<> <> Ephemeris was a [[unicorn]] [[noble]] and professional astronomer who was acclaimed as Queen by the [[Parliament of New Equestria]]. She had been the heiress apparent for several years previously and was a favored courtier of [[Bluestar]] the Brilliant in his declining years. When Ephemeris came to power after Bluestar's death, she pro-actively asserted sovereignty over part of the Northwestern Isle of Yore as the state of [[New Equestria]], rather than waiting for local powers to try themselves on the city's defenses. The army of New Canterlot drove the warlord Sickle Steel out in the so-called [[Just War]]. After leading New Canterlot to victory in this conflict, she was acclaimed Queen by parliament in 2841. Ephemeris cemented her reputation as the real founder of New Equestria with further campaigns to secure the borders of the nascent state. She directed a land reclamation project in New Canterlot, building a forum and park near the Lake Tower. She also opened to the public an area that had been the private reserve of Bluestar since the 21st century, the Shore Park. Early in her reign, with the security of the capital uncertain, she built a highly fortified keep on an island offshore from the [[Lake Tower]]. Outside of New Canterlot, Ephemeris repaired and expanded a precatastrophic aquaduct, founding the villages of New Vanhoover and New Las Pegasus, the latter of which was later renamed [[Great Turnip]]. Ephemeris sent aid to areas affected by the [[Great Famine]], but its extent was limited and much of New Equestria's gift was apparently sold to the hungry at inflated prices by unscrupulous local authorities. In any case, her efforts to expand New Equestrian influence outside the North were seen as overreaching by many parliamentarians and nobles, and received little political support in a climate of increasing isolationism. Parliament confirmed her nephew Daystar as crown prince, passing over her reportedly vapid and irresponsible son Star Paragon; since Ephemeris was expected to reign for centuries yet thanks to magical life extension, it may not have actually been her intent that Daystar rule. But Ephemeris' reign abruptly came to an end with an unfortunate [[Astrolabe of Ephemeris|astrolabe accident]], and crown prince Daystar succeeded her as monarch. CategoryUnicorns CategoryHistoricalFigures CategoryCharacters