The Empire

The Empire spans the Mare Nostrum, lining the coasts with broad, level roads, bringing fresh water to it's cities, and keeping the waters of the Mare Nostrum safe. Trade feeds the Empire, so the basileus occupied the legions with maintaining and protecting the roads, clearing out pirate operations, and keeping jotnar raiders on their side of the Melqart Gate, the strange promontories that mark the barrier between the Mare Nostrum and the Western Sea. Historically, the Empire was established in 722 AU with the last civil war of the Eternal Republic, a conflict escalated by Octavian to cow the Eternal Senate into agreeing with his vendetta making him Imperator following the death of the Divine Ivlivs. While Ivlivs was First Citizen of the Republic, the vengeful Octavian was Imperator following a brief war that conquered what is today the province of Illyricum before advancing through the Mare Nostrum to seize control of Khemet. While the Empire was founded in the aftermath of Ivlivs's assassination, it is accepted the Divine Ivlivs was the first Emperor and he is regarded as the God of the Empire. The Eternal Republic had conquered/settled much of the northwestern Mare Nostrum, and Octavian's blood feud seized the Mare Nostrum's eastern coasts and slowly through diplomacy brought the islands of Kreta and Paphos into Octavian's influence, albeit through diplomacy and the laws Octavian vowed to uphold rather than the conquest that folded the Elymian islands into the Republic during the Punic Wars. Although initially ruled from the Eternal City, the Empire grew too large to be easily regulated from the northwestern Shattered Peninsula, and what was the Empire's Golden Age saw the wealthy patrician families slowly withdraw their support from the Empire and actually force it to move the capital first to eastern Ravenna before launching the Eternal Secession, a fierce time when the mercenary Odoacer drove off the Imperial legions to bow to the Universal Temple's Lords Cardinal. The Eastern Empire considered itself better off with the West in barbarism and bent it's will to the Mare Nostrum itself and the livable areas ringing it, centering itself on the Oriental coast of the eastern Mare Nostrum. The Senate was moved to Byzantium, with many senators given massive incomes for relocating, though the Imperial capital was moved ultimately to Antakya for military considerations.

Structure

The basileus decrees laws and enforces them. Beneath Him are the three prefects, who control vast territories, and the Council of Kings, once independent client-kings of the Empire but now members of the basilical paterfamilias, the family of the basileus as set in the Compact of the Twelve Tables. The Silentium, an advisory council that suggests legislation and can instruct officials to action and empower them barring the basileus's involvement, exists in the great city of Byzantium, coordinating efforts to keep the Empire running smoothly and laws adhered precisely. Lesser bodies exist in Imperial cities performing the same function on a local level, and the basileus maintains these civic senates to keep the Silentium's power in check. Beneath the prefects are governors, who direct Imperial efforts within smaller provinces beneath the prefects, each with an array of officials who serve as links to both Imperial and local interests. Imperial Heralds travel from the governors and prefects to the basileus or His officers, Kings of the Council, generals of the legions, and admirals of the fleets. While prefects and governors handle territories, the basileus prefers local officials be selected by the people, allowing two consuls per city, and as many other officials as needed.

Public Agenda

The Empire keeps peace and preserves civilization. It sets a glowing example for all others to follow.

Assets

All the wealth generated by the Mare Nostrum alone is adequate to keep the Empire running, but the basileus also can lay claim to the produce of Khemet, His Personal Property, which covers the legions and Admiralty debts by itself. The powerful patrician families that owe their wealth to the economic environment the Empire creates can be expected to shoulder part of the burden each when the basileus publishes the year's Obligation, the debt owed by citizens for services rendered. The amount of wealth flowing through Imperial coffers is staggering and almost impossible to properly assess, and by basilical degree, it is set at less than 10% of the wealth flowing through the Empire itself.

History

The Empire was formed after a coalition of patricians executed the Divine Ivlivs, First Citizen of the Republic on the steps of the capital's legislature. Octavian, his nephew, raised a vendetta force that proved adequate to make the Republic the Empire. Initially ruled by the Gaius family, they fell from power in 821 AU, when the last of them slit his throat in a ditch after fleeing the Eternal City. Other families rotated dynasties until the Eternal City wearied of the burdens of the world and seceded in 1090 AU, costing most of the Western Empire, which fell to the Barbaric Wilds. The current basileus took office 1114 AU, His Reign only marred by the Battle of Four Armies in 1391 AU, ending the threat of eastern invasion.

726 AU - --

Type

Geopolitical, Empire

Alternative Names

The Eastern Empire

Training Level

Professional

Veterancy Level

Decorated/Honored

Demonym

Imperials

Leader

Basileus of the Empire

Leader Title

Basileus

Related Ranks & Titles

• Basileus

Controlled Territories

• Sofia

Notable Members

• Basileus of the Empire