Doge Teseo of Valico
via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.
The city of Valico is one of the oldest in Realmgard and the current republican government has existed in basically the same form for as long as Valico has existed as an independent polity. The leader of the Most Serene Republic of Valico is known as the Doge, a title coming from the old Elven word for leader.
The current Doge of Valico, Teseo Riccamente, is both the longest-reigning current head of state in Realmgard and holds the record for longest-tenured Doge of Valico. Although born in a wealthy family, Teseo is known for his frugality and simple lifestyle on an individual level, but for spending freely for the good of the city, sponsoring lavish festivals, patronising artistic and architectural projects, and increasing the salary of the city’s magistrates and public workers.
Teseo is particularly known as a lover of fine art, though in keeping with his modest personal living, his own collection is minimal. The majority of paintings commissioned during his tenure as Doge are now displayed in publicly-accessible locations throughout the city.
This open-handedness for the sake of benefitting and beautifying the city has made Teseo immensely popular with the people, leading to a widely held perception that Valico is in the midst of a golden age under his leadership.
Although wealthy enough to field a large mercenary army when needed, Valico has largely adopted a policy of neutral in the affairs of Natalis and beyond. Under Teseo’s leadership, the city has position itself as a peacemaker and mediator in the conflicts between other polity’s, in particular establishing the territory of Valico as neutral territory where all merchants may pass freely without risk of harm.
This policy extends even beyond Realmgard’s borders. As the state controlling the most expansive maritime trade routes, particularly those bound for the eastern continent of Laodike, Valico has become a neutral third party in the longstanding conflicts between the Archipelagian Empire and the Arslani Dynasty. Teseo and personally visited the courts of both the Archipelagian Emperor and the Arslani Sultan, exchanging lavish gifts with the two monarchs. Significantly, Teseo has meditated a peace treaty between the two, instituting the longest period of peace between Archipelago and the Arslani in generations. Notably, Valico has been rewarded preferential trade rights with the two.
Teseo is known to speak Gardian, several dialects of Natalian, Pelayan, Gallicantien, Archipelagian, Arslani, Elven, Dwarven, and even some Goblin. The ease with which he has proven himself capable of learning new languages has allowed to become a successful diplomat and negotiator.
Venice has seen a large influx of Archipelagian scholars fleeing the disruptions and dangers of the wars with the Arslani, leading to the introduction of many new artistic techniques and scholarly texts previously unknown in Realmgard. Teseo has commissioned the building of numerous printing presses to facilitate the spread of this knowledge throughout Valico’s territory and he maintains cordial personal relations with many of the Archipelagian scholars.
In fact, Teseo’s wife is an Archipelagian woman who accompanied her family to Realmgard and settled in Valico.
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