Terran/Hireshmont's Conception of the Republic
As our Republic grows in size and in age, its shape is becoming more and more defined, developed by the conflicts we have faced. One of those conflicts has been between our skilled and determined military leadership and our engaged and powerful Senate. Both institutions have contributed greatly to Terran's development, and both are strong and vital, developing bodies. The relationships between them are highly complex.
As the Senator of Chesney, I have been on the front lines of the debate over the Republic. I am sponsor of the Army of the Lowlands, and thus have authority over its Marshal. I am a border duke near D'Hara, so have frequent dealings with foreigners. I am the only city-Senator outside of the capital, so have a special place in the Senate. My city is rich, but my duchy is poor, so I have a special and generous place in relation to the Senators of Chesland, Larur, Odona, and Thysan. I consider myself a strong advocate for the Republic and for the rights of the nobility, and a champion of the cause of Terranian culture. I have often made my opinions known regarding how Terran, as a Republic, is and ought to be structured, and it seems fitting to let those opinions to be known to posterity. Thus far I am proud to say that, in each occurrence, I have been blessed with both many friends and allies, and the means to defend my opinions, and so the words I speak are not only an opinion, but carry significant weight in how things are actually done. That said, this is only one side of the debate, and I am sure that others would provide a different story of what Terran looked like in its younger days. So without further delay, I will explain how I see Terran.
The Magistrate of War is a Magistrate of the Senate. The Senators, as the representatives of the Republic, are the legislators who delegate executive authority to the Magistracy. Moreover, as the governors of the wealth of the Republic, the Senators alot a significant amount of resources to the defense and expansion of the Republic. However, ultimate authority over the armies resides with the Senate, and hence the Senators, to whom the Magistracy is answerable, and to whom the Marshals are answerable. The Magistracy serves at the leisure Senate. Marshals and Ambassadors serve at the leisure of the Senate. The Senate serves at the leisure of the Nobility of the Republic.
Indeed, while the General's bulletin is correct in stating that the Magistrate of War is the highest military authority in the land, it remains true that the military is a diversely existent entity, and one which, in all its parts, is dependent on the authority of the Senate. The Marshal's authority comes from individual Senators, while the Magistrate's authority comes from the Nobility on the whole in order to execute the objectives of the Senate. The execution of those objectives occurs within a certain framework: one in which Marshals ultimately take orders from no one directly. They can be removed by the Sponsors (Senators), and they can be undermined by the liege-lords (Senators), and they can be manipulated and rendered ineffective by the General (Magistracy), but they are not ultimately orderable by anyone.
The Magistrate of War should formulate military strategy: the Marshals have authority over the day-to-day, and are primarily answerable to the Senate, whereas the Magistrate is more primarily answerable to the Nobility than Marshals are, yet both are ultimately answerable to the Senate, and thereby to the Nobility.
It shall always be the proper objective of the Republic to incorporate within its sphere of influence as many lands and nobles as possible and proper, and to provide for those lands proper governance, and for those nobles an environment of stability, culture, and manners. To that end, the Republic shall, through its military strategy and otherwise, seek primarily to guarantee the wellbeing of those lands and nobles already within its purview, occupying new lands only when the demands of nobles cannot be met by existing lands and resources, or when the long-term safety of those lands and nobles requires the taking of new territories, or when the territories in question are barbaric and uncivilized, needing the light of culture, the lamp of virtue, and the firm hand of noble blood to guide them.
Terran is a Republic of Virtue, wherein it is the duty of Senators to exemplify in conduct as well as by behavior the principles which are necessary to the continuation of a republican system of governance: a proud bearing and manner, courtly behavior towards others, civility in discussion, reason as the prime guide of thought, faith in the gods, righteousness in action, integrity to one's word, openness in word and deed. As part of this, Senators ought to make their opinions publicly known, and announce their doings. They should especially make it public knowledge how they use the resources from the lands entrusted to them by the Nobility of the Republic, in the form of regular reports on their expenditures.
The Chief Magistrate is the prime guide of the Republic, and the primary face of the Republic abroad. However, the main job of the Chief Magistrate is in overseeing the functions of the Senate, breaking deadlock in the Senate, overseeing the function of the Magistracy, and representing the realm abroad. The Chief Magistrate is not an autocrat, nor a unitary ruler, but rather beholding to the Senate and to the Nobility in a similar fashion as the Magistrate of War. However the Chief Magistrate is entrusted by the Nobility to be a regulator on the Senate as well as on the rest of the Magistracy, and thus holds a special post with primary authority stemming from the Nobility, and causing the Chief Magistrate to occupy a space apart from the Senate or the rest of the Magistracy. Yet again, the actual unitary powers vested in the Chief Magistrate are comparatively few.
Among the Senators there is equality of name. However, some Senators bear different responsibilities. Notably, city-Senators, at present Senator Vigilans and myself, have increased duties to the Republic and to other Senators. It is our duty to maintain the armies of the Republic in fighting trim, and to oversee the Marshals, and to oversee the rural regions. We manage taxes within our duchies, ensuring that finance is uniform and harmonious, and we also have primary responsibilty of arranging for the transfer and sale of food around the realm, as our regions are the prime consumers. These increased duties lead to the city-Senators, the Dukes, being of significant influence and power, as the Senators of other regions have frequent interactions with us. I myself personally distribute approximately 300 gold each week to the knights and Senators outside of my own region of Chesney, throughout my duchy, while I take only 30 in taxes. Moreover, I supply an additional 100-150 gold in income throughout the duchy through Chesney's food purchases each week: by these means and others, city-Senators shoulder an additional burden for the Republic, and so become natural pillars of the Republic, and so it weighs especially heavy on them to exemplify the principles of the Republic, and to be champions of its cause.
That is my vision of the Republic of Terran. There are others; mine is not uniform, though it is popular enough thus far. Someday things may change but, for now, that is my vision of Terran.
Senator Hireshmont Vellos II, the Winter Solstice of the 10th Year of Dwilight in the twilight of the Second Pentannual
A succinct representation of the functionality of the Republic by then Chief-Magistrate Torvaldo Rimida, which agrees in its essentials with the conception of a Republic that I outlined, is as follows:
"Letter from Torvaldo Rimida (22 minutes ago) Message sent to everyone in message group "The Strategium" (9 recipients) First off, It is very good to see these discussions going on. Any statements suggesting they should not be happening is simply wrong.
The matter of who has ultimate control in Terran is not a new issue. As the Senators of both of Terran's cities have already given their views on the Magistrate of War matter, I do not feel that I have need to address the specific issue.
Terran is a republic. The Senate has final authority in all matters. All Magistrate positions, including Chief Magistrate, are selected by the nobles of the realm, but in the end they report to the Senate, themselves chosen by the realm. That is the way Terran is. We are not a monarchy.
A discussion on tax income is a completely different issue. One that I don't feel has a place in the Strategium. The Senate controls the regions of Terran, therefore the distribution of taxes is at their discretion.
I have tried to keep this letter as more of an overview of Terran, if there are more specific discussions to be had, I will address individual matters separately.
With respect, Torvaldo Rimida Chief Magistrate of Terran, Senator of Vashgew"
