Faction overview: Leithanien
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Administration and politics
Kurfürsten and Kaisers
The nine Kurfürsten (sing. Kurfürst) is the head of Leithanian government and the de facto head of state, and they routinely elect each other to become the empire's Kaiser/Kaiserin. Having its origin from the Sargonian imperial system, the Kurfürsten system is a combination that fits Leithanien's state confederation. Only the Kurfürsten are allowed to be elected or elect others to become the Kaisers, and for a long period of time, the Kurfürst who held the title of Kaiser was only considered as the nominal head of state; however, this has changed since the political centralization conducted by Herkunftshorn the Witch King. Yet, the imperial law of Leithanien also grants Kurfürsten near-complete autonomy in their respective Kreise, allowing them enough political power to easily oust a Kaiser.[1]
Each Kurfürsten has their own independent palace court so that they will be promoted to become the central government upon election. The Kurfürsten court also contains two separate departments: one being a vassalage system overseeing the aristocrats, and the other being a meritocratic system that runs the government. In the former, one has to be responsible to the aristocrats of their own Kreis, and in the latter, it is directly to the Kurfürst.[2]
Being a confederation, a Kaiser is first and foremost the leading Kurfürst of his Kreis, then the Kaiser of the entire state. The Kaiser must put the interest of his Kreis first and foremost so that he could focus himself in governing the whole nation.[2]
The current Kaiserinnen system is unique because the Twin Empresses are not from any of the nine Kurfürsten since the overthrow of the Witch King. The Kurfürsten have long seen them as a thorn in their side as they are not born from the classical aristocrats, but their popular support and their political might made them hard to be challenged.[3]
The Imperial Court
The Imperial Court of Leithanien (Leithanien Reichskammergericht) is the central government of the ruling Kaiser born from the palace court of the Kurfürsten. Whenever a Kaiser passes away or steps down from the throne, the elected successor will immediately promote his subordinates, many of whom are his meritocrats and his close associates, and take over the Imperial Court. The Imperial Court is tasked to carry out the order of the Kaiser, assist him in policy making, and serve as their imperial guards to protect him.[2]
Empresses' Voices
The Empresses' Voices (Kaiserinenstimmen) are the imperial guards of the current ruling Twin Empressess. While technically they are capable of fighting through their musical Arts, they are first and foremost the Empresses' orchestra performers, then their envoys and finally their bodyguards.[2] Members of the Empresses' Voices are mostly sons and daughters of the aristocrats, many of who being their youngest children, who are sent to their sides,[4] and some are personally recruited by the Empresses themselves out of interest. New recruits then have to accept the Empresses' appointment in their Spires after the Kaiserinnenfest before they can officially assume their positions.[5]
Of the characters above:
- Viviana is nominally an Empresses' Voice during the 23rd Kaiserinnenfest under Cora's recommendation before turning it down in the aftermath.
- Bassline serves as an Empress' Voice only in the name of Empress Hildegard even after her Stimmverlust.
Reichsorchesters
The Reichsorchesters[note 1] are the royal orchestra band serving the Imperial Court whose task is to perform music for the Kaisers in national ceremonies such as the performance of the Güldenesgesatz in the Kaiserfest. The Reichsorchesters are not just mere musicians; they are also capable Arts users being on par with the Empresses' Voices through their musical performances.[6]
Spire nobles
Leithanien has a rigid aristocratic hierarchy titled as the "Spire nobles." A "Spire" is the palace of a nobleman with an honorary tall tower possessing Arts mechanics, and its origin could be traced back to their academic studies of Arts where they spread their knowledge to their disciples; to this day, a Spire still serves as a place for academia. The taller the Spire, the more knowledge a nobleman possesses, which promotes their political status at the same time.[7]
Under the imperial law, Leithanian aristocratic hierarchy can be divided into seven levels with a degree of political power:[8]
- Kaisers; who is the head of state with absolute power.
- Kurfürsten; they are often confused to be the equivalent of a Grand Duke even though they technically share equal power with the Kaisers.
- Herzöge[note 2]/Markgrafen: Nobility of those governing municipalities of their Kreise as their lords.
- Grafen[note 3]: Nobility of those who possess private property such as a manor where many of them set up their own factories. Under rare circumstances, a common folk could become a Graf either through military achievements or through impressive Arts talents.
- Vizegrafen: Nobility that has even lesser power with the previous four titles. They are exempted from the privileges of the higher class and they have to own a business to maintain their livelihood.
- Freiherren[note 4]: Nobility that technically shares similar power, though being lesser, with the Vizegrafen's
- Edler: The lowest nobility title given to the common folk that only possesses symbolic meaning, hence being absent from political and military power.
A higher noble could confer a title upon a lesser noble in accordance with their ranks, i.e., a Kurfürst could promote a Herzog to become one of their ranks, and every lesser noble has to obey their upper ranks. And because of the division of power, the lower the rank, the lesser one becomes in politics; an Edler is even forbidden to confer a title upon somebody else.[8]
Legislature
- Main article: Güldenesgesatz
The laws of Leithanien are solely provided by the Güldenesgesatz, and each Kreis has its own independent laws that are modeled after the constitution. Despite several differences, the sole purpose of the constitution is to ensure social stability and maintain the aristocratic hierarchy.[9]
In terms of interpretation of the laws, the Kaiser has a final say in accordance with the constitution. And because there is no judicial branch that could limit the power of a Kaiser, technically, they possess absolute power. Nevertheless, the Kurfürsten play an important role that restrain the power of the Kaisers by quoting from the constitution.[10]
Military
The military of Leithanien is mainly made up of the aristocrats' private armies (Privatarmee). The size of their armies depend on a noble's hierarchical rank; the higher they are, the more soldiers they possess. And because they are private armies, the generals have to directly follow the order of a noble. New recruits have to undergo rigorous Arts training, and those who are qualified could be promoted to become one serving a higher-rank nobleman. The imperial guards like the Empresses' Voices are the highest rank and the finest elite within the military as they directly obey the Kaisers, though most of them are more of imperial envoys being part of the Imperial Court.[8]
Because of their reliance on Originium Arts, Leithanian soldiers are capable Arts users. Casters are very essential in the armies, and they are the top elites who master the finest Arts than regular Casters.[11] Some of the notable Leithanian military Arts Casters are the Künsteritters[note 5] and the Spire Casters serving the Spire noblemen.
Gesatzswächters
- Main article: Gesatzswächter
Administrative divisions
Leithanian land is divided into nine Kreise (sing. Kreis) with each part being governed by its own Kurfürst. Aside from the Kurfürst's palace court, each Kreis has its own state government, legislature, and even army provided by the Kurfürst's autonomy. While each Kreis fully obeys a central law provided by the Güldenesgesatz with minor differences, the ruling Kurfürst is often perceived as the leading government to the common folks through their military leadership and cultural superiority. Hence, a Kreis's disobedience of the Imperial Court often happens.[9]
- Einwald
- Erdenherre
- Eingeweide
- Furtgang
- Heldenschwert
- Heidenschwiel
- Lupukarn
- Sturmland
- Wasserland
Siracusa(formerly an autonomous Kreis, independent since 969)
Outside of the realm of the Kurfürsten, settlements within the Kreis have an independent government overseen by a Lehnsmann (lord) and his municipality government, and districts are governed by a Schultz (mayor). Local police enforcement is done by the local Gendarmeries dispatched by the nobles, but oftentimes they possess very few authorities as they have to directly obey them.
Leithanien has no fixed capital. Whenever a new Kaiser takes the throne, his state capital will also be promoted to become the nation's new federal capital.[2] For example, the current capital, Zwillingstürme, is technically the state capital of Kreis Einwald first, then the federal capital of the entire Leithanien.
Geography
Leithianen has a temperate humid biome with warm climate, deciduous forests, and a clear four seasons. Topography-wise, much of Leithainen ground is elevated. Its northeastern and southwestern areas are filled with rigid mountain ranges, and the central area is much more smooth, forming a geographical corridor connecting Kazimierz to the north and Siracusa to the east. The valleys and grasslands dotting the hills are areas where early human activities are found.[12]
Economy
Leithanien's temperate biome gives rise to its agrarian activities. Even mountainous regions could become terrace farmlands similar to those in the flatlands thanks to Originium Arts.[13] Forestry is also an important industry as Leithanians have a strong love of wood carving and timberworks thanks to their classical arts. As a tradition, they cut down trees by hand contrary to the public opinion of using Originium Arts.[14]
Leithanien is also the precursor of Terra's creative industry such as their classical art galleries and operas. And since the Crystallization Age, it has evolved into a perfect production line thanks to industrial technologies imported from Victoria, which allows Leithanians to produce creativity and visual-related products such as gramophones. On the other hand at one time, much of Leithanian products are all Arts devices because the producers presume everyone to be talented in Arts, resulting in criticism by many. Since then, Leithanien has implemented a dual system on their product, one powered by machines for non-Arts users, and the other as Arts devices for Arts users. Currently, the industry is undergoing rehabilitation since the devastating War of the Four Nations and the Witch King's tyranny.[13]
Leithanien's industries are mainly controlled by the aristocrats who control the flow of knowledge and usage of Originium Arts, resulting in a huge monopoly.[15]
Demographics
Leithanien has a total population of 32,000,000. Among them, 10,000 of them dwell in rich nomadic cities while the rest of them live in rural areas. Even though Leithanien is tolerant of Infected thanks to their Originium Arts tradition, Infected Leithanians mostly live in quarantine zones under the authorities' order, resulting in their mistreatments.[16]
Leithanien is mainly predominated by the Caprinae and Elafians. The former are known to be talented Arts users thanks to their well-tuned Adaptability, and the latter have a tradition of writing poems and songs.[17] These two races contribute to the strong artistic culture of Leithanien. Southeastern Leithanien is made up of Lupos, and much of the populace dwell in Kreis Lupukarn bordering Siracusa, and they have been facing social distrust by other races since the Siracusan separatist movement of 979.[18]
Culture
Originium Arts studies
Originium Arts is the core of Leithanian culture. Such tradition can be traced back to millennia ago when the Court of the Liches, a prominent Sarkaz tribe of the Royal Court, spread their knowledge of Arts regardless of race, but the Leithanians excelled in its development.[19] The Leithanians strongly believe that Arts can be passed on through elegant and academic methods by the aristocrats. As a matter of fact, Education is very essential to every Leithanian from the lowest Edlers to Kaisers, and it has become the heart of Leithanien's politics. Through this system of meritocracy, a student could study in prominent universities and colleges where they acquire deeper knowledge from families of Spire nobles.[20]
But because of its strong admiration of academia and its rigid hierarchical system, studying in Leithanian academies can be very tough, having some of the most complex education systems across Terra. To begin with, schools evaluate their students in accordance with their Arts Adaptability which is also part of their grading system; if they are labeled as "flawed," they might either repeat their course or even outright expulsion due to so-called "academic inability." In the meantime, advanced studies also means an increase in financial burdens. As a consequence, only 7% of commoner students could graduate from top academies prior to the Witch King era. During the Witch King's reign before the War of the Four Nations, there is a sudden surge of this number to around 35% thanks to his favor for meritocracy for all citizens, but since the Empresses' era, academies turn their favor back to the aristocrats, resulting to a huge drop to around 12% of commoner graduates.[21]
Musics and arts
Leithanien's classicism and appreciation of Originium Arts give rise to its strong musical and artistic culture. Archeological evidence has shown that Leithanian culture had been around even before the foundation of the confederation. To them, art and music are a medium to express their philosophy and emotions, and to enjoy arts and music, they have rational yet expressive methods. One method that they showcase their artistic talent is through classical music, and even during the tyrannical rule of the Witch King, music is still well practiced, including the Witch King himself who was also a talented musician.[22]
Operas are also another popular form of Leithanian arts where one could express themselves or narrate a story through both music and visual presentation. These operas often include strong visual and sound effects through Originium Arts as well. But since the fall of the Witch King, they have been used as propaganda by the Echoes of Herkunftshorn to attract new followers through exaggerations and cultist worship.[22]
Das Kaiserinnensfest
Das Kaiserinnensfest (German for "The Empresses' Festival") is an annual musical festival that celebrates the coronation of the Twin Empresses and their victory over the Witch King. The event is held in the capital of Zwillingstürme, and the celebration is more of an Arts ritual to amplify the capital's defense system built since the Witch King era.[6]
In the performance, the Reichsorchesters first perform a full score of the Güldenesgesatz at the royal amphitheater to honor the nation and praise for the stability and harmony. Not only just the orchestra, everyone at the spot, including the audience, will make their contribution by singing and playing their own instrument. At the climax of the performance, the Twin Empresses will step out from the Twin Spires to the skybridge where both of them make their duet to conclude the performance.
Notes
References
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