The Christos Imperium was founded in 2050 A.D. by Johann, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and last Chancellor of Germany. After gaining the affection of the people and the loyalty of the German military, Johann was able to proclaim himself Dictator of the Fatherland. His next step was to secretly increase the military and institute a strict training regimen in order to bring it up to its pre-World War II capabilities while adapting the tactics for modern technology. When he deemed it capable of winning a war, in 2052, he annexed Czechoslovakia and when Austria and Hungary declared war in defense of Czechoslovakia, he unleashed it against his enemies. Czechoslovakia surrendered unresistingly, while both its defenders took only a few months to subdue. Johann forced them both to accept German suzerainty. Although all of Europe raised a hue and cry against the affair, none were willing to risk another World War. Once he had obtained the loyalty of the population of the recently conquered territory, Johann decided to proclaim a new empire. A deeply religious man, Johann decided that this new empire would be a Christian empire, a reincarnation of the Eastern Roman Empire, therefore he announced the establishment of the Christos Imperium. Assuming the name Iohannes Maxentius, he mounted the throne as first Imperator of the Christos Imperium. He proclaimed that Latin would be the official language of the Imperium, that a new capital (Caesarea) would be built in Czechoslovakia (modern-day Imperii), and a new standardized currency (Christon Denarius) would be introduced. In order to secure his throne and the succession, he married Elisabeth, Princess of Prussia, a direct descendent of the last German Kaiser, in 2053. In 2070 he announced that a great gathering, of the Imperium's leading religious leaders of every creed, labeled the Religous Concilium, would be meeting in the capital to discuss the creation of a religion for the Imperium. After weeks of debate, and through the great diplomatic skills of Iohannes, a completely new religion, a combination of the best ideals of each represented religion and founded upon Jesus' teachings, was created and named Ecclesia Christo. Membership within the Church would not be mandatory, but would be greatly encouraged. In 2077, Iohannes Maxentius Imperator Caesar, died of natural causes. His death was grieved throughout the Imperium and his people ascribed him the affectionate title of Imperialis Pater. His successors greatly added to the territory of the Imperium with the annexation of Denmark in 2081, the conquest of Belgium and France in the Iustus Bellum (2095-2111), and the peaceful possession of Luxembourg and the Netherlands in the Concordi Unione (2168).