High Pontiff Daniel III
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Daniel III (Common: Daniel III; High Imperial: Daniel III) (17th of Malin's Welcome, 1526 – 12th of the Grand Harvest, 1565), given the epithet the Blind for his lack of eyesight near the end of his tenure, was High Pontiff between 1552 and 1562. Daniel, formerly known Prince Charles Francis of the Holy Orenian Empire, also served in numerous other positions, most notably as Duke of Ghorrack for 1542 to 1544 as well as one of his father's ambassadors and courtiers.
After the death of Tobias I, Charles had already been placed upon the Synod and gained favor with the other Cardinals, who viewed Tobias as weak and a pawn of the Duke Augustus d'Amaury. This faction pushed for the election of Daniel and he was able to beat out his opponent, Adrian Denims-Therving. The coronation of Daniel seemed in good favor and his early reign was marked with positive progress. He reorganized his College, removing the corrupt and money embezzling Cardinals that had risen during Tobias. The early point of reform in his reign ended. His era of blunders began, and he forged a weak and unsuccesful Faith Militant and failed to negotiate for the independence of the Papal States, with John II, Holy Orenian Emperor. The Pontiff continued on a series of blunders which would give rise to a growing conservative faction. He was assassinated once, but cheated death and became blind by way of the Cloud Temple Monks.
The tension between the Pontiff and his opposing faction climaxed on the day of his second assassination, by plotters from within his Church. The College met, following his death, to elect a new Pontiff. However, the College was interupted when a revived, once more by Cloud Temple Monks, Daniel III returned and, with the aid of his Holy Knights, forcefully excommunicated the Cardinals who had opposed him. Following the removal of his enemies, the Pontiff, driven mad by his many resurrections and horrid blindness, declared himself a Prophet and issued a series of Revelations which completely eradicated the College of Cardinals, placed the Church under Imperial Control, established a Designated Inheritance system for the Pontificate, and elevated Man above the other races (a move seemingly against his previous liberal persona). After his abdication, Daniel elected his own heir, which had never been done before in Church History. He was succeeded by Theodosius I.
Issue
Prince Charles Henry, Viscount of Visigia (1543-present)
Prince Henry Joseph of Furnestock (1543-present)
Julia Adelheid of Furnestock (1544-present)
