Biographies

Current Biographies

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James I Kennan is the grandson of Albert Kennan, the last Baron of Cambera to live his entire life in exile. His father, David Patrick James Kennan (b. 1961), died in 2003, never having succeeded his father as Baron. James was raised in Excalbia and Pantocratoria and graduated from the Excalbian Imperial Military Academy at Fairfield. Post-graduation, he split his time between an estate in Excalbia, not far from Southport, and his grandfather’s residence in Pantocratoria.

After his grandfather’s death in 2005, James became the Baron of Cambera. When Saxmereans began demonstrating against the administration of Confederal President Tom Caine, James added his voice to the opposition and cultivated a movement to restore the grand ducal throne. The crisis in Saxmere eventually led to the Treaty of Courtland, which allowed the citizens of Saxmere to vote separately on seceding from the Confederation of Sovereign States and restoring the throne. Somewhat paradoxically the people voted to remain in the Confederation with a promise of greater autonomy while restoring the monarchy.

James returned to Saxmere in 2005 to become the Grand Duke of the newly established Autonomous Grand Duchy of Saxmere. In 2018, secession unexpectedly returned to the fore and Saxmere became an independent country, with James as its Grand Duke and constitutional monarch.

James married Princess Ekaterine of Kartlis in 2020.

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Paul Mardan was one of the founders of Saxmereans for Christian Social Concern, one of the groups that led protests against Confederal President Tom Caine’s secularist and social libertarian agenda. The group was perhaps most famous for using sock puppets in their demonstrations to illustrate their concerns that Caine was in league with the so-called Order of the Invisible Hand. Mardan and his organization opposed secession in 2004 – hoping to work within the CSS to promote a more socially conscious society. Saxmere voted for autonomy within the Confederation, Mardan became one of the founders of the Christian Democratic Party.

After the CDP moved into leadership in Parliament in 2016, Mardan was named Prime Minister. When Saxmere seceded from the Confederation in 2018, Mardan’s party and its coalition partners retained control of Parliament and he remained as Prime Minister.

Mardan is a devout Catholic and is married with three children.

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The Nugent family has a long history of service to the Grand Dukes of Saxmere. Alec Nugent became chief advisor and majordomo to Baron Albert Kennan in 1996. When the elder Kennan died in 2005, Nugent, continued to fill the same role for young Baron James Kennan. With the restoration of the grand ducal throne in 2006, Nugent was named Grand Chamberlain by Grand Duke James I Kennan.

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Sean Peller has the distinction of being the last Governor of the State of Saxmere and the first Prime Minister of the Autonomous Grand Duchy of Saxmere. The so-called Saxmere Secession Crisis erupted during his tenure as Governor, and he attempted to navigate a middle course between embracing public opposition to President Caine and the desire to maintain peace and stability. He played a key role in negotiations surrounding the Treaty of Courtland and was widely praised for helping bring the crisis to a peaceful resolution.

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Other Notables

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Marty Trundlemann (b. 1962), Chairman of Saxmereans for Christian Social Concern

Colin Hannigan (b. 1959), President of the Saxmerean Confederation of Trade Unions

Historical Biographies

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In the face of unrelenting attacks from the Excalbian Highland Kingdom, the eastern Lowlander duchies decided in 1652 to create a stronger, more unified state to resist the Highlanders. After months of negotiation, the Bishop of Umbra crowned John Patrick Kennan, Baron Cambera, Grand Duke of the newly proclaimed Grand Duchy of Saxmere.
Grand Duke John I managed to hold off the attacks of King Sweyn II of Excalbia, who then made peace with Saxmere in 1653. The peace held for 20 years until Lowlanders in the territory of Trondgard attacked the King’s tax collectors in 1673 reigniting the war. A rebellion against Queen Hildegaard of Excalbia in 1674 gave Saxmere the opportunity to again make peace with the Highland Kingdom.

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Patrick II was the son of Grand Duke Thomas I Kennan and came to the throne at a young age. As a result, his Council of Ministers frequently felt at liberty to impose their own interpretations on his decrees. During this period, power shifted from the Grand Duke to the Council, which became a de facto parliament. In the early 19th century when a Protestant Christian confederation of Lowland tribes made war against King Ragarth, Saxmere rebelled and joined the confederation. The last Grand Duke, Patrick II, opposed the rebellion and deposed and driven from Saxmere. He died in exile at the court of the Excalbian Emperor.

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John IV was the son of Patrick II. Upon his father’s death in 1821, John proclaimed himself “Grand Duke in Exile” and took the regnal name John IV.

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Albert I was the son of John IV. In 1871 he relocated the Court in Exile to Pantocratoria.

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John V was the son of Michael III. He formally dissolved the Court in Exile in 1915.