Basileus
The basileus is the highest office in the Empire, with many responsibilities and the authority to match. The responsibilities of the basileus include maintaining the Imperial military and being it's commander-in-chief. The basileus appoints officers as well as supplies oversight and discipline. His command encompasses both the legions and the Admiralty, and his responsibilities include maintaining peace and the rule of law.
The basileus is the supreme authority in law, being the ultimate judge as well as legislator. He sets the tax obligation of Imperial citizens, decrees the laws, and may even try cases so long as all trials are witnessed by juries of four patricians, four equestrian, and four plebians, the three economic classes of citizens. The Silentium has great authority here, but acts as advisors-the basileus must still affirm new laws or announce changes, sometimes ratifying Silentium alterations or clarifications. Despite the basilical authority to write law, the Silentium can dispatch interpretations that judges must follow in considering cases.
The basileus is head of the Imperial Temple as well. While the Silentium may honor any individual it desires in the Imperial Temple, the basileus controls religious practice as high priest. Faiths outside the Imperial Temple are issued Tolerances, licenses that delineate acceptable practice under Imperial law. Faiths within the Empire must have a Tolerance to operate openly and must adhere to the conditions of the Tolerance or be deemed witchery, punished by death.
Qualifications
The Silentium elects a basileus through intense politicking as interregnums tend to become internal wars after a year or so. They desire military commanders mostly, and many former basileus coincidentally held the largest private armies in the Empire.
Requirements
The basileus is elected by the Silentium. The Silentium may choose who it will, not even requiring citizenship for the office though few noncitizens are even considered.
Appointment
The Silentium appoints a new basileus when the office is vacant, but the office is only legitimately bestowed once, and the individual granted it longest is the legitimate holder.
Duties
The basileus combines the functions of chief judge, chief lawmaker, high priest, and commander-in-chief of the Imperial military.
Responsibilities
Preserving the Empire and the rule of law.
Benefits
The Basileus is supreme within the Empire. Khemet is His Personal Property and produces it's amazing wealth for His Support.
Accoutrements & Equipment
The basileus is entitled to wear all white under Imperial sumptuary laws without fringe nor insignia beyond the Imperial eagles. He wears a laurel of beaten gold to indicate rank(Laurels are given as awards but are always woven of laurel branches. The basilical laurel is the only jewelry of it's kind by law)
The basileus wears a key on a chain belt indicating his status as Equal of the Apostles. Originally iron, the current chain is Damascene steel and will likely be the finest metal known to exist when granted.
Grounds for Removal/Dismissal
Past holders of the office have retired in favor of an underling, but this is rare. Removal from office involves assassination or natural causes. More than one basileus has been removed in a coup orchestrated by His Personal Guard.
History
The Empire was initiated by the Divine Ivlivs, who was declared First Citizen after eliminating his allies in the First Triumvirate.
Ivlivs was assassinated by a patrician conspiracy on the steps of the Senate building in the Eternal City, but his nephew and heir parlayed this event into becoming the First Emperor, as status posthumously awarded to the Divine Ivlivs so Octavian, builder of the Empire, became the second.
The patricians of the Eternal City wearied of Imperial obligations and moved the Imperial seat while retaining a second, subordinate emperor in the Eternal City. Some periods found multiple emperors over smaller territories and perpetual intriguing to obtain the offices, and when the Eternal City seceded, no fewer than four emperors existed.
Constantine was able to convince the Silentium only one emperor was needed, and hammered out the office of basileus after militarily conquering what was left of the Empire.
Cultural Significance
The basileus is the symbol of the Empire and the glue that holds it together.
Notable Holders
The Divine Ivlivs is held to be first, but his actual title was First Citizen. His heir Octavian was first to declare himself Emperor, but the title as it stands was first held by Constantine. The current basileus is the ninth to hold the title.
Type
Religious, Military
Status
Supreme
Creation
In the aftermath of the Eternal Secession, the Empire went through a tumultuous period ended by Constantine, whose military and political acumen created the office as it currently exists.
Alternative Naming
The Emperor, the Purple
Equates to
The basileus is an elected autocrat bound by the traditions and laws of the Empire. The office is a constitutional monarchy.
Source of Authority
The Silentium
Length of Term
The office of basileus is for life, though the current holder surpasses that limit.
Current Holders
Related Organizations
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