Palantine (Rank)

In the country of Antarillion, with its ancient warrior traditions and a long history of Regal occupation, civilians who have accrued enough wealth and influence as to become political players of the continental community are recognised by traditional officials as Palantines, who represent powerful private interests in the governance of society.
A Palantine must obey the laws as any citizen of the Regalia would, though they are afforded particularly potent social protections due to their influence that are so effective that traditional officials are often motivated to avoid punishing the Palantine for any transgressions, who in turn are able to use their influence to minimize the visibility of legal shortcomings.
Palantines operated as business owners, and often have other business owners enter into their employ for the purpose of protection, commercial investments, trade agreements, resourcing agreements, licensing agreements or other such arrangements. This makes them trading conglomerates as well as private business owners, which allows them to draw taxes from their constituents in order to pay a single lump sum of tax to the Margrave in each city in which they operate.
As businesses, the Palantines can also be invested with contracts by the traditional authorities, and these arrangements are often used as barter between the legal authorities of the crown and the monetary authorities of the Palantines. For example, a Palantine might enter into contract with a Margrave to provide a force of 300 men-at-arms as city guardsmen in exchange for a flat 20% reduction of their income tax, or they may agree to provide 500 gold worth of food to the city each month in exchange for city-funded guards for all warehouses and caravans and exemption from rent in city buildings.
In Niure, Palantine Madhuram provides the majority of the city watch guardsmen, as well as a company of mounted scouts and rangers, and provides training for them, in exchange for the Margrave paying for all weapons, armour, mounts as well as a monthly stipend of rations, and is invested with the authority for his men to make arrests on behalf of the city, effectively making him a privatised arm of civil law enforcement.

Qualifications

A Palantine is someone who has achieved enough wealth and status so as to be recognised by traditional powers such as Margraves or Chieftans as powerful and notable individuals. Though there is no set value, there is an expectation of prestige, wealth and political clout that allows the crown to make a distinction between a potential Palantine and a normal merchant.

Appointment

Margraves recognise Palantines with official declarations and an invitation to a private or public banquet.

Type

Nobility, Non-hereditary

Alternative Naming

Merchant-Prince

Source of Authority

Margraves of Antarillion

Length of Term

Palantines once appointed tend to retain the title ad infinitum, as it confers no actual legal powers. In theory, a Palantine who lost their power and influence would cease to be a Palantine.