Imperial Census
Established in 1727, and now formally part of the Imperial Bureacracy, a census is taken of the Empire every 15 years, and collated in Belyos. It is used to calculate the tithe owed by each Elector Lord to the Imperial state, and also by Elector Lords to determine their own taxes. A complex process, the census is considered by many to be a necessary evil, and most Imperial citizens are happy to take part.
History
During the early days of the crusade of Til-Yaltur to unify the Empire, one of the primary concerns of Til-Yaltur and his leading generals was that the preceding centuries of turmoil, added to the necessary violence and conquest of the reunification, had left the Empire sorely underpopulated, and that even with a consolidated force of Imperials, the Sakamohr would be able to easily re-conquer the lands. Although this proved to be an unfounded fear, and that the northern parts of the Empire proved to be as populated as ever before, the new Emperor was still determined to know just how many people remained in the Empire, and how many of them were suitable for military actions, should the need occur.
After the success of the Harrying of the Sakamohr in 1727, public opinion of Til-Yaltur and his newly reforged Empire was high, so the opportunity was taken to enact a census across the entirety of Imperial lands. The process took almost four years, as the necessary procedures and bureaucracy needed to be established as the census happened, and many places were counted more than once, as records were lost, badly copied, or just not trusted to be accurate. At the end of it all, the Office for Census was established, and given a location in Belyos with which to refine its processes, and work on performing better for the next census in fifteen years.
There have been twelve Imperial Census' since the process was started, and the process is now considered efficient, reliable and the best estimate of the population of the Empire that is possible to get. As well as counting eligible adults, it also calculates the amount of land given over to various uses, including farming and urban areas, collects output figures for mines and industries, and counts the amount of trade passing through designated Census points around the Empire.
The First Imperial Census (1727) - Population: 13,750,000 - The first census and considered by modern Imperial Scholars to be a grand feat, but with unreliable numbers that should only be used for the most general overviews
The Second Imperial Census (1742) - Population: 14,160,000 - Although processes had improved significantly since the first census, and the numbers are considered better, most scholar still view this census as too unreliable to be used for anything specific
The Third Imperial Census (1757) - Population: 14,810,000 - Whilst the techniques used in for the Third Census are considered broadly equal to that in use in the modern day, a fire in the Census office destroyed all but the most basic data just before its publication
The Fourth Imperial Census (1772) - Population: 15,765,303 - The first census using techniques that modern scholars deem acceptable to be useful for further academic study. However, only the most general of figures was taken; population and land use, with little else available
The Fifth Imperial Census (1787) - Population: 15,857,432 - The Plague of 1780 killed a significant number of citizens, and population numbers were only just recovering by 1787
The Sixth Imperial Census (1802) - Population: 17,165,081 - A population boom in the late 1790s saw the Imperial greatest growth since its establishment
The Seventh Imperial Census (1817) - Population: 18,738,762 - The population continued to rise steadily, although the year after the Seventh Census saw the Three Bad Years
The Eighth Imperial Census (1832) - Population: 17,005,514 - The Three Bad years saw over two million deaths across the Empire, and population figures had still not recovered by 1832
The Ninth Imperial Census (1847) - Population: 18,601,993 - Several years of bountiful harvests and a period of lessened conflict across the Empire saw a long period of prosperity
The Tenth Imperial Census (1862) - Population: 20,269,599 - The population of the empire at this time was considered to have recovered to pre-Great Schism numbers
The Eleventh Imperial Census (1877) - Population: 17,440,576 - The Great Death was sweeping though the lands, and there was some talk of postponing the census to help prevent its spread. Til-Adver was determined to see how bad the plague was, and ordered its completion
The Twelfth Imperial Census (1892) - Population: 18,800,367 - The first census of Til-Lautor's reign, and fifteen years after the Great Death population numbers were still recovering
The Second Imperial Census (1742) - Population: 14,160,000 - Although processes had improved significantly since the first census, and the numbers are considered better, most scholar still view this census as too unreliable to be used for anything specific
The Third Imperial Census (1757) - Population: 14,810,000 - Whilst the techniques used in for the Third Census are considered broadly equal to that in use in the modern day, a fire in the Census office destroyed all but the most basic data just before its publication
The Fourth Imperial Census (1772) - Population: 15,765,303 - The first census using techniques that modern scholars deem acceptable to be useful for further academic study. However, only the most general of figures was taken; population and land use, with little else available
The Fifth Imperial Census (1787) - Population: 15,857,432 - The Plague of 1780 killed a significant number of citizens, and population numbers were only just recovering by 1787
The Sixth Imperial Census (1802) - Population: 17,165,081 - A population boom in the late 1790s saw the Imperial greatest growth since its establishment
The Seventh Imperial Census (1817) - Population: 18,738,762 - The population continued to rise steadily, although the year after the Seventh Census saw the Three Bad Years
The Eighth Imperial Census (1832) - Population: 17,005,514 - The Three Bad years saw over two million deaths across the Empire, and population figures had still not recovered by 1832
The Ninth Imperial Census (1847) - Population: 18,601,993 - Several years of bountiful harvests and a period of lessened conflict across the Empire saw a long period of prosperity
The Tenth Imperial Census (1862) - Population: 20,269,599 - The population of the empire at this time was considered to have recovered to pre-Great Schism numbers
The Eleventh Imperial Census (1877) - Population: 17,440,576 - The Great Death was sweeping though the lands, and there was some talk of postponing the census to help prevent its spread. Til-Adver was determined to see how bad the plague was, and ordered its completion
The Twelfth Imperial Census (1892) - Population: 18,800,367 - The first census of Til-Lautor's reign, and fifteen years after the Great Death population numbers were still recovering
Execution
On census years, every adult citizen of the Empire must attend a local census office; this is mostly done via appointment, with an official visiting each household and assigning them a date at which they should attend. In more rural areas, and in highly built up urban areas, it is more common for people to just show up when they can. At this appointment, the censor will make a note of the person's age, health status, if they are married, and if they have any children or dependents who cannot attend the census on their own (such as those with mental illness, or the infirm elderly). A note is also made of any buildings, land or livestock they might own, how they earn their living (a profession, being a farmer and so on), and anything they own with a monetary value more than one months pay. All this is recorded and sworn upon by invoking Yaltur, attesting to its truthfulness.
Married couples may present together, and their capital is considered as a whole, but the census makes no distinction between unmarried men or women; each is expected to present themselves and make an account. Children are considered under their parents until the age of 16, at which point they are recorded separately. Even nobles must submit to the census process, but in their case, their details can be handed over by a servant and are typically much more detailed.
Once all the data is collected in a region, with individuals being compared to previous years to ensure everyone is accounted for, it is taken to the head offices of the Imperial Census Bureau in Belyos for collation. Results are usually available after about 18 months from the end of the census year, and are a matter of public record, although the Emperor can redact certain details, should they deem it necessary. Copies of the census are distributed to each Elector Lord, and are also held in local census offices.
Failure of a commoner to take part in the census deliberately is a crime punishable by a large fine, and public humiliation such as the stocks, with an estimation taken of the offenders capital. This is almost always over-estimated, and as such the offender ends up paying more taxes as a result. Accidental failures, or if extraordinary circumstances prevent individuals from taking part (such as war, illness, or so on), then the punishments may be waived, and the estimation often based on previous years.
If a noble fails to complete the census, then they are summoned to the Noble's Courthouse in Belyos, and either attend voluntarily, or are captured by force. Minor infractions are punished by fines and a loss of land or capital, but if the noble displays true dissent, then disenfranchisement of their title or even execution are available punishments.
Participants
Every citizen of the Empire over the age of 16 is expected to be counted with a few exceptions:
- Serving soldiers in the Imperial Army are counted as part of their Legion, and are not expected to present themselves in person
- Children aged 16 and under are counted under the household of their parents or guardian. Orphans with no care-givers are not counted
- The mentally ill, and those considered too ill and infirm to contribute are expected to be counted as part of whomever looks after them
- The Emperor and his direct family (children and grandchildren) do not have to be counted
- Non-Imperial residents of the Empire, such as Sakamohr and Dwellers, who may or may not be considered slaves, are counted as the property of whichever Imperial citizen is responsible for them. If they have no one to be identified as such, then they may be treated the same as an Imperial citizen, but only if they hold reasonable weath
Emblem of the Imperial Census Bureau
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