Muhafiz (muˈħɑ.fɪz)

"While in theory a Muhafiz is responsible to the Grand Vizier, that office has had so many occupants executed for treason that in practice, they act independently and are accountable only to the Malika herself." - Lykomedes of Thalessos, in his history of the Malikate of Saba

When the Malikate of Saba was established, the Malika divided the nation into a number of provinces, and assigned a Muhafiz to govern each one. The term Muhafiz means "protector" in Nagari, and a province is called a Muhafazah. During the first century of the Malikate, the Muhafizun were appointed by the Grand Vizier, but the Malika reclaimed that authority after several of the early Grand Viziers appointed people who conspired against her on the Grand Viziers' behalf.

Since then, the Muhafizun have been mostly people who are personally loyal to the Malika of Saba. Several members of the Burj Alhikma are Muhafizun, and others are rumored to be agents of the Glass Shadows. While the Grand Vizier still has authority over the individual Muhafizun, in practice they are accountable only to the Malika.

Rights & Responsibilities

Within their Muhafazah, a Muhafiz has almost absolute authority. They enforce the laws of the Malikate, collect taxes, command the local military forces, and appoint and oversee judges. Their decisions can only be overridden via an appeal to Tarshish, to either the Grand Vizier or the Malika. These appeals are rarely successful.

The Malika sees the job of a Muhafiz as making sure she doesn't have to spend much time on adminstering the government. If there are too many appeals or problems arising from a particular Muhafazah, she will remove the Muhafiz from their position, and potentially even punish them for their failures. She also has her agents in the Glass Shadows monitor their activities, a precaution that has allowed her handle problematic Muhafizun before they can become serious issues for the nation.

From time to time, there will be conflicts between Muhafizun that they do not wish to bring before the Malika, as she has been known to simply replace all the quarreling parties with new people who won't bother her. Small wars have been fought by Muhafizun in conflict, and assassinations carried out as well. As long as these conflicts do not disturb the overall stability of the Malikate, they may be overlooked, but it is a mistake to think that the Malika is unaware of them. More than once she has intervened in a conflict as it began to escalate, with lethal consequences.

Type

Civic, Political

Related Organizations

• Malikate of Saba
• Qutra Muhafazah
• Aatma Muhafazah
• Bhujangga Muhafazah
• Kanakala Muhafazah
• Ajagariya Muhafazah
• Maila Muhafazah

The Problem with the Grand Vizier

When the structure of the Malikate was first established, each Muhafiz was appointed and reported to the Grand Vizier, who executed the Malika's policies. However, the title of Grand Vizier seems to be inextricably linked to an Invasive Narrative that warps the office-holder into someone evil and treacherous, no matter who they were beforehand. Today, the Malika uses the position of Grand Vizier as a way to eliminate troublesome officials in her government who are too popular to handle directly - she appoints them as Grand Vizier and waits for the narrative to turn them into a villain, and then exposes the villainy and has them executed. This happens often enough that the position has little actual authority any more - just enough to make sure its occupants can still self-destruct.