disguised as an assassination attempt against King Constantine, the Via Imperii murdered Jackson after Bastien revealed to them that he was planning to expose them and take them down - Confirmed.
 * Assassination attempt against King Constantine, Queen Regina, and Prince "Liam". "Liam" was approximately 18-22 years old at the time. - Unconfirmed.
 * Coup against monarchy by Anton Severus and the Sons of Earth. Assassination of King-Father Constantine. - Confirmed.
 * Usurpation of throne by Barthelemy Beaumont. - Confirmed. However, before being crowned Crown-Regent, his crimes against Cordonia were exposed and he was arrested.

Auvernal
After the Auvernal alliance with Cordonia fell in The Royal Heir, Book 2, Chapter 19, public approval of King Bradshaw and Queen Isabella started to fall. The Voice contacted Reena, the exiled Queen of Rivala, to tell her story and sow more dissent among the Auvernese populace and Royal Council. The Royal Council removed the two royals from power, and the Via Imperii sent you to choose their replacement. If you choose Lady Margot as the new Queen of Auvernal, they are pleased. If you choose Reena, they are not.

Vallenheim
As far as global politics go, Vallenheim is considered unremarkable, being a small Nordic country known for frigid weather and winter sports. It is ruled by Queen Sigrid, who most see as a figurehead as she uses Sergio to rule on her behalf. Unbeknownst to all except the Circle, it is home to the leader of the Via Imperii, the Empress.

Monterisso
According to Amalas, there were always power plays in some of the royal circles that didn't add up. Eventually, she discovered that the Via Imperii were responsible for them and assumed that Eirik visited her in Monterisso to see if she was on their trail.

Crescent Isle
Crescent Isle is one of several private islands owned by the Via Imperii. It is used by high-ranking members and their families. On the island lies ruins where the Via Imperii was founded many centuries ago. On one of the walls, there are several lines of writing -the Via Imperii code- in multiple languages such as Latin, Greek, and English.

Present Day
"To the head that wears the crown... And the hand that wields the blade."

- Via Imperii coded greeting

According to King Eirik, the society is kept well hidden and is widespread throughout the world. Members of Via Imperii pull strings to make sure the right people hold the power and wear the crowns. To prove to you that anyone from police and judges, peasants and kings can be a member, he flashes a pin and shows you who in Cordonia's Court is part of their society. He relays an offer to you from the powers he serves, inviting you to join. Eirik states that Barthelemy out lived his usefulness after he was exposed implying that they no longer had any use for him.

If asked, Eirik states that Barthelemy and the other instigators' means of gaining power were extreme and not everyone in the Via Imperii agreed with their methods.

Gladius Company
The Gladius Company runs security ops, search and recovery of valuable assets, reconnaissance on secure locations, and more. They handle missions that require precision and power.

Trial of Masks
The Trial of Masks is a competition where members of the Circle invite candidates to outwit and outsmart their fellow competitors to win a seat on the council.

Striking Ceremony
According to Eirik, the Striking Ceremony is a ceremony when a traitor is found among the society and the only time that the Black Ledger is brought out. They are then stripped of all influence, and their names are struck through with red ink to let history know that they are enemies to the Via Imperii.

Appearance
Members have a gold and diamond pin featuring a sword and a crown.

Misc.

 * Unnamed Waiter
 * Unnamed Noble(s)
 * Unnamed Assassin
 * Julius Caesar †
 * Napoleon Bonaparte †

Trivia

 * Via Imperii literally translates to Imperial Road. In real life, the Via Imperii were a class of trade routes, and a route bearing the specific name was a trade route in the Holy Roman Empire that stretched from Stettin in Pomeria (modern day, Szczein, a Polish border town) to Rome.
 * In The Royal Finale Chapter 4, it is revealed that the Via Imperii is run by a council called The Circle. The members consist of; The Empress, The Fist, The Eye, The Voice, and The Face.
 * Given that the society has existed since the time of Julius Caesar, this means the society is over two millennia old.
 * Sigrid mentions that the Via Imperii abandoned blood rituals a long time ago because they were unsanitary.