Emperor of Belyos
The leader of The Empire of Belyos and the most powerful person on Pande, the Emperor of Belyos (often just referred to as 'the Emperor') rules from the High Throne in the city of Belyos. An elected, lifetime position, a new Emperor is selected when the previous one dies by the Elector Lords, the hereditary rulers of the ten Elector States.
Requirements
A candidate for election to the position of Emperor must be related by blood to the existing Elector Lord who nominates them, and cannot be younger than 18, or older than 45. They must be free from 'wasting illnesses' and of 'sound body and mind', after the 4th Emperor, Til-Taranor, died from injuries sustained years before his election. Whilst women are considered as eligible as men for the position, women who have yet to bear children are considered a risk, as the 3rd Emperor, Til-Kalit, died during childbirth.
Appointment
The Emperor is elected from family members, and sometimes children, of each of the Elector Lords and is not a hereditary position. Upon the death of a ruling Emperor, the family has one year in which to vacate the Imperial Palace before a new Emperor is elected. As most post-Imperial families are extremely wealthy, this is little more than an inconvenience. Within that year, the Elector Lord gather with their chosen candidate at Belyos (usually male, not always).
Rounds of votes are taken (no voting for your own candidate) with the candidate with the least number of votes being eliminated each time. Each round is a week apart with time given between for lobbying. The eventual winner is made Emperor and the nominating Elector Lord exempt from the tithe for one year. In practice the elections are mainly a time of entertainment for the inhabitants of Belyos, but rife with bribes, negotiations and promises for the electors.
Duties
The Emperor has absolute control over the Imperial Institutions, including the army, navy, postal service and highways. Imperial law is issued in the name of the Emperor, and whilst the Emperor might not have written the law as it stands, will have been involved with the instigation of the process, and must approve the final wording. The Emperor is also the official Imperial observer of the Parliament, but has no right to either stop or force its sitting, or determine its agenda. In practice, the Elector Lords almost always notify the Emperor of what it to be discussed, to allow the Emperor to manage things prior to the Parliament meeting.
Benefits
When elected, the Emperor is entitled to bring his or her immediate family to Belyos as his household, and appoint his or her own staff and advisors. Upon death of the reigning Emperor, this household is granted land on the island of Belyos until members of said family have died. This includes spouses and children, but no other relatives. The House to whom a newly elected Emperor is part of is exempt from the Imperial Tithe for a period of one year after their coronation.
Type
Nobility, Non-hereditary
Form of Address
His/Her Imperial Majesty
Length of Term
Lifetime
Current Holders
Past Holders
Related Locations
Related Organizations
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments