Editing Flora Kingdom royalty

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The '''Flora Kingdom royalty''' are a group of characters in ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'' who rule over the [[Floro Sapien]]s and serve as the kings and queens of the [[List of implied locations#Flora Kingdom|Flora Kingdom]]. There are four known members of the Flora Kingdom's royal lineage, only one of which is alive at the time of the events of ''Super Paper Mario''. All members have paintings in the palace of [[King Croacus IV]], which come with biographical recounts of their rule. In addition to the four kings and queens which are seen in painting form, there is a mentioned [[List of implied characters#Prince Croacus|prince]] from during King Croacus I's rule, though he goes unseen.

==King Croacus I==
[[File:SPM King Croacus I Painting Sprite.png|thumb|The portrait of King Croacus I]]
'''King Croacus I''', also known as the '''Iron Rose''', was the first king of the Floro Sapiens. The Floro Sapiens regard him as their greatest king, since he united them all into the Flora Kingdom. He created the Flora Calendar, and set the capital at the [[Floro Caverns]]. His nickname, the Iron Rose, comes from his heavy armor and deadly thorns. However, the wilting of his [[List of implied characters#Prince Croacus|son]] in the Flora year 444 changed his mentality. He became corrupt, a period referred to as "The Darkening", at which point, his daughter staged a coup d'état and took over the Floro Sapiens. His dying words were stated to be "The Iron Rose shan't wither!" His nickname, Iron Rose, may be a reference to the {{wp|Iron Lady}} title that is usually used to describe female heads of government. Despite this, King Croacus I is male.

In addition to his painting in King Croacus IV's palace, he appears depicted in a mural in the [[Flopside Pit of 100 Trials]], in rooms 26-50. Croacus I ruled from the Flora Calendar's year 1 to year 496; this alongside his depiction in the Flopside Pit of 100 Trials and the timeframe of King Croacus IV's recent actions in Flora years 1625-1626 imply he was the Floro Sapien king entrusted with the indigo [[Pure Heart]] by the [[Tribe of Ancients]], 1,500 years prior to the events of ''Super Paper Mario''. The Pure Heart would be guarded by the royal lineage even after his fall, eventually making it to Croacus IV.

===In-game painting description===
[[File:SPM Flopside Pit of 100 Trials Mural 2.png|280px|thumb|left|King Croacus I's mural in the Flopside Pit of 100 Trials]]
''King Croacus the First (Reign: 1-496). The first king of the Flora Kingdom. Croacus I is known as the greatest of kings. He united the Floro Sapien under a single cause, creating the Flora Kingdom. He made a capital here and established a calendar, begun at the kingdom's birth. Heavily armored, he bore deadly thorns and came to be called the "Iron Rose". The kingdom's infrastructure and early roads were built by Croacus I's design. But when his successor, the prince, wilted unexpectedly, so did Croacus I's spirit. The Flora year 444 marked the start of his reign of fear, "The Darkening." Eventually Croacus I and his foul regime were overthrown in a sappy coup d'etat. The king was struck down, marking the official end of The Darkening. His wiltering words were said to be "The Iron Rose shan't wither!" But wither he did.''
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===Names in other languages===
====King Croacus I====
{{foreign names
|Jap=キング・ハナーン１世
|JapR=Kingu Hanān Issei
|JapM=King Croacus the 1st
|Fra=Roi Crocus Premier / Crocus Premier
|FraM=King Croacus the First / Croacus the First
|Ger=König Krokus, der Erste / Krokus I
|GerM=King Croacus, the First / Croacus I
|Ita=Re Cardo I / Cardo I
|ItaM= King Croacus I / Croacus I
|Kor=화모사피킹 1세
|KorR=Hwamosapi King 1se
|KorM=King Croacus the 1st
|Spa=Rey Marchitus I / Marchitus I
|SpaM=King Croacus I / Croacus I
}}

====Iron Rose====
{{foreign names
|Jap=てつのバラ
|JapR=Tetsu no Bara
|JapM=Iron Rose
|Fra=Rose d'acier
|FraM=Steel rose
|Ger=Eiserne Rose
|GerM=Iron Rose
|Ita=Rosa di Ferro
|ItaM=Iron Rose
|Kor=철의 장미
|KorR=Cheol-ui Jangmi
|KorM=Iron Rose
|Spa=Rosa de Hierro
|SpaM=Iron Rose
}}

===The Darkening===
{{foreign names
|Jap=<ruby>黒<rt>くろ<rt></ruby>の<ruby>時代<rt>じだい<rt></ruby>
|JapR=Kuro no Jidai
|JapM=Black Era
|Fra=Les années sombres
|FraM=The dark years
|Ger=Die Düsternis
|GerM=The Gloom
|Ita=L'Oscuramento
|ItaM=The Darkening
|Kor=흑의 시대
|KorR=Heug-ui Sidae
|KorM=Black Era
|Spa=Las Penumbras
|SpaM=The {{wp|Umbra, penumbra and antumbra#Penumbra|Penumbras}}
}}

==Queen Croacus II==
[[File:SPM Queen Croacus II Painting Sprite.png|thumb|The portrait of Queen Croacus II]]
'''Queen Croacus II''', also known as '''The White Maiden''', was the second ruler of the Floro Sapiens. She was imprisoned by her father for disagreeing with his views, but after his overthrow, was set free and became queen. She was very popular, because she reduced taxes and studied diseases. She also wrote [[List of implied entertainment#The Flictionarian|The Flictionarian]], a prehistory of the Flora Kingdom. She was worried that if she had many children, they would fight for the crown, so she only had one heir a year before she wilted. This having only one child to succeed her was what gave her the nickname "The White Maiden." She ruled from the Flora calendar's years 496 to 1298 (802 Flora years).

===In-game painting description===
''Queen Croacus the Second (Reign: 496-1298). Croacus II was the daughter of the great ruler, King Croacus I. Croacus II was imprisoned for being critical of the former king's policies, but...When he was overthrown by the people, Croacus II was freed and given the throne. Her efforts to reduce taxes and study diseases made Croacus II very popular...Eventually, her influence helped erase the scars The Darkening had left. She also compiled a Floro Sapien prehistory called "The Flictionarian." The book was to be her legacy, a historic mark of her benevolent influence. Croacus II feared the fight for the throne that might ensure if she bore many heirs. She had but one heir, late in her life. This earned her the name "The White Maiden."''

===Names in other languages===
{{foreign names
|Jap=キング・ハナーン２世
|JapR=Kingu Hanān Ni-sei
|JapM=King Croacus the 2nd
|Fra=Reine Crocus II
|FraM=Queen Croacus II
|Ger=Königin Krokus, die Zweite / Krokus II
|GerM=Queen Croacus, the Second / Croacus II
|Ita=Cardina II
|ItaM=From "Cardo" (Croacus's Italian name) and the diminutive femminine suffix "-ina"
|Kor=화모사피킹 2세
|KorR=Hwamosapi King 2se
|KorM=King Croacus the 2nd
|Spa=Reina Marchitus II / Marchitus II
|SpaM=Queen Croacus II / Croacus II
}}

====The White Maiden====
{{foreign names
|Jap=<ruby>白<rt>しろ<rt></ruby>のオトメ<ruby>王<rt>おう<rt></ruby>
|JapR=Shiro no Otome-ō
|JapM=White Maiden King
|Fra=Vierge blanche
|FraM=White Madonna
|Ita=La rosa candida
|ItaM=The white rose
|Kor=순결의 여왕
|KorR=Sungyeol-ui Yeowang
|KorM=Queen of Chastity
|Spa=La Dama Blanca
|SpaM=The White Lady
}}

==King Croacus III==
[[File:SPM King Croacus III Painting Sprite.png|thumb|The portrait of King Croacus III]]
'''King Croacus III''' was the third ruler of the Floro Sapiens. At age 1, he became the youngest king in Flora history after his mother wilted. Due to his young age, a regent ruled in his place. He was afflicted with a disease at birth, which made him weak and sickly. He had a great talent for art and poetry, releasing a book of poems called ''[[List of implied entertainment#Ice Rose|Ice Rose]]'', at age 37. He wilted at age 88 for unknown reasons, but some suspected a conspiracy. He ruled from the Flora Calendar's years 1298 to 1385, the shortest rule of any Floro Sapien king. Due to his early death, he left little impact on the Flora Kingdom. His regent succeeded him as the ruler of the Floro Sapiens, as King Croacus IV.

===In-game painting description===
''King Croacus the Third (Reign: 1298-1385). Croacus III was one when his mother wilted. He became the youngest king ever. The young king had a great predilection and talent for poetry and art...His talent was evidence in works like "Ice Rose", a book of poems from his 37th year. But he was also afflicted by a terrible disease from the time he was born...Without ever impacting the affairs of his kingdom, he wilted at age 88. The cause of his wiltering was never made public. Many suspected a conspiracy...This was never confirmed.''

===Names in other languages===
{{foreign names
|Jap=キング・ハナーン３世
|JapR=Kingu Hanān San-sei
|JapM=King Croacus the 3rd
|Fra=Roi Crocus III
|FraM=King Croacus III
|Ger=König Krokus, der Dritte / Krokus III
|GerM=King Croacus, the Third / Croacus III
|Ita=Re Cardo III
|ItaM=King Croacus III
|Kor=화모사피킹 3세
|KorR=Hwamosapi King 3se
|KorM=King Croacus the 3rd
|Spa=Rey Marchitus III / Marchitus III
|SpaM=King Croacus III / Croacus IIII
}}

==King Croacus IV==
{{main|King Croacus IV}}
[[File:SPM King Croacus IV Painting Sprite.png|thumb|The portrait of King Croacus IV]]
'''King Croacus IV''', usually referred to as '''King Croacus''', is the fourth ruler of the Croacus Kingdom, and the currently standing ruler during the events of the game. The owner of the Indigo [[Pure Heart]], King Croacus IV is politically savvy, and is cruel towards the [[Cragnon]]s, brainwashing them into servants as recompense for their pollution of the water of the Flora Kingdom. [[Mario]] and [[Heroes of Light|co.]] fight King Croacus IV for the Pure Heart, and afterwards, he enters a catatonic state until the end of the game. In the post-game, after the water purifies, King Croacus IV revitalizes and promises to better relations between the Floro Sapiens and Cragnons.
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==Trivia==
*Every ruler of the Floro Sapiens, regardless of gender, is named "Croacus", which is based on the {{wp|Crocus|Crocus plant}}.

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[[Category:Kings]]
[[Category:Queens]]
[[Category:Deceased characters]]
[[Category:Flowers]]
[[Category:Implied]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Super Paper Mario characters]]
[[it:Re Cardo I]]