Blatian "Master of Offices"

Without any doubt one of the most prestigious and powerful offices of the Blatian Empire. This office is available to trustworthy Senators with experience in both politics and the Imperial bureaucracy.

History of the Office

The first mention to the Master of Offices is in 345 AP in a document signed by the Ikarian Emperor Andronicus V who granted a portion of land and a luxurious villa to his Master of Offices, Anastasius. But it seems that the office was introduced by Emperor Adlectus I in 272 AP.
During the first centuries of its existence it seems that the main role of the Master of Offices was purely civilian. He was the head of the different bureaux that formed the Palatine secretariat. After 391 AP the Master of Offices also began to yield an important degree of military power, especially since the Master of Offices became the commander of the Imperial Guard.
in 460 AP the last Ikarian Master of Offices, Sabinus, decided to die alongside the Emperor defending Ikaria. A new Master of Offices was then named in Blati by Eutychius I, and 10 years later the same office was created in the kingdom of Cloudia.

Main Duties

Nowadays the Master of Offices is the head of the four bureaux of the Palatine Secretariat. The Bureaux of Decisions (that is responsible for the decisions and commentaries about laws that the Emperor makes, for writing letters to the Blatian Senate ), the Bureaux of Letters (that, like the name implies, was responsible for receiving and process letters or petitions presented to the emperor by cities and governors. It also dealt with the legal queries raised by the different judges) and the Bureaux of the Imperial Agenda (which is in charge of organizing the emperor's agenda as well as planning and preparing his trips).
He also commands the Imperial Guard and is also responsible for providing weapons from the Imperial Armouries for these units as well as the postal service. He is also in charge of organizing the emperor's receptions and audiences, all the palace staff assigned directly to attend to him, and he managed all internal issues.
The Master of Offices is also the head of the Empire's Secret Service, which send reports on their status and the performance of officials to the imperial government or monitor ports to control maritime trade as well as gathering information about enemy realms and their weakness.

Insignia

The Master of Offices usually wears a silk tunic and a red belt, as well as a small sceptre with an eagle on top. He also wears a green cap patterned with eagles. The Master of offices also wears a seal with his name and office as well as either his monogram or the bust of a god.

Type

Civic, Political

Curiosities about the office

• When the Emperor holds Court, the Master of Offices normally stands to the right of the Emperor, introducing petitioners or everybody that wants an Audience with the Rigas.
• His salary is estimated in 2000 myrelion a year (compared to 1 myrelion a year that each legionary earns).
• He is the first one, in the presence of the Imperial guard, that takes the oath of alligeance to the Emperor each New Years day.