Difference between revisions of "Noble Senate of Aurice"

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=Composition=
 
=Composition=
The Noble Senate is composed of members or peers who hold the office of senator and one or more noble ranks.  Traditionally, the noble ranks of Aurice, similar to [[Throvy]], are [[Aurician Duke|duke]], [[Aurician Count|count]], [[Aurician Baron|baron]], and [[Aurician Metropolitan|metropolitan]].  The rank of metropolitan was created in 2559 by the Thracian [[Lukkha Sampushá|Vice-royal Duke]] [[Baimund Kaligär]] with the intent of diluting the power of the other peers in order to make the senate more pliable to his policies. Unlike the other noble peerages, only a minority of Aurician Metropolitans hold the office of senator.  The [[High Phœnissa of Aurice|High Phœnissa]] becomes a [[Aurician Duke|duchess]] in her own right upon ascension and is made a [[Aurician Senator|senatrice]] with full powers.  Other high officers of the government on rare occasion may be ennobled by the senate, although they are often already members of the senate.
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The Noble Senate is composed of members or peers who hold the office of senator and one or more noble ranks.  Traditionally, the noble ranks of Aurice, similar to [[Throvy]], are [[Hierophant]]s, [[Aurician Duke|duke]], [[Aurician Count|count]], [[Aurician Baron|baron]], and [[Aurician Metropolitan|metropolitan]].  The rank of metropolitan was created in 2559 by the Thracian [[Lukkha Sampushá|Vice-royal Duke]] [[Baimund Kaligär]] with the intent of diluting the power of the other peers in order to make the senate more pliable to his policies. Unlike the other noble peerages, only a minority of Aurician Metropolitans hold the office of senator.  The [[High Phœnissa of Aurice|High Phœnissa]] becomes a [[Aurician Duke|duchess]] in her own right upon ascension and is made a [[Aurician Senator|senatrice]] with full powers.  Other high officers of the government on rare occasion may be ennobled by the senate, although they are often already members of the senate.
  
 
The senators are drawn from numerous aristocratic families whose emergence into the ruling class reflects the changing fortunes of the city of Aurice through the centuries.  Most families are of ancient, native Throvian blood, but a large minority are drawn from Thracian ancestry, having obtained their ranks from the Kings of Thrace or more often from the Vice-Royal Duke appointed by the King of Thrace during the twenty fourth and twenty fifth centuries.  Of those remaining, some are Incarnandist Shenimite from the time of the [[Fifth Isbajath]] and others of [[Medibgösk]] ancestry, with the smallest portion belonging to [[Erserce]]se and other neighboring lands whose members purchased their offices from the ruling duke, usually with the assent of the Noble Senate.
 
The senators are drawn from numerous aristocratic families whose emergence into the ruling class reflects the changing fortunes of the city of Aurice through the centuries.  Most families are of ancient, native Throvian blood, but a large minority are drawn from Thracian ancestry, having obtained their ranks from the Kings of Thrace or more often from the Vice-Royal Duke appointed by the King of Thrace during the twenty fourth and twenty fifth centuries.  Of those remaining, some are Incarnandist Shenimite from the time of the [[Fifth Isbajath]] and others of [[Medibgösk]] ancestry, with the smallest portion belonging to [[Erserce]]se and other neighboring lands whose members purchased their offices from the ruling duke, usually with the assent of the Noble Senate.

Revision as of 23:29, 12 January 2017

The Noble Senate of Aurice is one of the oldest surviving aristocratic assemblies in the history of the Pallathantic Region. Its origins are traced back to the late fourteenth century when the ruling merchant families of the many-isled city convened to cooperate and form the first central government. The senate's powers over the city grew and the city's merchant class, closely associated with the senate, extended their power over the neighboring islands and Goscundy over the following centuries until it became the de facto power in Throvy. In 2627, the Noble Senate declared sovereignty and abolished the grand ducal monarchy. The independence was confirmed in 2634 with the Battle of Kadraskan. The Noble Senate remains today as the sovereign ruling body of the Aurician Empire with the power to establish and appoint all officers of the Noble Republic of Aurice and direct power over the city of Aurice, although this is typically delegated to governors. By condescension, the Noble Senate acknowledges the viceviles elected in the vicifs in the capital city.

Senatorial Sovereignty

Unlike other traditions where the peers are considered dependent upon the sovereign monarch, the Noble Senate of Aurice has traditionally been sovereign, using its power historically to appoint a governing duke to lead in matters of warfare and to receive diplomatic envoys. The sovereign status of the Senate was lost on these occasions: during the rule of the First Kalikán Empire, the rule of Prince Ulcanov of the Shattered Waters, the rule of the Medibgóëse Prince-Governors, the rule of the Vice-royal Dukes of the New Kalikán Empire, and the subsequent rule of House Bijäl during the Grand Duchy. The Aurician Revolution in the twenty seventh century restored the historic sovereignty to the Noble Senate after over five hundred years of monarchical and imperial rule. Before this time, the senate after the First Kalikán Empire was sovereign up to the period immediately before the reign of Prince Ulcanov, sovereign during the period of 2290 to 2477, and lastly sovereign from 2627 to the present.

Although styled sovereign, the Noble Senate today shares some of its powers with the Provincial Curia and the provincial parliaments. In 2722, the powerful corpora mercia of Aurice demanded representation in the Senate, inspired in part by the Narsadese Shu'ah composed of mercantile entities. Their demands were staunchly resisted by both the Noble Senate and the Provincial Curia, but the influence of the corpora mercia persists in the empire and the organs of government.

Sketch of An Aurician Senator's Throne

Composition

The Noble Senate is composed of members or peers who hold the office of senator and one or more noble ranks. Traditionally, the noble ranks of Aurice, similar to Throvy, are Hierophants, duke, count, baron, and metropolitan. The rank of metropolitan was created in 2559 by the Thracian Vice-royal Duke Baimund Kaligär with the intent of diluting the power of the other peers in order to make the senate more pliable to his policies. Unlike the other noble peerages, only a minority of Aurician Metropolitans hold the office of senator. The High Phœnissa becomes a duchess in her own right upon ascension and is made a senatrice with full powers. Other high officers of the government on rare occasion may be ennobled by the senate, although they are often already members of the senate.

The senators are drawn from numerous aristocratic families whose emergence into the ruling class reflects the changing fortunes of the city of Aurice through the centuries. Most families are of ancient, native Throvian blood, but a large minority are drawn from Thracian ancestry, having obtained their ranks from the Kings of Thrace or more often from the Vice-Royal Duke appointed by the King of Thrace during the twenty fourth and twenty fifth centuries. Of those remaining, some are Incarnandist Shenimite from the time of the Fifth Isbajath and others of Medibgösk ancestry, with the smallest portion belonging to Ersercese and other neighboring lands whose members purchased their offices from the ruling duke, usually with the assent of the Noble Senate.

Senatorial Powers

The Noble Senate of Aurice has power to deliberate and create new legislation. The senate appoints the highest ranking officers, including the Lord Governor-General of Aurice. Despite its sovereignty, the senate has been compelled to share some powers with the Provincial Curia, including the selection of the Lieutenant Governor-General of Aurice.

Senatorial Palace of Aurice

The Senatorial Palace rests on the east bank of the Golden Phœnice Riven.

The Noble Senate may conduct its business in any locale it chooses, but it rarely does so other than in the Senatorial Palace. The construction of the Senatorial Palace took place over a sixteen year period, from 2634 to 2654, using titancraft engines to hasten the work. The Great Curial Hall by far is the largest chamber in the palace and the setting for the central Mensary where the senatorial peers meet. The Senatorial Palace rests on the east bank of the Golden Phœnice Riven across from the Gubernatorial Palace.

See Also