The Begnion Senate, introduced in Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and which plays a more direct role in the events of Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, is a government body in the highest seats of power among Begnion's nobility, second in authority only to the Apostle.
Overview[]
The senate is comprised of Begnion aristocrats known as the Sainted, a group of peers that also simultaneously hold high-ranking ecclesiastical positions and who claim to have been chosen by the goddess to assist the apostle in ruling the Begnion Empire. They reside in massive palaces reminiscent of temples located in the Begnion capital, Sienne. In Path of Radiance, Ike is tasked with confronting one such senator, Oliver, Duke of Tanas, a notably eccentric, egotistical narcissist obsessed with beauty whom had engaged in the laguz slave trade.
In Radiant Dawn, the larger scale of the Senate's corruption is central to the narrative, and it is revealed that they are responsible for a number of actions that build toward the entire continent of Tellius becoming embroiled in a large-scale war. These acts include, but are not limited to the assassination of Misaha, the previous apostle, and the framing of the crime on the Heron laguz, resulting in the Serenes Massacre. The senate also engaged in the use of blood pacts to secretly manipulate the nations of Kilvas and Daein.
This list of misdeeds eventually culminates in their overthrow the Apostle Sanaki, and the senate seizing control of the empire under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Lekain, who plays a direct role in most if not all of the senate's corrupt actions.
Members of Begnion's senate are also among those chosen by Ashera to serve as her Disciples of Order, and confront the player's forces as they march toward and eventually infiltrate the Tower of Guidance. Ultimately, the conspirators are thwarted by direct force and meet their ends in battle.
What becomes of Begnion's Senate and its role in government after the events of Radiant Dawn is not known, as most of its members perished during the events of the game. The only two known survivors are also the only two members of the Senate that the player can recruit. After the war, the Prime Minister Sephiran returns to Serenes Forest to allow his soul to heal, disengaging from all Begnion politics. Oliver, despite the events of Path of Radiance, was nursed back to health by members of the Senate in secret, and retires after the war, becoming a patron for various artists in service to beauty.
Known members[]
- Sephiran - Duke Persis and Prime Minister of the Begnion Empire. He is the sole member not involved in the overthrowing of the Empress Sanaki.
- Lekain - Duke Gaddos and Vice-Minister of the Begnion Empire.
- Numida - Duke Numida and governor of Daein in Part 1 of Radiant Dawn.
- Oliver - Duke Tanas and purchaser of Reyson in Path of Radiance.
- Hetzel - Duke Asmin and purchaser of Rafiel in Radiant Dawn.
- Valtome - Duke Culbert and commander of the Begnion Central Army, replacing General Zelgius at the command of the central army following the overthrow of the Empress Sanaki.
- Seliora - Duke Seliora and, likely, the last of the "Seven Senators". Mentioned in dialogue during Part 3 of Radiant Dawn.
- Kimaarsi - Retainer of Duke Oliver.
- Istvan - Retainer of Duke Seliora.
- Lombroso - Retainer of a nameless senator.
- Sergei - Retainer of Valtome.