EternalEmpire:Arqualan

Adi Gliorsa Arqiva - In the Age of Our Renown

"The count of time marks four and fifteen-hundred Years of Arqualan the Glorious, the four-hundred-first in the reign of Ionomîs the Divine, protector of the civilized world.

The whole globe, our Eternal Empire excepted, is covered in a darkness that drowns the freedom and virtue of men. The forces of barbarism and wickedness imperil our shores as never before, threatening to plunge mankind into a final desolation. Yet we confide in the strength of our arms and the rock of our piety to defy the heathen armies and their hellish Overlords, and, with the guidance of the Illuminarch and faith in the God of Gods, we shall see the lamp of righteousness brighten the far reaches of creation and vanquish the Enemies of goodness for all time."

The very name of Arqualan conjures up images of wealth, opulence, and power throughout most of the world. Throughout its long history, the people of this island have steered the course of history in both subtle and blatant ways. To different people, Arqi society may represent genius, honor, piety, and the greatest achievements of civilization, or cruelty, greed, and the most depraved excess. Whatever the reality, little can compare to the glory of Arqualan and its Eternal Empire.

Government

The Emperor

The position of Emperor of Arqualan was not an official, distinct post for most of the nation’s history. Although there had been a series of powerful Probites and generals who challenged the power of both their colleagues and the Optolecti, the first person historically considered as Emperor of Arqualan was Quanio Sorozino Fiovaria, named Ectin and surnamed the Great.

Ectin was the Probite of Fiovion, and his victories on Provendo against the Venjat made him tremendously popular with the people. In the course of the war, he was given the temporary Probîter of Ambieda as well as the now defunct Probîter of the South. On the basis of these factors, he claimed supreme power over the other Probites and the Optolecti, and was able to compel their assent by the loyalty of his armies. He returned to Arqualan for less than a year before departing to Otovan, where he effected a staggering series of victories that subjugated both Sarmonath and later, the Vengua, bringing almost all of the lands east of the Stadden Mountains under Arqi dominion. Ectin died in Otovan in 466 and his generals broke up this new empire and vied with each other and the Optolecton, each claiming supreme power over all of Arqualan. Alliances shifted and territories fell, but for more than 120 years after his death, there was still no new emperor. In 589, Endrino Consestus, who ruled a sub-empire based on Stanido but was aligned under the Optolecton, gained control over the other successor states either through marriage or military conquest, and then invaded Arqualan, defeating the Optolecton’s armies. The Optolecton conferred on him the unprecedented title of Ponix Probîter ed Optolectony Fresix – the Supreme Probite and Senior of the Optolecton – making him ‘first among equals’ in the Optolecton and with superiority over the other Probites. This gave him power as chief legislator in addition to the normal military and executive powers of the Probîter.

After Endrino’s death in 611, his son Quanio (Emperor Q. Consestus I, the Humble) only narrowly held on to his power against several challengers and assassination attempts. Fearing that his father had offended too many people by the assumption of haughty titles and expansive powers, he downplayed his superior status in public, hence his moniker. He was, however, a shrewd and calculating individual that maintained a firm grip on his power base. His successors generally proved less capable than he, however, and the fortunes of the Emperor-ship waxed and waned greatly depending upon the respective strength of the Emperor and his rivals.

Over the centuries, the Emperor acquired new powers and titles, gradually assuming increasingly higher honors and dignities. Some additional powers and titles to be held by the Emperor were: · Vîndiquon Chingolun: “The Defender of the Chingolun.” A secular title bestowed upon Vetrin II in 704 AGA by the High Priest in commemoration of the Emperor’s generosity toward the Tylofost community and his orthodoxy. Technically, it applied only to Ventrin II, but his successors also claimed it. It presaged a greater religious role for the Emperor.

· Tocratiquo: “The Sea King.” A translation of an insult originally leveled at the Arqi by the Kings of Sarmonath, implying that they were not a real power because they lacked much landed territories. It was seized upon by several Probites and later by the Emperors in acknowledgment of the Arqi control of the oceans. Militarily, it also refers to the Emperor’s status as Ponix Navigo – Supreme Admiral.

· Vigo Tylofostony: “Vicar of Tylofost.” The High Priest of the Chingolun Tylofost religion. Claimed by Ludinio Calagona (Emperor Vanlin VI).

· Luzigodor: Lit. “Beacon.” This title was claimed by Ionomîs the Divine in 1103 and confirmed by the Vicar of Tylofost when the Emperor commanded that the title be returned to the priesthood. This implies the role of Ionomîs as divinity and as the supreme Chingol religious authority. But rather than declaring him an all-ruling God, the title and power is more closely that of a guide and spiritual shepherd. This has been translated as Illuminarch, and is considered the highest title.

· Împremex: Refers to the complete military and political power of the Emperor (explained in Distinction of Powers) and is the word which most closely means Emperor.

· Îvancor: “Unvanquished.” A moniker attached to Ionomîs in response to his unblemished military victories, but also in reference to the Cathedral of Ionomîs Îvancor (“Unvanquished Wisdom”).

· Thostetor: Lit. “To Stand Against/Oppose.” A title first used by Emperor Vangilo to refer to his opposition to the heathen Androvi, but taken again by Ionomîs in 1159 at the outbreak of the First Hangritic War. Though originally it stood only until the cessation of hostilities, the enmity between the Hangriti and the Arqi has blossomed over the years and, considering the inconclusive course of their wars, it may become a perpetual title.

Optolecton

The Optolecton is a body of non-elected individuals, originally chosen from the Lenjic nobility to advice and entreat with the pseudo-Dandrit kings. Although the first official Optolecton was called under Borovedis, it has roots in the urban assemblies that presided over the laws of the Lenjic cities during the time of the Dandrit Empire. The Optolecti were chosen from the assemblies of each of the Lenjic cities, ostensibly for their wisdom and experience to advise the king both on internal and external affairs. However, since the Optolecti were granted certain privileges, including immunity from taxation, the appointments were soon being purchased or bestowed as political favors. After the suppression of the rebels in the Tordessa Mutiny, the Optolecton gained considerable autonomy from the king and the right to veto new spending and levee raising measures.

After the ouster of Analectin by Trinio Etchomis in -3 AGA, the Optolecton became the de facto ruling body of the nascent Arqi state. Utilizing the superior wealth and connections of the membership, the Optolecti were able to outlast their regional challengers and hold together the nominal confederation of city-states. The Optolecton was initially granted the power to raise and direct the unified Arqi military, regulate internal commerce and weights and measures standards, maintain and propose laws related to the national treasury, dispatch and receive foreign legations, and recommend legislation to the local comestiati. Over time, the power of the Optolecton grew as the Arqi state consolidated so that it assumed far greater powers, particularly in internal legislation and revenue collection.

Originally, the Optolecti numbered around 20, but that number was not fixed, and each served at the discretion of the king. After the overthrow of the king, the Optolecti selected new members at their own discretion, provided they met a minimal property value requirement, and the position was for life. By the time of the Inigo Elufectra and the First Metronian War, new Optolecti were added from the ranks of Optolecton-appointed officials who had finished their terms, the Monitari. The Probîter of Ectin the Great brought about significant changes in the organization of the Optolecton, including a weakening in its authority and capping its membership at 160. After the Arqi Civil War, the Amboy Castio Sotor restored many of the Comestia’s powers at the expense of the Optolecton, including the ability to impeach Optolecti. For the first time, the assembly also included members from the territories on Otovan under these reforms. The last great change came about with the victory of Ionomîs, where the Optolecton was greatly enlarged to 624, and Optolecti were limited to serving twelve years.

In the current day, the Optolecton comprises those who have finished their terms as Monitari, and so are only indirectly elected. If one of the Optolecti is elected again to another office, they are required to step down for the time being from the assembly. The power of the Optolecti is primarily that of a legislature. Legislation passed by the Optolecton must be approved by the Comestiati affected by these laws, and the Optolecton also has the power to veto certain decisions of a Comestia. The assembly also has the power to nominate and approve certain officials. They also wield investigatory powers and the ability to punish Monitari and lesser officials for misconduct.

Comestiati

A comestia is a popular assembly that has the power to pass and repeal certain laws, as well as confirm or reject the decisions of other legislative bodies or individuals. The comestiati date back from the earliest days of the Arqi Republic when private citizens won the right to petition the Optolecton via their local municipal councils. For most of their history, the various comestiati had only very narrow law making authority, but the victory of the Sotori in the Arqi Civil War and the later ascension of Ionomîs to the imperial power greatly enhanced the power of these bodies.

Comestiati exist at every level of Arqi government, from the small scale, informal petitions of irritated individuals to the highly sophisticated congregations that rule provinces and direct the course of the empire. In modern times, comestiati have more or less complete legislative power for the geographical area of their membership, in addition to the right to elect, confirm, and recall most civil officials, including Monitari. Although the original comestiati comprised only adult (16+ years old) Crudag, Dandrit, or Lenjic males that owned a certain amount of property and were followers of the Chingol, the membership is now open to most adult males of any status or religion, Creel, Drozh, and Sigrech obviously excepted.

The most important category of comestiati are referred to as the jorian comestiati, which means, essentially, a general council. When capitalized, the Jorian Comestia refers to whole body of the empire’s voting citizens. This electorate, although it is assembled only very rarely, holds legislative power superior even to the Optolecton and it alone wields the power to declare war. When not capitalized, a comestia is considered a jorian comestia when it is composed of every voting citizen who is to be affected by the comestia’s decisions. Owing to the principle of law that holds “that which touches a man must be approved by him,” this is the only form of comestia that can pass a binding law.

With the changes of Ionomîs, all new laws passed by a comestia must be ratified by a supermajority, although only a simple majority is required to repeal laws, including such laws passed by the Optolecton. A comestia has power within the realm of both civil and criminal law, except whereas specifically restricted by the Charter of Limitations of 1119. New laws also automatically sunset at the termination of three years, and are generally decided by secret ballot.

Monitari

In the early period of the Arqi Republic, the Optolecton appointed individuals to carry out and supervise their edicts. These public officials assumed a variety of different roles and were organized in a hierarchy of prestige and authority. Collectively, these positions were referred to as the Monitari.

· Probites, the highest level of Monitaro, wielded co-supreme executive power and also commanded the armies and fleets. To prevent any single individual to hold supreme power again (i.e, the kings they had overthrown), the idea of multiple Probites were settled upon. The competition was highly partisan, and none of the Arqi cities would accept Probites from the others. Thus, there were originally five Probites, one each from the cities of Fiovion, Ambieda, Caposa, Tordessa, and Penardo. Naturally, political power tended to gravitate toward these individuals and by the early 1st century AGA, they became the de facto rulers of the cities, presaging the vast expansion of the Optolecton’s authority.

Probites were appointed directly by the Optolecton for a term of two years; their election did not need to be approved by the Comestia until the Reforms of Sotor in 722 AGA. By that time, there were nine additional Probites ruling provinces on Provendo and Otovan, but these were technically subordinate to the original five and to the Optolecton. When Ionomîs became Emperor in 1103, his sweeping reforms of the government removed much of the Probîter power and their roles shifted to that of regional governors. By the current day, nearly every province has a Probite chosen by Comestiati, although the Emperor can decline the choice. To date, he has vetoed an election only once.

· Amboys, the next highest on the ladder, were originally charged with the management of state lands and facilities, both those restricted and those open for public use, including assembly places, walls, forts, ports, and plumbing. The number of Amboys was not set, and tended to expand and contract yearly with the land acquisition and construction projects.

Amboys were appointed annually and while their election was not subject to approval by Comestia, they could be recalled. Over the years, the role of the Amboy came to be less associated with the management of public buildings than with civil administration in newly occupied lands and a final court of appeal to non-citizens. Under Ionomîs, Amboys were employed as administrators of smaller territories, and also as assistants to Probites and the heads of diplomatic legations.

· Restori were financial secretaries tasked with the supervision of tax collection, the census, and the auditing and disbursement of the treasury. A Restor was often assigned to each Probite and Amboy, but many were also dispatched with every fleet and army, as well as to certain highly important activities.

Restori were appointed annually and their election was subject to approval and could be recalled by Comestiati. In 192, the Optolecton rescinded the right of approval and recall by a Comestia for a Restor assigned to a military post. With the establishment of the consolidated Office of the Exchequer in 583, the roles of the Restori declined in importance. The office of Restor is now nearly non-existent with the exception of the Jorian Restor (“Restor General”), who heads the Exchequer Department.

·Curasori are officials charged with monitoring and regulating the affairs of government to prevent the abuse of traditional liberties, corruption, and maintaining the limits of state authority. As such, they act both as ombudsmen and constitutional custodians. The Curasori were established in 711 AGA to ameliorate the intensifying popular resentment. Originally, these were selected by the Optolecton, but the reforms of Sotor shortly thereafter required their election by the Comestiati. Curasori serve a term of one year. Generally, there is one Curasor per 5,000 people, although this is not set in stone and the actual representation is more fluid. The Optolecti still appoint a number of Curasori, usually as military or diplomatic attendants to ensure that the will of the Optolecton is enforced.

The Curasori, unlike other Monitari, are not actually empowered to enforce laws, but instead to prevent the execution of some pronouncement by the Optolecton or other Monitari. An individual Curasor may nullify laws, prevent arrest, and generally veto any other action taken by a state official, the only requirement being that the veto is done in person and announced publicly. One Curasor may not overrule any other, although they are subject to recall by a Comestia.

Distinction of Powers

Different Monitari had different levels of power even among their own colleagues. As has already been alluded to, the original Probites had a greater level of authority than the subsequent “foreign” Probites, but such distinctions in legal authority were true even early in the republic. Generally, there were two degrees of legal authority. The first was known simply as Ibo Pudor, or, Ib.P. (lit. “the power”) and was the general authority given to them to carry out their functions.

A much loftier degree of power was conferred upon all Probites, and less frequently on Amboys. This was known as Zecopudor, or Z.P. (lit. “higher power”) and included the right to raise and command military units and impose or rescind laws on the spot. It was expected that such decisions were to be used responsibly and rarely, though the actual tendency depended upon the holders of Zecopudor. Theoretically, these decisions were subject to the review and approval of the Optolecton, although particularly powerful or recalcitrant Monitaro had been known to ignore this opposition. Only the Optolecton could bestow the Z.P. upon an Amboy or other lesser official, and this necessitated extreme circumstances such as invasion. It has only been done five times in the history of Arqualan. Ectin the Great and the subsequent Emperors each claimed a sort of superior Z.P. that allowed them to subordinate each of the Probites.

Other degrees of power were later innovations stemming mostly from violent incidents like the Arqi Civil War and the rise of Ionomîs, but occasionally from more peaceful compromises. In His reform of the Arqi government, Ionomîs declared Himself possessed of a superior power on the virtue of not only His political and military station, but also His religious position. This power, known as Impremex, is functionally equivalent to Z.P., but with religious aspects and a higher dignity. This is important because His reforms greatly restricted the authority of both Ibo Pudor and Zecopudor. It also expressly elevates him above the Optolecton and the other Probites, though not, interestingly, above the Jorian Comestia.

Another distinction of status was brought about by Ionomîs – the Eupervestiton (lit. “oversight”). The term originally referred to a legal principle that each Optolecti could investigate the actions of Monitari and even private citizens and call them to answer for any wrongdoing in front of the whole assembly. There was no appeal from such a trial, though it was used comparatively rarely. The Eupervestiton was newly bestowed upon each individual Arqi citizen in terms that more closely connote the concept of sovereignty, although a more formalized “oversight” power was retained whereby individuals could demand investigations of government officials. The Eupervestiton was also given to the various Comestia and the Optolecton as a whole.

Family

Structure

Most Arqi belong to two families, the first composed of their immediate relatives; husband, wife, children, and not infrequently aunts, uncles, and grandparents, the second a much larger element that may encompass thousands of distant relatives and span huge geographical distances.

The first family, known as the lanto, operates independently of the larger group. A lanto typically lives in the same home or immediate geographical area, and membership is more or less unconditional, barring extreme breaches of mores. Upon reaching marriage age, young men (approximately 22-25 years) are expected to take their wives (16-19 years) and immediately tend to the business of having children. If such matters are not already secure, they also are expected to quickly secure financial independence and property and homes of their own. Marriages are usually planned in advance by the parents. While love is expected to blossom, it is rarely a first consideration as economic interests, breeding (relations between wildly divergent parahumans, i.e, Crudag and Slees, are cause for scandal), and the forging of ties between families take precedence. The average number of children is about 5 per couple, although it is a regular occurrence to marry twice - almost always after the death of the spouse, as divorces are frowned upon.

Increasingly, these norms are being challenged by the most recent generation, owing particularly to the dynamics of technological change and the transmission of foreign values brought about by the movements of peoples in trade and recent wars, but Arqi society is highly traditional and major changes are stenuously resisted.

The larger family, or clade, is a more disparate social group called the comido. Clades have their own names representing an original genetic line (either historic or mytho-symbolic) from which many lanti have sprung. These have their roots back in Lenjic times and the earliest days of the Empire where large tribe-like social groups, usually based around important cities, were the source of considerable political and economic power. As the Empire has expanded and the number of clades increased, their power has diminished somewhat, although they remain a source of great pride and utility to their members.

Membership in a comido is not inviolable, however. On the frontiers of the empire, the effect of the clades is weak, as more reliance is placed on the individual and one’s immediate family and neighbors. Especially in isolated regions of the empire, many people have abandoned or forgotten the clades their families once belonged to. Occasionally, an individual or an entire family may be “evicted” from a clade because of some great disgrace or nefarious deed. Similarly, certain families and individuals may view their clades as degenerate or otherwise undesirable and abandon their membership entirely.

Previously, it was tradition for husbands and wives to maintain their pre-marriage Clade names (if distinct), and while this is still the case in more traditional circles, many people change their Clade affiliation upon marriage. Generally, the married couple decides the issue jointly, although the clade in question is under no obligation to allow new members. A few rare instances exist where a family has membership in two (or more) clades, but this situation is exceedingly rare and most clades do not allow dual membership.

Societal Role

The family is the most important institution in Arqi society, far more influential in everyday life than voluntary social organizations, the government, and even the church. In addition to the intangible benefits of historical roots in the strongly traditionalist Arqi society, clades provide material benefits to their members, including financial support, housing, and medical care in times of crisis; preferential treatment and discounts in business; support for political aspirations and legal disputes; and a network of contacts. As a result, the influence of clades remain strong throughout most of the Empire, and individuals feel strong bonds of obligation and loyalty to their clades, both in supporting their aforementioned activities and coming to the defense of fellow kinsmen. As the history of Arqualan witnesses, individuals are often more likely to stand by their comido than either the government or the church, and rival clades vying for power within the state remains an important factor in Arqi politics.

The Commonwealth

Discerning Arqi do not see themselves as part of an empire, and indeed consider such a view to be rather rude and unsophisticated. Proper empires are founded predominantly on conquest and subjected peoples and feature little in the way of decentralized autonomy or identity in any case, and here especially Arqualan fails to meet the definition of ‘empire.’

For that matter, they do not see the massive political upheaval that periodically marks their long history as any sort of interruption or transition. Since the earliest days of the proto-Arqi chiefdoms to the current day, their government has been quite secondary in their self-conception as a society. Besides that, politicians and their regimes had traditionally been distant, ephemeral, and relatively weak when compared to the powerful and timeless institutions of kinship and religion that truly marked Arqi society. As such, Arqualan is defined much more by shared values, ideals, and common heritage than borders and leadership. So, while visionaries and tyrants have risen and fallen and feuds between the ancient aristocracy, the emperors, and the population have shifted the balance of power many times, the covida nostry endured.

In these translations, that part of “Our Common Life” that deals predominantly with institutions of the state and especially with the organization of territory will be referred to as the Arqi Commonwealth.

Provinces

Although referred to as provinces for the sake of simplicity, these are not simply administrative subdivisions that exist to facilitate the actions of the Emperor or the Optolecton. In fact, almost all of the provinces have a wide degree of latitude in internal legal and economic matters, as well as how they enforce the pronouncements of the Optolecton and the Illuminarch. A few provinces are so highly autonomous that they have complete control over internal questions and bow to Arquesel only in matters of foreign relations or disputes within the commonwealth. Of course, just what constitutes an ‘internal matter’ and what is the proper domain of the national government is a sticky matter, and the relative power of the outlying provinces waxes and wanes depending on who can get the upper hand on this issue. All true provinces are governed by a Probite, elected at large from the jorian comestia of that province. Several other Monitari assist the governor, including Amboys and Restori, some of which are appointed by him at the comestia’s approval, or are likewise elected at large, depending. Generally, the Probite has a combination of executive and legislative powers, counterbalanced by the various comestiati and Curasori of the province. Fully autonomous provinces, like Clestrîca for instance, often have separate legislative and advisory bodies akin to a miniature Optolecton, or may use different titles for their officials. There are some smaller and usually thinly settled territories that have not been made provinces, usually due to their status as a military frontier or because of disputes arising with foreign powers. These territories may be governed by an Amboy dispatched at the head of a provisional or military commission, or other officials under the direct authority of the Illuminarch. An example of such a territory would be the Arqi colony of Tamboro on Anducydo.

Provinces:

Arqualan (Ar)

Cappodan (O)

Coñeldo (O)

Conestanz(O)

Dantrina (P)

Dyanoga (P)

Impelado (P)

Isleesia (I)

Lacoma (P)

Metronia (P)

Nepritol (O)

Oranido (I)

Otolens (O)

Pellesant (O)

Pizoria (P)

Pranatol (O)

Sanga (P)

Sanulado (O)

Seguemeda (O)

Stanido (O)

Syobia (O)

Venguatol (O)

Venjavan (P)

Zeliat (O)

Zelstadden (O)

Zacta Ponensus (O)

Autonomous Provinces:

Amblend (O)

Clestrica (O)

Loswath (O)

Renoga (P)

Sarmonath (O)

Sirania (P)

Somuza (O)

Auxiliary Territories:

Ato Tensel (I)

Mena Sorpozion (O)

Tamboro (An)

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An - Anducydo; Ar – Arqualan; I – islands; O – Otovan; P – Provendo