COUNCIL OF EASTERN KINGDOMS
Agenda:
Deliberating upon the shifting balance of power surrounding Constantinople
Freeze Date: 5th April, 1453
ABOUT COMMITTEE
“The Earth is littered with the ruins of empires that believed they were eternal.”
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The siege of a city. The collapse of an empire.
In 1453, the world stands balanced on the edge of a knife; one final assault, one additional blockade, and the political order of continents could crumble. Internal fractures and external threats have created an atmosphere of fear, ambition, and instability in the East. History does not arise from stable foundations; it is forged through blood, steel, and ambition, and it is the victors who carve their version of truth into the ruins.
After the Latin occupation of 1204, the Byzantine Empire withered into a shadow of its former power. Ravaged by civil wars, territorial loss, and economic decline throughout the fourteenth century, it never recovered its administrative strength or secure defence. In the spring of 1453, the most dangerous enemy of all is time because the Ottoman forces now stand at the gates of Constantinople, as a result of their relentless expansion, which led to them tightening their grip slowly but steadily on the region.
The delegates who will enter the Council of the Eastern Kingdoms will be thrown into rapidly evolving situations where crises will force you to make heavy decisions. Developments will unfold quickly, alliances may shift without warning, and choices made under pressure will have immediate consequences. This is not a slow committee. It demands constant attention, adaptability, and the ability to act decisively in moments of uncertainty.
Research and inventive paperwork will form the backbone of this committee. Every argument you make, every alliance you form, and every decision you take will send ripples across the region, altering the course of empires.
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This is not a simulation of history; it is an opportunity to shape it.
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With the power of kingdoms and armies at your fingertips,
Welcome to the place where history is written in stone.
Welcome to the Council of the Eastern Kingdoms.
CHAIRPERSONS' ADDRESS
“Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
This is the quote that will embody the spirit of every delegate who comes to our committee. A Regional is a place for delegates of all walks of committees to flourish and, most importantly, enjoy. We have something for everyone, whether you enjoy the thrill of crisis updates or the rigidity of procedure. Finding the balance in the sea of chaos is what this committee is about. Be assured that we will keep you on your toes; you will never have a dull moment. Raise your defences, load your cannons, and sharpen your swords as you are transported back in time and get ready to immerse yourself in the pivotal points of history.
A bit about the Chairpersons:
If you see someone where they are supposed to be well before time, looking lively and energized, you have found Lavanya Jain. She is someone who looks calm and yet is quietly capable of dismantling an entire room with a single question or one-liner.
Being a devoted Jain, the only thing you can impress her with after sunset is a serving of French fries (without peri-peri and don’t forget the ketchup). A CLAT aspirant, she’s unfortunately stuck with commerce, but mentally she’s a humanities student and a future lawyer.
Powered almost entirely by marshmallows, chocolate, and Red Bull (that will permanently live on the dais for three days), Lavanya wakes up at 5 am almost every day, no matter what time she sleeps. She can detect AI after looking at a paragraph for 5 minutes, but is cursed with the fact that whenever she types something by hand, it comes up as AI.
Debating is not just something she does, it’s something she is. She has the rare ability to walk into a debate with zero preparation and still leave everyone else wondering what just happened.
A hardcore Taylor Swift devotee and a born Ravenclaw, Lavanya can spend hours locked in her room listening to the evermore and reading The Order of the Phoenix for the millionth time. She’s watched Modern Family so many times that she practically remembers the entire script by heart. Stealing committee, attention, and having the most innovative communiques will definitely get you far in her books.
If you see someone running on (negative) three hours of sleep and still somehow getting straight A’s, you’ve found one of your chairpersons, Arshieyaa Lohia. She is the kind of person who treats deadlines like mild suggestions and still meets them as if she’s been working on them for the past two months. She may seem serious at first, but don’t be fooled, that’s usually because she’s thinking about which one of her favourite sitcoms to rewatch.
Arshieyaa is the only person in the secretariat who has never eaten street food, yet somehow managed to convince everyone to go gluten-free (make of that what you will). She collects subjects like infinity stones, having taken physics, political science, and economics from all three streams. If you text her on Sunday, don’t expect a fast reply- she’s way too busy yelling at Lando Norris to win. A questionable rhetoric and triple-checked paperwork is the best way to get on Arshieyaa’s good books.
Drawing from her love for Greek mythology, Arshieyaa sees chairing as less about playing god and more about keeping the story interesting. All in all, she will support your delusional ideas as long as you’re being practical about them.
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Until May,
Lavanya Jain and Arshieyaa Lohia,
Chairpersons,
Council of Eastern Kingdoms,
La Martiniere Calcutta Model United Nations, 2026.