Byulitse Dragha

Byulitse Dragha, was a Kachotjan army officer and statesman who became the first Prezident of Kachotja.

Early life
Byulitse Dragha was born on January 18th 1816, into a respected middle-class family of landowners and horse-traders in the Syngak aymak. He was an avid student of history and was said to excelled in his schooling. He was said to not be particularly concerned with religion, rarely practicing more than the required rituals and rites. At age 17 he graduated a military academy and became a cavalry officer.

Early career
From 1833 to 1840, he served as a cavalry officer in the Blue (Western) Imperial Host. In 1840, at the age of 24 he became a Noyon of the Black (North) Imperial Host, taking command of 10,000 soldiers. His Division was made up of 4 cavalry regiments, 5 infantry regiments and 1 artillery regiment. In 1843 he earned national renown for his actions in putting down a rebellion in the north-east.

In 1848 he was named the Viceroy of Trans-Ponticja by the Qagan, although three years later he renounced the Viceroyalty to become a Commander in the Imperial Guard, to be closer to the brewing political storm in the capital.

Revolutionary Activity
In 1852, Dragha led the Imperial Guard to suppress the February Uprising and the subsequent failed April Coup. For his actions he came to be awarded with even more power and immunity in the capital, and granted the rank of. By 1853 his writings and essays had begun to take a Republican slant and he became the front-runner of the legal republican figures. Acting with the Ulku Jyenliš, he and the Imperial Guard placed the Qagan under house arrest, and formed the Republican Regency Council. By 1855 his continued propaganda efforts had led to him becoming the popular favourite of the Kachotjan people and military, compared to his rivals in the Regency Council who lacked his charm and propaganda image.

On the 29th of July 1855, the Marshal carried out a palace coup with the Imperial Guard and elements of his Division of the Black Host, arresting his rivals in the Regency Council, his opponents in the Ulku Jyenliš and the remaining family of the Qagan. Declaring the foundation of the Republican Empire the following day, and declaring himself Prezident and Regent.

Prezident of Kachotja
Dragha ruled as the Prezident for 39 years, during that time he never permitted election for the Prezident position, maintaining an effective military dictatorship

Military reforms
He modernised the military heavily, leading to it entering the 20th century as one of the most advanced, well-trained and organised military's, as well as the largest. He also formed the Secret Police

Draghanate Law
An avid Legalist (both in the eastern and western sense of the philosophy) he established a modern legal system and code of law, from which Kachotja's modern legal system and laws are derived.

Religion
He was never an active or enthusiastic practitioner of Qastilikism or any other Kachotjan religion, only ever practicing the bare minimum, but despite his distaste for it, he never attempted to reduce its impact or place in Kachotjan culture. One of his only major religious moments, was in the ritual of the former Qagan in 1856.

Legacy and evaluation
An effective propagandist, ardent legalist, shrewd politician and proficient commander. He possessed a magnetic personality, and the keen ability to quote history to serve any argument. His major shortcomings and flaws were in his failings in military tactics, economics and his personal pride.

Personal life
Dragha was widely believed to be bisexual, enjoying the company of men and women during his youth, and writing erotic fiction under a psuedonym. However in his middle age, he tended to hide his love life to preserve his political image. He married Neptune Kukan, a former unfavoured concubine of the Qagan (with whom Dragha had been conducting an affair since 1847) in 1859 when he was 43 and she was 36.

Propaganda
Dragha was a prolific essayist, author and propagandist. His writings enabled him to develop political theory and build public support. His methods are studied today in the practice of propaganda, cult of personality and historical analogy.