Election of a King in Aistana
Aistana is an elective monarchy, meaning every time a king dies, a new one has to be elected. The process varies whether the electors are in dispute or in agreement on whom should be the successor.
After a king has passed away, the Council of the Realm determines the candidates from the royal family tree dating all the way back to Manaes. Those who are descendants in a direct line to King Manaes are more eligible for the crown and are placed higher in the table of successors.
When the Council has agreed on the candidates for the election, all lords of larger regions in Aistana are called to Gelros to vote. The Yppwenlas is also invited, although often a representative is sent to vote in their place.
The Realm Thing consisted of free men of full age to vote. The vote, however, favoured neither of the daughters and thus Manaes’ realm was divided. Each of the divided realms took their name after the daughter who became its regent, and the old realm’s name was lost through time.
But for many of the free men, the thought of a woman outside the church to govern them was not favourable, and slowly the thought of a male succession order came to be. The two female regents became but a note in history, and only brought up when there are no other male candidates for the crown.
In most cases, when a woman became regent, she was more likely to be a temporary one until her son came of age. She would not have full control, but rule alongside the previous king’s chosen advisors.
No one is sure when the Thing seized to exist and the College came instead, but the descendants of those who were part of the Realm Thing still hold power to choose a king to this day.
To limit the number of people involved, the installment of the College of Elections has been limited only to 11 people. And to ensure further division of land because of dispute, the college has agreed that there can be crowned more than one king to avoid such a dispute the daughters of Manaes caused.
However, most of the time, the Yppwenlas sends a representative because of the clergy duties such a person has to perform in several countries. The Yppwenlas would only be required to be present in the coronation ceremonythat takes place in Dinurb O Lusgafn, when a successor has been elected.
Unlike today, the Thing in the beginning was located close to communication routes, such as water routes or land routes, and therefore not a permanent location. After the instalment of the College, a more permanent location has been built in the duchy of Gelros, bordering Estain.
Each candidate for the crown is carefully determined by several factors:
To the common folk, this seems like a power struggle within those higher in the hierarchy, and the common folk always bear the brunt of what will happen should the succession take years. With no power themselves, the election seems out of their hands and so life continues without any concerns about who is going to be the new king. But who knows.. Maybe Aistana will one day favour the common folk... One can hope.
After a king has passed away, the Council of the Realm determines the candidates from the royal family tree dating all the way back to Manaes. Those who are descendants in a direct line to King Manaes are more eligible for the crown and are placed higher in the table of successors.
When the Council has agreed on the candidates for the election, all lords of larger regions in Aistana are called to Gelros to vote. The Yppwenlas is also invited, although often a representative is sent to vote in their place.
History of the Election
Most scholars agree Queen Aistana started the tradition of the elective monarchy when Manaes died. He was the sole male heir to the first Breinex O Dynbodaul, and also the last Breinex O Dynbodaul. Manaes had no sons, but had two daughters. The free men of Agia agreed that an election of which of the daughters was supposed to be the successor, and thus they formed the Realm Thing.The Realm Thing consisted of free men of full age to vote. The vote, however, favoured neither of the daughters and thus Manaes’ realm was divided. Each of the divided realms took their name after the daughter who became its regent, and the old realm’s name was lost through time.
“A woman cannot govern a man unless she vows to serve Our Goddess Irath and never marries.”
In most cases, when a woman became regent, she was more likely to be a temporary one until her son came of age. She would not have full control, but rule alongside the previous king’s chosen advisors.
No one is sure when the Thing seized to exist and the College came instead, but the descendants of those who were part of the Realm Thing still hold power to choose a king to this day.
To limit the number of people involved, the installment of the College of Elections has been limited only to 11 people. And to ensure further division of land because of dispute, the college has agreed that there can be crowned more than one king to avoid such a dispute the daughters of Manaes caused.
The Electors
The electoral college consists of the 9 duke, each of the largest duchies in Aistana, as well as the two largest Archdioceses in Aistana. Despite being considered an independent city-state, Dinurb O Lusgafn is also partaking with its Prensaegwyliant, who is also the head of The Church of Irath, the Yppwenlas.However, most of the time, the Yppwenlas sends a representative because of the clergy duties such a person has to perform in several countries. The Yppwenlas would only be required to be present in the coronation ceremonythat takes place in Dinurb O Lusgafn, when a successor has been elected.
Unlike today, the Thing in the beginning was located close to communication routes, such as water routes or land routes, and therefore not a permanent location. After the instalment of the College, a more permanent location has been built in the duchy of Gelros, bordering Estain.
The Requirements for a New King
There are some requirements to be elected as a new king. And those in the College of Elections have to use these requirements to select a successor amongst the candidates proposed by the Council of the Realm. If the College disagrees with the list of candidates, they can put forward names as well, but in the end they still have to follow the requirements, so none can appoint their own family members.Each candidate for the crown is carefully determined by several factors:
- The closeness to the Breinhoeleid bloodline. The farther away from the King’s Bloodline, the lesser chance of inheritance to the crown. All candidates are required to be a descendant to a king, to make sure the bloodline remains. None can claim the crown unless they can prove their family tree all the way back to King Manaes. However, that is fairly easy if you have a king in your family, since kings are always chosen from the bloodline of the first king, the Breinhoeleid.
- Military prowess. It is expected of a candidate to be a strong military leader and commander, capable of defending the realm against external threats and maintaining internal stability. A candidate who had a reputation for military success and strategic thinking is more likely to have a higher regard amongst the electors.
- Family connections and political alliances. Of course, the election is also determined through the connections to the nobility and the Church. Some say an election of a king is a bargaining between families of nobility, rather than a choosing of a candidate who wants what is best for the realm. Power is everything, and none is willing to give up if something is to be gained.
To the common folk, this seems like a power struggle within those higher in the hierarchy, and the common folk always bear the brunt of what will happen should the succession take years. With no power themselves, the election seems out of their hands and so life continues without any concerns about who is going to be the new king. But who knows.. Maybe Aistana will one day favour the common folk... One can hope.
Today
We know that the election has become a more of a formality over these last couple of centuries. Or at least they always seem to choose the successor from the previous king’s sons. When the current king dies, it will be easy to figure out who is going to be the new successor. The current king only has one child, surprisingly, but he wowed never to remarry after his wife passed away. If the electors are not going to choose the king’s son, Dailon, I would be most surprised. There are a few other direct descendants who could claim the throne... If they dared. I fear prince Dailon would not let anyone get in his way to become the next monarch.
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