View source for A Treatise on Economic fulfillment, the funding of the nobility and the Theme system/The Theme System

== Preface and Map ==

''Included in this section is an artfully drawn map, clearly not by the authors hand, as the signature at the bottom left denotes. It appears to be of Dwilight as a whole, both east and west. Notably, the lands to the south east of the eastern continent, the lands of Greater Luria, are more stylized and highlighted to draw the attention of the reader. What is more, the west continent is vague, with only key areas such as Darfix, Golden Farrow and Eidulb standing out, among others. The general landscape just contains grim depictions of monsters and undead, the names of those lands lost or too unfortunate to speak of.''

[[The Theme System/Map]]

Before we begin our final chapter, I must note that a map has been carefully recreated for your perusal. This is important, not only because good cartographers are hard to come by (this particular one took me a month and a half to find), but it will highlight many of the discussion points I will be raising. This chapter will make much reference to Luria Nova itself, as I will be making a critical analysis of my realm and making many suggestions I believe need be implemented. Do not fear, however, if you are not from Lurian climbs. Many of the ideas presented will still be applicable to your own realm, albeit modified to suit your own needs.

== The Theme System ==

This final chapter will discuss the importance of a well managed empire. Whilst we have examined the running of efficient regions and how the nobility and treasury should be maintained to the benefit of those regions, and the realm, we have not discussed the importance of a strictly ordered realm. This is vital to the success of any empire that wishes to expand, yet maintain stability and balance. The sections I will aim to discuss are as follows:

*'''The 'Theme':''' The titular topic, what a Theme is and its importance to a superbly managed realm. This is known in many different names, the most common is the Duchy, although the Theme differs in legal and cultural respects.

*'''Imperial Responsibility:''' There cannot be empire without imperial authority, and where that rears its head there must be responsibility, both to and from the crown. Here I will attempt to ascertain the right conduct that should be shown to vassals and lieges alike.

*'''Decentralisation vs Centralisation:''' As will be espoused very soon, a decentralised realm far outstrips the effectiveness of a centralised one, but requires more careful politicking of the various estates involved. I will show you the benefits and the drawbacks of each, and explain why the former defeats the latter.

*'''Titles and their Meanings:''' Often there are many titles for regional lords, let alone dukes, kings and emperors. I will outline not the titles so much, but what their bearing should mean to the realm at large.

*'''Obedience over Glory:''' To wrap up this treatise, I will discuss the importance of each individual nobles responsibility to the realm first, and their own personal needs next. A realm cannot prosper without order and productivity, and that can only be achieved with combined, disciplined efforts.

The first section will outline what a 'Theme' actually is.

== The 'Theme' Itself ==

A Theme, as stated above, is essentially a Duchy. The key difference to a Theme to your traditionally named Duchy, is that a Theme contains much Lurian influence. There are two notable facets to a Theme.

*'''A Theme is held by a Royal (King or Queen)''', but differs to the usual interpretation of a Kingdom in that it is an imperial title. It is bestowed upon the ruler by the emperor, and not by bloodline, by the grace of the vassal estate or by any religious authority. 

*'''In legal terms, the emperor is the sole body politic who may bestow the title of a Theme to any one person''', be they the most junior knight of the realm to the most distinguished noble bloodline. What is more, the emperor holds complete authority to retract a Theme from a Royal, as they are a servant to the empire and imperial family, however this is only done through great deliberation and council from other Royals within the empire.

This legal situation extends to the granting of various regions also. If by the hand of a Royal, appointed to govern a Theme by the imperial family, a knight is given title over a region, then it extends that the region is not inheritable. As a servant of the imperial family, thereby an extension of the imperial family, bestows title upon another, it enters the same contractual obligations as that of the Royal. This may seem a foreign concept to other realms that no doubt still use the archaic feudal system of obligation and fealty. An imperial model is far more effective, as it allows the ruler to exercise far more authority over rebellious vassals. Whilst this might be seen as a problem in many other realms, Luria Nova enjoys a level of meritocracy and civility that allows this system to work unmolested by ambitions, the majority of the time.

'''''The Themes of Luria, Evaluation'''''

As promised, I will also discuss Luria Nova more directly itself, the various Themes that it has and what it should have. This may seem controversial, in as much as it retracts historical notions of territory for a more structured model. Here, I will reference the map included in the preface to this section, so that I might better illustrate my points.

*'''The Theme of Sky Hall''' - Giask (Capital), Outer Giask, Grodno, Orz, Cadier.

*'''The Theme of Irvington''' (Not yet created) - Irvington (Capital), Herle, Mellifera, Maf.

*'''The Theme of Sun Hall''' - Shinnen (Capital), Shinnen Purlieus, Sulorte, Smokey Hills, Vaal, Garuck Udor

*'''The Theme of Aveston''' (Not yet created) - Aveston (Capital), Thar Gortauth, Moon Bay.

*'''The Theme of Moon Hall''' - Askileon (Capital), Askileon Purlieus, Santoo, Ciarin Tut, Mattan Dews, Girich.

*'''The Theme of Earth Hall''' - Poryatown (Capital), Poryatu, Nid Tek, Lupa Lapu, Dantooine, Flying Hongrns.

((OOC: Alternatively, should it be mechanically impossible to make Irvington and Aveston capitals of their own realms, then Matthew would suggest that Sky Hall receive Irvingtons lands and Sun Hall receives Avestons))

The Themes I have listed are both current and, hopefully should the work be heeded, future. They represent central locales for which the bureaucracy of the realm may be conducted, and contain at least one region of value (City or Townsland). This allows for the collection of taxes from knights in a wholesome manner, as well as breaking up the various lands required to rule such a vast empire.

One may notice that I noted the capital of each Theme. This was intentional. As I will discuss more in the later chapter 'Decentralisation vs Centralisation'. For now, we shall move onto imperial responsibilities.

== Imperial Responsibility ==

This section will hardly be extensive, as this is more a discussion of law than of economics. Still, it is important to note because without it we cannot continue our discussion of imperial management. Nevertheless, I aim to evaluate what it means to be an imperial subject, and an imperial ruler, the rights and values proposed by such and their important to the realm.

Firstly, the responsibilities of an imperial subject should be seen as follows:

*'''Obey Imperial Law always''', even if it super-cedes the word of the emperor. Perhaps seemingly contradictory, but us Lurians value our sovereignty greatly, and should it be impeded by the wishes of one emperor that abuses them, the law should hold precedence.

*'''Heed the word of the Emperor with the severity it is due''', for they hold the fate of the empire in their words and actions. Should imperial decree dictate that a war be fought, then it is the responsibility of all subjects to commit their full attention and resources to that war, and all other things the emperor commands.

*'''Act in the interests of the Empire first, and yourself second''', for glory seeking is the bane of any cohesive imperial land. Value patience and prudence over glory, for that comes with the success of the empire expanding ever further and influencing ever more peoples.

*'''Should you be unfit to act accordingly, seek advice from ones betters, or step aside for another to do so'''. Lurians value meritocracy highly, and an imperial government requires many competent hands. If one is incapable of acting with wisdom and surety, they ought to seek the appropriate advice. Otherwise, they ought to make way for better equipped individuals.

This concludes the briefest of responsibilities of an imperial subject. Now I shall list the responsibilities of the imperial family.

*'''Obey Imperial Law always''', and seek to right wrongs where ever they may be found. The law is absolute when it is in place, but it is not unchanging. An emperors duty is to observe the laws of the realm and always act to further lawful doctrine.

*'''Give imperial decrees only in matters of grave importance''', let the themes govern themselves as best fit, and focus your attentions on the greater concerns of the empire. An emperor that commands too often will earn the ire of their subjects, who wish to govern themselves autonomously. Nevertheless, imperial authority is required when it is due.

*'''Temper the wishes of the people with good judgement and wise counsel''', for the wishes of the empire is not always the best course of action. This is the task of the emperor. One cannot give in to the popular masses, but must strike out on their own, leading with their own agendas, not that of petty folk.

*'''Reward good counsel, loyalty and betterment of the empire appropriately''', for ignoring such is a sure way to destruction. With many powerful themes at ones command, an emperor must note their services when coming to decisions. Without their assistance, an emperor is little more than a petty king.

The task of an emperor is simple yet astoundingly difficult. They must pursue their vision of the empire, yet temper it to the wishes of the Themes, yet never give in to the complete wants of the nobility and the populace. Only then can one call themselves an emperor, and lead an empire to even greater heights.

That concludes our brief section on imperial responsibility, which need be said before we begin our next controversial topic. 

== Decentralisation vs Centralisation ==

As one may have noticed, there has been a lot of talk about the various capitals of the Themes. For the more astute among you, you may have already guessed that I aim to discuss the fragmentation of the empire. Perhaps thinking at first this is hypocritical of me, given the stances I have espoused for unity within the empire. Fear not, for I shall elaborate in such a way that all may understand, and agree, that a decentralised realm is in fact a more cohesive one.

Firstly, let us discuss the various benefits of a centralised empire, one that spans many regions, operates in several Theme's and answers to a singular ruler.

*'''Prestigious Appearance:''' Do not doubt the awe inspiring effect of looking upon the maps of a realm that spans as far as Luria Nova currently does. Such brings with it a level of prestige and respect that no doubt lends itself well to the diplomatic table abroad.

*'''Simpler Diplomacy:''' Continuing from the diplomatic table, it is far easier for ambassadors to understand they are dealing with a singular political entity instead of many, which aids in the drawing up of treaties.

*'''Wide and Varied recruitment opportunities:''' With regiments rallied underneath a central banner at the capital, captains and generals enjoy being able to hand pick their favoured battalions instead of drawing from more local regiments.

*'''Easier Food Distribution:''' A centralised realm enjoys the benefits of a singular market, allowing the transportation of food throughout its borders without restraint.

*'''Cohesive Military Command:''' With all generals under the same banner, essentially, the chances of military misinformation is greatly reduced.

*'''Internal Court Functionality:''' The government apparatus is much simpler when communications can be made directly with other estates in the realm, as well as concerning those in top positions of government.

To my knowledge, the examples here are many and well rounded. I trust this, like the rest of the treatise, will assure the reader of at least some impartiality when discussing these topics. Of course, we have yet to examine the drawbacks of a central authority, which are numerous and staggeringly problematic for a realm the size of Luria Nova.

*'''Long Journeys to reach the capital:''' A seemingly frivolous task many might think, but when a general need ride to the capital, several days away (and with delays this can amount to significantly more) to recruit more soldiers, multiple regions may already be attacked. This does not only apply to military commanders, as summoning any realm wide council is near impossible given the distances required overall.

*'''Greatly Increased Corruption:''' Whilst the distribution of food is easier, the gold required to muster armies or improve the infrastructure of the empire is severely reduced. Tax rates are painfully low, and the people (and bureaucrats) cannot stomach them to be raised, leading to great losses for everyone involved.

*'''Less Military Armies than Required:''' This may seem a non-issue, as anyone can point out that more armies can be made to alleviate this. The truth of the matter is that the pen is mightier than the sword, in that armies are often assigned knights from regions that are far from their objectives, or have to police multiple extended fronts for fear of too many armies complicating the chain of command under one authority.

*'''Less Fine Tuned Governance:''' A wide reaching empire institutes wide reaching decrees, in order to facilitate change. This is often inadequate, as each particular region requires particular support. Some require more subsidised gold, others require the imports of food. With a central authority, more work is placed at the top than is strictly necessary.

*'''Covetous Attitudes Foment:''' With more emphasis placed at the very top, the vast amount of nobles increases the chances of factionalism and politicking. Reducing the amount of nobles in a single political entity makes the problem more manageable.

With the above examples, I believe it becomes apparent that there are solid arguments for both accounts. However, I believe by discussing the benefits of decentralisation more closely, and alleviating some of the problems it may face, the idea becomes far more feasible and enticing.

*'''It retains a Prestigious Appearance:''' When a central empire claims dominion over vast lands, it often appears to be merely an ostentatious kingdom. Instead of masquerading as such, an empire that allows autonomy among the various royal lands clearly shows obedience from vassals that outstrip the regular duke. This brings with it even more prestige than a singular realm ever could.

*'''Diplomatic Advantages:''' Multiple realms under one authority bring with it the benefit of a convoluted diplomatic situation. This may seem counter intuitive, but the art of diplomacy requires many approaches. With multiple powerful figures at the table arguing on behalf of a core empire, the task of the foreign ambassador becomes far more difficult. The chances of sneaking in beneficial treaties from the sheer amount of paperwork and discussion required is increased manifold. 

*'''Each Realm Bolsters their Military Capacity:''' When the realm can no longer rely on a central recruiting platform, the individual kingdoms must invest in stronger local military. This overall increases the effectiveness, and diversity, of the imperial army.

*'''Local Armies Ease Operations:''' Following on from a military perspective, the ability for multiple armies to exist, not bogging down the chain of command with differing orders, the management of each realms borders is far simpler. What is more, it is easier to determine the exact strength of each individual branch of imperial forces.

*'''Encouraging Trade Opportunities:''' Splitting off regions from a central market makes it impossible to simply ferry food around. What it does create however is a situation where trade needs to be conducted between the various realms. This helps spread the wealth of more prosperous Theme's by distributing their gold to more rural Theme's. This promotes a healthy mercantile atmosphere that is sure to attract foreign markets.

*'''More Efficient Tax Collection:''' By splitting the central bureaucracy into multiple realms, taxes may be levied more effectively as the funds need not go so far in order to be counted. As such, knights and lords across the Theme's may extract far more income than they could in a larger realm.

*'''Local Governance Targets Problems Specifically:''' With regional lords able to carry out the wishes of each individual royal more specifically, the reliance of overarching and vague decrees allows each Theme to target its own major problems properly. No longer will unnecessary time be spent by neophyte bureaucrats performing tasks that need not be conducted in their lands.

*'''The Courts do not have to split:''' By instituting a central messaging system, via an imperial backed guild house, the court may operate in different climbs but find itself just as easily able to communicate as before. However, this time the court need not convene at a singular location, but meet at different central locales wherever is more convenient.

*'''Ambition is Channeled Appropriately:''' With eyes drawn away from the imperial seat of power to each regional Theme, ambitious individuals (and more worryingly rebellious ones) will find it far more difficult to bring ruin to the empire as a whole. By dividing the lands, so to are the problems divided. If one head is struck off, many still remain.

As can be seen above, there are numerous ways of solving the many issues that plague a centralised state by decentralising it. What is more, the concerns that might be had of decentralising a state are in fact easy to solve, and often bring with them hidden boons. The choice seems simple, provided the proper attitudes toward such a drastic change are fostered and permeated throughout the ruling classes.

If such a fragmentation of the empire is conducted, the realm will surely benefit. However, the new influx of titles, royalties and government positions is surely to create some consternation. Hopefully I will be able to explain the definitions of titles within an imperial meritocracy in the next section.

== Titles and their Meanings ==

As has been discussed previously, some titles of this new system have already been defined. Others however, have yet to be. Below I shall list a variety of titles, their proper meanings and the due respect they deserve.

*'''Sir or Dame:''' Often considered the lowest title available to any noble, in the Theme system this is not so. A sir or dame is an individual granted estate in the richest lands of a Theme, to collect taxes and tithes necessary for the armed forces. These individuals ought to be of martial standing, with the funds necessary to wage war upon the enemies of the empire and thus wielders of great honour and prestige.

*'''Various Lordly Titles:''' Be it Lord, Earl, Viscount, Margrave or more, the responsibilities and respects are the same. This is a role that requires a more delicate touch, given that the estates granted with such vary. A noble lord ought to give their pursuits up to courtly matters, attending the regions they have been granted, due to the extensive duties they must command over their regions. They should only afford a retinue of smaller standing, unlike a knight, as they must retain greater funds for the expansion of regional projects. Nevertheless, the honour and prestige of these individuals is no less than a sir or dames, only that their responsibilities differ.

*'''A Theme's Royal:''' This is where the hierarchy truly begins, as lords and knights should not be seen as above or below each other. A Royal, on the other hand, has been deemed worthy of ruling a kingdom underneath the Emperor, and thus should be given due respect for this. Much like the lord, they ought to give themselves up to more courtly pursuits, managing their theme capitals to be productive centers for their knightly vassals. Again, the extensive duties required of a Royal should align them to this style of life, rather than campaigning for the empire abroad.

*'''The Imperial Family:''' Ruling over the Royalty of the realm sits the Imperial Family. Given the highest honours of the realm, they dictate the direction that the realm should work towards. The current Emperor ought to take whatever task suits them best, and as such filter down their wishes as a very embodiment of imperial doctrine. If an Emperor takes up the sword, the empire knows that war awaits.

From this, one may begin to wonder why so many of the realms titular holders are encouraged to take up more administrative roles. The answer is simple, it is better for a realm to be managed by scribes than soldiers. Let war be handled by the warriors, and the realm be handled by the bureaucrats. Those who hold responsibility over the regions should know that their place lies with them. If they do not wish for this fate, the title should be handed to another, as no title brings with it the honour of inheritance. It is the individual that honours the title.

With this section wrapping up the bulk of the treatise, it should hopefully now be clear that the success of the Theme system relies of a total overhaul on a nobles attitude to rulership and the place with where they sit. Unlike the backwards feudal system, where knights are considered lesser individuals, the Theme system treats these individuals as more martial in nature. Lords ought to be seen as more administrative knights, rather than simply greater nobility. 

I shall finish with a final section mimicking again the importance of obedience to the empire first and foremost, in order to see the potential success laid out within this treatise, reach its fullest.

== Obedience over Glory ==

The reader should now find themselves thoroughly educated on the running of a successful realm, from the very roots of prosperity to lofty notions of imperial management. Within these words holds a greater purpose however, not just that of prosperity for all people, but to achieve such under cultured and civilized rule. Outside the light of the empire lies only darkness, filled with nightmarish creatures and ill fortune. Humanity plies itself on such ridiculous notions as democracy, when it could turn toward enlightened despotism. From the rulership of one comes the prosperity of many, guided by the just and wise hands of the few.

In order to achieve this sovereign state, one must always obey the laws set upon them by the realm, over all else. Without law we are no better than animals, but with it we might march ever onward into a brighter future. These laws are created by the best among us, the majestic rulers that rose to their positions through merit, tact and good sense. Through their actions we might yet achieve imperial status among not only our subjects, but foreign powers as well.

Through selfless application toward the realm can one find themselves rewarded, not only in seeing the fruits of their labour bring prosperity to the realm, but in the material rewards of their betters. A just and magnanimous ruler will give their subjects their rightful dues, in order to foster even greater acts of ambition in the hopes that the empire might flourish, and with it the everlasting glory of their households.

Should any of noble birth wish to seek out further knowledge on these matters, or discuss them more directly, they need only look toward the brightest land in Dwilight. Luria Nova is always seeking more intrepid individuals, and those that dare will often find themselves winning more than they could have ever hoped to in service to the empire. Even if one does not choose to stay within these halls, the teachings and culture of Luria will no doubt spread far beyond its borders, bringing with it civilization and salvation. I pray that you, the reader, are among those enlightened few who will do so.

In truth and glory,

Viscount Matthew Coffey