The Church of Albae
Structure
The Church is lead by a King-Bishop who acts as the voice of the Hero Ascendum. Their Divine mandate guides The Church worldwide. They have final say on everything and are the defacto ruler of any of the churches lands. They rule until death and are elected by the College of Cardinals. There are 9 Cardinals, one to match each God within the accepted Nine Lights. Like the King-Bishop, the Cardinals keep their position until death - but it is up to the King-Bishop who becomes a Cardinal.
The next most prevalent rank is the Rank of Archbishop. Arch-Bishops run Cathedrals and more often than not organise the other Churches ans aspects of the faith within the Dutch/Area under the City in which their Cathedral lies. If an Archbishop becomes a Cardinal, they relinquish their position as Archbishop. The only case where this is not applicable is The Archbishop of Agran - as it is a Dutch within The Reanian Empire as well as a Archbishopric. The Archbishop of Agran is actually often held by a Cardinal (Most often the Keeper of the Collage - The Cardinal in charge of fountain votes for King-Bishop-Elect as well as completing duties the King-Bishop cannot).
History
The Church was officially founded in the Year 312 following the Council of Agran which called for priests and Bishops from across the worship of King-That-Never-Was and set in stone a united doctrine of teachings. This also caused a major Schism within the faith, leading to the Albae-Feonian split in worship of the Hero. From then on the Church as an organization has held various levels of independence and freedom from any nation state with it almost taking control of the entire Reanian Empire in the year 671 but failing to do so.
Demography and Population
The population of the Churchlands varies on how you look at the semi-autonomous nation state as a whole. If you're including only their truly independent state, the population is in the hundreds. If you include the lands that are controlled by bishops within the other various nation states, the population is far greater - greater still if you include all those who follow the faith itself.
Military
The Church has its own standing army of faithful volunteers known as The Custodian Guard. Many members of which are members of the Disgraced class from the Reanian Empire looking to claw back their honor in service of the Church. Also amongst their ranks are many Bastards and Children of Concubines. The Custodian Guard protect not only the capital but every church dedicated to the faith throughout Elendor. Because of this most churches even within the Reanian empire are considered part of The Church of Albae as a nation state, rather than to the empire.
The Church is also backed militarily by the various Holy Orders of the faith most of whom are situated in the Vistilian Theocracy - another Theocratic state of the faith which has existed since The Great Armed Pilgrimage
Foreign Relations
The Church has tenuous relations with The Reanian Empire. The Religion of the Church of Albae is the dominate faith within the empire, and the Churches independent capital the The Cathedral of Ascension lies within the capital of the Reanian Empire itself. This has caused a troubled history between the two states, and whilst outwardly united in faith, politically as entities there is great rivalry.
Live to Piously Ascend
Founding Date
312
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Capital
Alternative Names
The Church of the Hero, The Church of The-King-Who-Never-Was, The Church of Ascention (Formerly)
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Theocracy
Power Structure
Semi-autonomous area
Legislative Body
The Doctrine of the religion is laid out by the College of Cardinals who vote to repeal or include new doctrine within their councils, with the reigning King-Bishop having the final say.
Judicial Body
The laws of the state are set around Church Doctrine and upheld by his Holiness the King-Bishop who holds court or appoints someone to make a judicial ruling if a matter of criminality should occur. There is no jury system and the will of the King-Bishop is final, as they are the appointed voice of the divine on the plane of Elendor.
Official State Religion
Divines
Location
Neighboring Nations
Related Ethnicities
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