Arissa Lavigny-Duval is the 16th Emperor of the Empire. The daughter of the late Emperor Hengist Duval of the Imperial Family and Florence Lavigny of the Lavigny family, she was crowned on October 18, 3301 after a succession process made unusually uncertain by the disqualification of original heir-apparent Prince Harold Duval, the assassination of Hengist before he could marry Florence and legitimise Arissa, and the possibility of viable competing claims to the Imperial Throne from Princess Aisling Duval and Senator Denton Patreus. Arissa has a reputation for tackling hard issues head on. Her political platform is built on honour, and she has a focus on tackling corruption. Many of her policies are in line with those of her late father, as her views were shaped during her time as a senator and member of the Imperial Court.[3][4] Being the first woman to hold the Imperial Throne, Arissa has had a contentious relationship with Imperial hardliners and traditionalists, some of whom seek her removal. Nonetheless, she enjoys broad support among the Imperial people.