Longevity in the Commonwealth
The question was asked, how we could tell how long an Autarch might live with alien medicine et al.
The short answer is, we can't...
...but...
...I think that even the highest classes in the Commonwealth don't live much longer than a modern-day First World citizen.
My argument is primarily thematic -- the great sin of both Typhon and Baldanders is artificially extending their lives (by, admittedly, evil and forbidden[?] methods, but if other methods were available ... well, you know). It seems to me that the Autarchs, whose position was created in reaction to Typhon, and whose purpose is to prepare for the coming of the New Sun, would not be likely to commit that particular sin.
One bit of supporting textual evidence ... we know that the cacogens Severian hangs with have shorter lives than humans. Therefore I suggest that they would not be a likely source of life extension technology for humans.
Dan'l Danehy-Oakes, writer, trainer, bon vivant
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