As part of your entry into the Cultural Advancement Program, you will be required to memorize all of the recognized Regulian Emperors and pass an exam placing them in order with only a 5% failure rate. You will not be required to memorize Emperors of the former Western and Eastern Regulian Empires or any other nation that existed prior to unification.
The following document contains sensitive information and should not be idly repeated to regular members of the public. Please use discretion when speaking of your studies and talk to your instructor about any concerns you might have. Disgrace or defamation of the Imperial Family can be punished by a lifetime in prison.
Eastern
Regulian Empire (Tigers):
Areth
I (r. 1354 to 1380): Waged an unsuccessful war against the Western
Empire, but managed to get a major propaganda bonus when he took the
Western Imperial Palace for a week. It was said, mostly by him that
he managed to get every woman in the Harem pregnant. Would later
launch a far more successful war in 1375.
Western
Regulian Empire (Lions):
Hasham
“The Toothpick" II (r. 1352 to 1373) A weak Emperor who feuded
unsuccessfully with Areth I. Fled the capital during the war with the
Eastern Empire and was in hiding for the entire conflict. Later in
life, began to believe that his bones were made of toothpicks glued
together and was afraid of moving, lest they snap. Ironically died
from shock after his femur snapped from falling down a flight of
stairs.
Hasham
“Maneless" III (r. 1373 to 1375) Could not grow a mane. Often
suspected to be half Eastern Regulian, with some even saying he was
the bastard son of Areth I and that he dyed his fur to hide his
stripes, who made it clear that he enjoyed all the comforts of the
Western Regulian harem when he occupied the palace. Areth I took
advantage of this rumor and proclaimed that Hasham III was
illegitimate and that the Eastern Army would press his claim (Areth
is right)
Unified
Regulian Empire:
Areth
I (r. 1375 to 1380) – Took over the Western Regulian Empire after
he invaded. Not officially recognized as an Emperor, though he was
crowned, making him technically the first unified Emperor.
Hasham
“Maneless" III (r. 1380 to 1399) – Took back the throne after
Areth's death and declared an end to the war, marrying the Crown
Princess of the Eastern Regulian Empire and Areth's daughter (Who
is actually his half-sister.). The first recognized Emperor of
Regulus. Spent the remainder of his reign putting down rebellions in
both the West and East
Hasham
IV (r. 1399 to 1450) – Simpleton, which did not help the inbreeding
rumors. Empire remained stable thanks to effective ministers. Was
incapable of having sex and a Regulian commoner was artifically
inseminated and declared Empress with an elaborate love story
attached.
Hasham
“The Troubled" V (r. 1450 to 1456) – Intelligent but prone to
spasms and headaches. Very insecure about his heritage. Died of
accidental blunt force trauma during a fit where he banged his head
against a table
Hasham
VI (r. 1456 to 1485) – Invested a lot of time and money into
technological advancement. Had none of the ill-effects of the
inbreeding from Hasham III.
Hasham
“Moon-Seer" VII (r. 1485 to 1521 AD). Emperor who oversaw the
Regulian moon landing.
Hasham
VIII (r. 1521 to 1601 AD). Oversaw the beginning of Regulian
Interstellar Exploration.
Hasham
IX (r. 1601 to 1618 AD). Made first contact with Lupiad-Sirian
Empire. Ousted by his Empress, Ashia, after he was too weak towards
the new Empire and a Lupiad consort, Herya, that he took that he
allowed to pull his strings.
Ashia
“The Maned" I (r. 1618 to 1655 AD) Only Sovreign Empress of
Regulus. Miraculously grew a mane after taking the throne. Was
officially proclaimed Empress after winning the War of the Two Queens
against Hasham IX and Herya, which split Regulus into Hashamites and
Ashites.
Hashia
“The Kneeler" I (r. 1655 to 1669 AD) Assassinated after starting
a disastrous war with the Lupiad-Sirian Empire which ended with
Emperor Hasia kowtowing towards them.
Interregnum
(r. 1669 to 1675) (General Litho's Military Junta): General Litho,
upon convening with a Military Tribunal, seizes control of the Empire
after its unanimously decreed that Hasia's heirs were too weak and
his siblings had sympathies towards the Hashamite cause. Eventually
would proclaim himself Emperor as Litho I
Litho
“The Great" I (r. 1675 to 1722 AD) Married Hashia's oldest
daughter, joining the Imperial Family. Contact made with Vulpeculae
and eventually war was declared with the Lupiad-Sirians over who
controlled the new species in the last years of Litho's reign.
Litho
“The Dead" II (r. 1722 to 1733) Died 1722, days before
coronation. A sensitive poet who committed suicide because he never
wanted to be Emperor. Still officially Emperor for his reign as his
younger brother, Raljesh, along with some loyal ministers, would
attach strings to the dead Emperor and put on a puppet show, making
it seem like he was still alive during the 2nd
Lupiad-Sirian War.
Raljesh
“The Sleeping Emperor" I (r. 1733 to 1852) Declare himself
Emperor after winning the 2nd Lupiad-Sirian War which
resulted in the annexation of the Dual Monarchy. Was shot with a
needler when visiting Lupus and a Lupiad surgeon who was operating on
his heart tried to assassinate him again on the operating table, only
stopped by a nurse who managed to revive the Emperor, which caused
him health complications for the rest of his life. Had a heart attack
and a stroke in 1740 which left him comatose. Advancements in life
support technology meant that he could technically be kept alive
almost eternally, so long as he remained comatose which led to a
Regency period where a Regent was elected by a parliament of nobles
to reign as dictator for a five year term. Life support ceased as of
1852 when a descendent that was elected Regent, who would be titled
as Raljesh II, appointed himself Emperor and took Raljesh I off of
life support in the wake of a war with the Lacertans over Procyonid.
Raljesh
“The Grieved" II (r. 1852 to 1853) (Officially dead as of 1853,
but lived the rest of his life a Lacertan prisoner. Date of death
unknown)
Raljesh
III (r. 1853 to 1900) Declared peace with Lacertans and engaged in a
major reconstruction effort
Raljesh
IV (r. 1900 to 1935) Dies during the Second Lacertan War. Rumored
suicide
Haresh
I (r. 1933 to 1992) Died while in the act of love-making in the
Harem.
Haresh
II (r. 1992 to 2001) Abdicated. Found being Emperor to be depressing.
Retired to Lupus, as he is an admirer of their culture. Still alive
today
Haresh
III (r. 2001 to current) – Current emperor. Father of Litho and
Shalth in Vassalized Earth. Has a large amount of children, even for a Regulian
Emperor.
But I'd say they're not quite the same. They were never unified until this period (unlike the Roman Empires, which split), most likely they both at separate times declared themselves the Regulian Empire once they got big enough, both asserting a claim on the entire planet, and a world war broke out that ended in a stalemate with them both adopting the Eastern/Western moniker as part of a treaty.
They do use Western/Eastern to differentiate between which are Lion-like and which are Tiger-like. The cultural differences between the two in the current setting are pretty minimal, having been assimilated pretty effectively over the centuries.