Satrapy

A satrapy is a dependent state of the Empire, which has a local government and a delegation to the Court of Lords, but is not sovereign in any capacity. There are 32 satrapies during the events of the Standard Present Period.

Notable Satrapies

Of the 33 satrapies that exist during the Standard Present Period, several are particularly notable to historians.

Daiäla

Named "Everlasting Peace", Daiäla was founded during the Second Crusade in K1086.Kůṙon, 322 cycles before the start of the Standard Present Period. It is located in a mountainous region rich with copper ores, three weeks from the capitol, which makes it very valuable but difficult to occupy. In 1359.La, just before the onset of winter, and 273 cycles after the satrapy was conquered, the low-caste soldiers staged a mutiny against their satrap and commander, siding with the populace. Within days they had put their satrap to a public trial, found them guilty, and executed them.

Once the news reached the Capitol, the Court of Kings began to formulate a plan to quell the rebellion. However, mere hours later, the Court of Elder Soothsayers assumed jurisdiction and convened. The next day, they declared to the combined lower Courts that rather than appoint a new satrap, they would concede to Daiäla a democratic rule, and also remove the requirement to maintain a standing army. Instead, Daiäla would maintain only a militia. No citizen of the satrapy would be conscripted into service in the Empire's military again.

On 1360.List.1.Saṙ, the first proper day of the new year, there would be an election for satrap. The priesthood set out the rules: every citizen 18 cycles or older not in the lower caste could cast one nominating vote for any adult citizen currently inside the city other than themselves. All nominations would be counted, and then each candidate would be asked if they wanted to run in turn, until four candidates had been selected. Then, a vote would be cast to the public assembly: every citizen 12 cycles or older, regardless of caste, would be invited to a large public square with a platform constructed in the center. Each candidate would make a speech, then walk to a corner of the square and wait. Once the fourth speech had been given, the crowd would be told to collect around their chosen candidate. The candidate with the largest crowd around them would then be elected satrap for a term of 4 cycles. The new satrap would then nominate up to two delegates for the Court of Lords, who would set out to Koṙmaṙ immediately.

The satrap was formally the ruler of the satrapy, however there was a public assembly which had oversight, formed of citizens of the upper caste age 12 cycles or older. This assembly was not elected, rather anyone who met those qualifications would be allowed to enter the assembly building. All matters were decided by discussion and vote, with a quorum of 60 persons. Procedural matters were decided by simple majority, while positive actions required a three-fifths majority.

This system's main goal is to appear to empower the population without giving them more real power than any other satrapy has. To this end, it continues to work through to the beginning of the Standard Present Period.