Government of the Valanian Theocracy
From Scandia
This is a complete description of Valania's system of government before the fall of the Theocracy.
Contents |
The Patriarch
The Patriarch was the head of state. He was also the constitutional head of the Church, although in reality this was controlled by the Prelate of Valans. The Patriarch was elected by the Senate, and served for life, unless removed from office by a unanimous vote of the Senate (although this never occurred). The last Patriarch was Decius Curtius, who was murdered in August 1535, precipitating the Valanian Civil War. The Patriarch had total power over the country and could rule by decree. Frequent abuse of this power led to unrest and the government's eventual fall.
Cruis's Bones
The Patriarch's throne is built on top of the grave of Cruis in the Basilica. The only bone of Cruis that is not buried there is his left kneecap. This is said to have been the first of his bones that was found by the Emperor, and is now encased inside the Imperial Crown (currently the Patriarchal Crown). Whether or not the bones are genuine is unknown, as the Valanian government has continually blocked attempts to open the grave.
The Ten
The Ruling Council, also called the Ten, was appointed to assist and advise the Patriarch. Although this was officially denied, they were often claimed to be the real rulers of the Theocracy. Their powers consisted only of proposing new laws, but the Ten often manipulate the Patriarch and even enacted decrees in his name. The Ten consisted of the Consul of the Senate, the two Praetors of the Legions, the Prelates of Valans, Jalaria and Relenna, and the four senators for the districts of Valans. The members of the Ten held their offices only while they hold their other post, so for example if the Consul of the Senate was stripped of his post, he would also lose his seat on the Ten.
The Senate
The Senate represented the people of Valania, and consisted of 135 senators from across Valania. However, a full session of the Senate was rarely called or required, and usually only the governors of the twenty-seven provinces will attend. One of the senators is elected Consul for three years; the Consul is head of the Senate as well as the people's representative among the Ten.
The Senators
Each senator represented and governed a region of the Theocracy. The senator was the law; although they all followed the law as laid down by the Senate, the senators could dispense justice in their regions as they see fit. They were elected every ten years by the people of the district. Elections were not synchronised, and so there are many elections of various senators every year. In addition to this, every five years the Ten appointed governors for each of the twenty-seven provinces. These governors sat on the Senate and had all the rights of senators. Indeed, as the ordinary senators were usually busy with running their own regions, the provincial governors were often the only senators present at most of the Senate sessions.
The Church
Nominally in control of the Theocracy, the Church's control stretched further than just the three Prelates among the Ten. Local Prelates, bishops and abbots frequently interfered in the senators' duties. The Church also has direct access to the people via the pulpit, although religious belief in Valania had been waning for a long time.
The Prelates
The Prelates were the elders of the Church. There were seven in the Theocracy, plus the Prelate of Labella who, although his diocese was lost in 1456, still had the authority of a Prelate. The Prelates determined the Church policy. In reality, they were also the heads of the Church, because although the Patriarch is the constitutional leader, he was not an experienced churchman and thus left religious matters to the Prelates.
The Bishops
There were several bishops in each provice. They spent their time keeping an eye on the local abbeys and interfering with the local senator's policies.
The Monks
There were hundreds if not thousands of monasteries dotted all over the Theocracy, many of which dated back to the collapse of the First Empire. Even villages usually had a small monastery with a dozen monks or so. The monks were sworn to piety and austerity and served to keep the fear of God in the locals. They also collected the tithe, the only tax which citizens were subject to. Tragically, many of these ancient monasteries were destroyed during the Civil War, and their power was greatly reduced.
Executive Councils
There were many councils, made up of a mix of senators and churchmen, which look after the day-to-day running of the government. Examples include the Foreign Relations Council, the Home Affairs Council, the Transport Council, even the Senatorial Catering Council! Most matters of government were dealt with by these, with only the most serious or unusual issues being passed on to the Senate.
