Editing Strephon Aella Alkhalikoi

{{VIP
|name = Strephon
|race = [[Solomani]]-[[Vilani]] Mix
|birthname= Strephon Aella Alkhalikoi
|birthdate = [[1049]]
|deathdate = [[1115]] (disputed)
|spouse = Iolanthe Guuilbataashullibaa Alkhalikoi
|children = Ciencia - Avery
|order = Forty-Third
|office = Emperor
|state = [[Third Imperium]]
|termstart = [[1071]]
|termend = [[1115]]
|predecessor = [[Paulo III]]
|successor = Disputed
}}
[[Strephon Aella Alkhalikoi]] holds the ultimate title, the highest office of the land; he is the [[Emperor]] of the [[Third Imperium]].
* As such, he holds numerous titles, fiefdoms, and more.
* Also head of [[House Alkhalikoi]] and the [[Alkhalikoi Dynasty]].

== Description (Character) ==
Oldest surviving issue of [[Paulo III]]. Born on 202-[[1049]], proclaimed [[Emperor]] by the [[Moot]] in [[1071]].

Married [[Iolanthe Guuilbataashullibaa]] in [[1079]].

== History & Background (Biography) ==
Strephon Aella Alkhalikoi was born on 202-1049, the first child of [[Emperor]] [[Paulo III]] and [[Elbet Osmanlia Aella]], daughter of a Count in the [[Gushemege Sector]]. Following the sudden death of his mother under mysterious circumstances at the Imperial Palace, wrapped in his grief Emperor Paulo III paid little attention to his children, with Grand Prince Strephon and his younger sister Princess [[Lydia Aella Alkhalikoi|Lydia]] being 'parented' by tutors and palace footmen and leading to both growing up quiet and sullen, more prone to calculate advantage than seek affection.{{Page cite|name=Nobles|page=88}}

Strephon enrolled into the Imperial Naval Academy (Core Branch) a few days after his 18th birthday with the intention of earning a commission as a line naval officer. He earned high marks in most courses, performing especially well in history and military law, and passing grades during his shipboard cruises. In late [[1070]] while serving aboard the battleship ''Tomutov I'' Midshipman Strephon Alkhalikoi received word that his father was ill and not expected to live. The battleship immediately set course to [[Capital (world)|Capital]], arriving three days after Paulo III's death. As part of his succession to the [[Iridium Throne]], Strephon was directly promoted from midshipman to Grand Admiral of the Imperial Fleet, the most drastic promotion in the [[Imperial Navy]]'s history.{{Page cite|name=Nobles|page=89}}

Upon his ascension to the throne, Strephon was the youngest Emperor in over 300 years, arousing concern among many due to the consensus that the Iridium Throne was intended for experienced, seasoned rulers and the Imperium too large and complex for a young person to handle wisely. In part as response to this belief and with the goal of projecting the image of a steady hand at the head of the state Strephon ruled with a light hand for a long time, making few significant changes to policy and relying on the Imperial [[Archduke|Archdukes]] a great deal, granting them increasing authority to act as his viceroys in their domains.{{Page cite|name=Nobles|page=89}}

During this period Strephon, hoping to use its prestige to further suggest calm and stability to the Imperium as a whole, made a marriage alliance with an ancient Vilani noble family by asking the hand of Lady [[Iolanthe Alkhalikoi|Iolanthe Guuilbataashullibaa]] following a brief courtship and consultation with his sister [[Lydia Aella Alkhalikoi|Lydia]]. After thinking on the offer for several days, she married Emperor Strephon in 1079, eight years after his coronation.{{Page cite|name=Nobles|page=89}}{{Page cite|name=Nobles|page=90}}

The first great challenge of Strephon's reign was the [[Fourth Frontier War]] ([[1082]] to [[1084]]). Over in a mere 16 months and conducted entirely within the [[Spinward Marches Sector]], Strephon took little part in its actual management, but through the application of adroit public relations was able to leverage the Imperium' modest territorial gains to portray himself as a capable and victorious war-time leader. The war also marked the beginning of a long friendship between Strephon and [[Duke Norris]] of [[Regina (world)|Regina]].{{Page cite|name=Nobles|page=89}}{{Page cite|name=The Third Imperium|page=51}}

Strephon truly began to take control of the Imperium in the aftermath of the Fourth Frontier War. The war exposed the vulnerability of the [[Domain of Deneb]] and the Emperor recognised that the Imperium must be better prepared for inevitable future Frontier Wars, waking Strephon up to the reality that it was becoming too broad and unwieldy, Its disparate sectors are too far apart for communication to be practical. In defiance of the [[Imperial Moot]], Strephon re-established the domains and appointed archdukes to most of them to enhance the Imperium’s abilities to respond to crises such as those seen in the Domain of Deneb, whose borders with the [[Zhodani Consulate|Zhodani]], [[Vargr Extents|Vargr]] and the upstart [[Sword Worlds Confederation|Sword Worlds]] had been a historical source of trouble.{{Page cite|name=The Third Imperium|page=52}}

At the time of the appointment of new Archdukes, the Chancellor of the Moot, a strong believer in the efficacy of [[Psychohistory|psychohistory]], advised Strephon to take heed of [[Domain of Ilelish|Ilelish]], where [[Ilelish Revolt|one revolt]] was put down centuries earlier and which could very well be the source of renewed unrest. In an attempt to pre-emptively address such problems in [[1104]]{{Page cite|name=Imperial Encyclopedia|page=11}} the Emperor appointed one of his closest friends, [[Dulinor Astrin Ilethian]], as Archduke of the Domain of Ilelish in an effort to forestall any problems from the highly developed and industrialised province.{{Page cite|name=The Third Imperium|page=52}}

By [[1105]], as the Emperor has gotten older he has found that the crown weighs upon him more heavily, the Imperium having become a difficult to manage and very complex affair. When able the Emperor likes to get away to the northern seas of [[Capital (world)|Capital]], the reserve world of [[Crompton (world)|Crompton]] or even the stark desolation of [[Onon (world)|Onon]], depending on his mood. Emperor Strephon travels [[Core Sector|Core]] and its neighbouring sectors frequently, mostly on official business, and also became involved in several highly secretive enterprises involved with the security of Capital and the Imperium at large.{{Page cite|name=The Third Imperium|page=52}}

In the early 1100s, Strephon launched a series of reforms, giving [[Imperial Nobility|Archdukes]] additional governing powers and taxation authority.  The restoration of governing and taxation powers were designed to reconnect the [[Iridium Throne]] to the lives of Imperial citizens, shifting from its then-current position as a distant and abstract authority.

The [[Strephonian Reforms]] (begun in 1113) were also meant to shake the government from the grip of complacency and stagnation.  To lead the reforms, he appointed [[Dulinor Astrin Ilethian|Dulinor]] [[Imperial Nobility|Archduke]] of the [[Domain of Ilelish]].  Both the reforms and the selection of [[Dulinor Astrin Ilethian]] were accomplished over significant opposition within the [[Moot]].

There are rumors that Strephon is contemplating activating the [[Domain of Deneb]] and elevating Duke [[Aledon, Norris Aella|Norris]] of [[Regina, Duchy of|Regina]] to Archduke of Deneb in recognition of the signal services he did the Imperium during the [[Fifth Frontier War]].

=== Rebellion Period ===
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  |content=Strephon's double was assassinated on 132-[[1116]] by [[Dulinor Astrin Ilethian|Archduke Dulinor]], who then claimed the throne by the old, forgotten custom of [[Right of Assassination]].  Dulinor eventually fled to his stronghold in [[Ilelish Sector|Ilelish]], to prepare for war.  Strephon himself was on a science mission to supervise progress of project [[Longbow]] scanning the [[Empress Wave]].  When Strephon was informed of [[Dulinor Astrin Ilethian|Dulinor's]] treason - and the death of his wife [[Iolanthe]] and his daughter and heir [[Imperial Nobility|Grand Princess]] [[Ciencia Iphegenia Alkhalikoi|Ciencia]] - he choose to retreat to [[Usdiki (world)|Usdiki]], instead of moving to challenge [[Lucan|Lucan's]] ascension to the Iridium Throne on [[Capital (world)|Capital]].

He publicly declared himself as the authentic [[Imperial Nobility|Emperor]] in [[1117]], but only subsectors close to [[Usdiki (world)|Usdiki]] rallied around him: other factions ignored his call or disputed his credentials.  Many claimed that he was in fact a pseudo-biological robot.

See [[Successors to Strephon]] and the [[Real Strephon]].
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=== New Era Period ===
{{Hidden|header=The New Era <small> - (Click Show to reveal)</small>
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  |content=In 1114, Strephon had, indeed, decided to elevate Norris to Archduke of Deneb. Although he died before any public announcement was made, the patent was already ''en route'' to Norris, who received it in time to assume control of what would later become the [[Regency]].
}}

=== Emperors of the Third Imperium ===
{{ThirdImperiumEmperors}}

== References ==
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{{Sources
| {{Ludography cite|name=The Kinunir|version=Classic Traveller|page=41}}
| {{Ludography cite|name=Library Data (N-Z)|version=Classic Traveller|page=37}}
| {{Ludography cite|name=Imperial Encyclopedia|version=MegaTraveller|page=10-11, 40, 51}}
| {{Ludography cite|name=Rebellion Sourcebook|version=MegaTraveller}}
| {{Ludography cite|name=Hard Times|version=MegaTraveller}}
| {{Ludography cite|name=Arrival Vengeance|version=MegaTraveller}}
| {{Ludography cite|name=Survival Margin|version=Traveller The New Era}}
| {{Ludography cite|name=Nobles|version=GURPS Traveller|page=88-90}}
| {{Ludography cite|name= The Third Imperium|version=|page=51}}
}}

[[Category: Imperial Nobles]]
[[Category: People|Alkhalikoi, Strephon]]
[[Category: Archdukes|Aikhalikoi, Strephon]]
[[Category: Marquises]]
{{LE|Era: Rebellion|}}