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The Falderian Empire

Jan 13, 202619 min read

The Falderian Empire is a predominantly human empire in the south of Falderia. The capital of The Falderian Empire is New Thonham.

Flag:
Falderian Empire Flag
The flag represents the sun rising on the new (post-dominance) empire. The bottom quarter is missing to highlight the losses during The Race Wars, and the stripes emphasize themes of unity and uniformity. Lastly, the final shape replicates the shape of helmets worn by soldiers of The Falderian Empire, reminding the nation of it’s historical military prowess.

The flag was commissioned by King Aldem Titanfoot to help rebuild the unite the empire under a single idea, after The Glynnorin Family led it to ruin during The Race Wars.

Culture

The Falderian Empire is a predominantly human empire, with most inhabitants following The Church of Kulkysm. It is a society marked by a clear division in social and financial classes, yet bound together by shared histories and values. Citizens of New Thonham, colloquially “Thonites”, embrace in varying cultural elements depending on their octant, but universally subscribe to the values of King Aldem Titanfoot. Social mobility amongst citizens of the empire is quite low, beyond “Tillers” (rural citizens) moving into New Thonham

Citizens of New Thonham are generally guarded and isolated. Individuals operate with no allegiances beyond their own, and their immediate loved ones. Family serves an important role amongst the higher social classes in New Thonham, with citizens inheriting the social station of their parents. Despite this, it is commonly expected for families to only provide the necessities of life until the child can make it’s own way. This usually includes food, housing, and education. With family serving such an important social role, honour is the single largest factor of a citizen’s identity. In the higher social classes, it is rare for a citizen to break their word.

New Thonham’s middle class, predominantly living in the 3rd octant and working in the 5th octant, represents the backbone of the city and empire’s economy. They generally enjoy a comfortable lifestyle with regular social events, access to fresh food, clean drinking water, and when able engage politically in the 1st octant. These citizens are usually trusting, busy, and distracted.

The lower classes, particularly those in the 7th octant, have a more challenging existence. Many are descendants of veterans from the Race Wars and continue to live in poverty. Despite their hardships, they exhibit an extreme sense of community and resilience. Their culture is less influenced by the city’s politics and more by their shared experiences and struggles. This class still harbours strong resentment towards Eschenfeld, and are the most likely to hold extreme view points. These citizens live life constantly on guard; looking over their shoulder; vigilantly waiting for the next scam, assault, or tragedy to set them back to square zero.

Outside the city, the “Tillers” (rural citizens) represent a different facet of Falderian society. Their lifestyle is simpler and more connected to the land. They are often overlooked by Thonites, but their role in food production and maintaining the rural landscape is vital to the Empire. Their produce is essential to maintaining The Falderian Empire’s trade dominance, and is fundamental to the nation’s ability to be prosperous, particularly during the 100 years following The Thonham Accords.

Governance

The Empire has a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. Power in the empire is derived from the throne, but most day to day policy decisions are made amongst the three core elements of the government: the legislative chamber of deputies, the judiciary caucus, and the various agencies that comprise the executive branch as set out by the chamber of deputies.

Deputies of the chamber of deputies are unable to fill a role in the judiciary caucus, nor the executive branches whilst serving as a deputy.

The throne is held by the royal family, a patrilineal chain of kings/emperors (depending on time period). The royal family is classified into three major periods: pre-dominance, intra-dominance, and post-dominance. These periods are demarcated by major events in the empire’s history. Pre-dominance marks time before the empire ruled all Falderia, and post-dominance begins following The Race Wars.

Political Parties

The Falderian Empire has 3 major political parties, and a number of smaller parties. The system of governance does not have a head of state, but the majority party in the Chamber of Deputies is effectively able to mandate the leaders of the various executive branch organisations.

The Titanfoot Loyalism Party

The Titanfoot Loyalism Party (titanfoot loyalists) are devout followers of King Aldem Titanfoot’s original economic doctrine. This party has held the majority in the chamber of deputies until recently, forming the empire and New Thonham as we know it.

Currently, they hold 5 seats in the Chamber of Deputies:

The Reform Party

The Reform Party (reformists) seek substantial reform to the empire’s economic policy. They campaign on themes of reclaiming the empire’s former glory.

Currently, they hold:

This gives the reformists a slight majority in the Chamber of Deputies, enabling them to act functionally independently assuming the party votes uniformly.

The Tillers’ Alliance

The Tillers’ Alliance speaks for the rural citizens of the empire. It emphasizes the importance of agriculture, and strives to gain mor erecognition for the “tillers”. The party is headed by Stanem Winmore, the duke of The Duchy of Parzelon.

Currently, the party holds 5 seats:

Minor Parties

  • The Octant Unification Party - 1 Seat(s) - New Thonham 6th Octant
  • The Industrial Party - 2 Seat(s) - New Thonham 5th Octant & 4th Octant
  • The Accord Advocate Party - 1 Seat(s) - New Thonham 2nd Octant

Chamber of Deputies

The chamber of deputies is responsible for representing electorates in the matters and duties of the chamber. The chamber of deputies has the final say regarding the election of magistrates, enacts laws and statues, authorizes and executes capital punishment, declares war and peace, maintains alliances, and oversees the government via hearings and inquiries.

The chamber currently has 30 seats. Seats are added and removed as the empire has gained and lost control over territories. Membership, although democratically elected, is often hereditary. The 30 seats are distributed into electorates as follows:

This allocation sees New Thonham with 22 seats, a “landslide” majority with 15 of those seats in the hands of wealthy electorates.

Chamber of deputies allocation

PartyColor
The Titanfoot Loyalism PartyBlue
The Reform PartyRed
The Tillers’ AllianceGreen
The Octant Unification PartyYellow
The Industrial PartyOrange
The Accord Advocate PartyPurple

Judiciary Caucus

The judiciary caucus enforces the legislation set forth by the Chamber of Deputies. The caucus is comprised of three tiers, known as the “Three Cs”:

  • The King’s Court
  • The Cardinal Court
  • The Common Court

The King’s Court is the highest court in the empire, and is the final step in appeals. This court cannot hear cases in their first instance, cases must be escalated to this court. The court can be found in the first octant of New Thonham, and is considered to represent the explicit will of the King. It is held by three people:

The Cardinal Court is a court of general jurisdiction. It can be found in the first octant of New Thonham, There are no limits to the cases that this court can here, whether they be criminal or civil. Amongst hearing first instance cases, this court additionally hears appeals from the lower court. The cardinal court is held by 8 judges.

The Common Court is a collection of courts across the empire, and is held by many judges as selected by the deputy elected for that electorate.

Executive Branch Organisations

The following is a non-exhaustive list of executive branch organisations. Specifically at the highest level as set out by the laws and statutes defined by the Chamber of Deputies.

Ministry of the Treasury

The ministry of treasury is responsible for enacting the economic constitution, financial management, and budgeting. It oversees taxation, fiscal policy, government expenditues, and public debt management.

Minister: Fenzok Redalda.

Ministry of Infrastructure & Works

The ministry of infrastructure & works focuses on the development and maintenance of the empire’s infrastructure. This includes public buildings, water systems, and the walls of New Thonham. The ministry also provides works services to the other ministries as a means of achieving affordable an efficient enactment of construction plans. The ministry works to improve the quality of infrastructure services, which are vital for economic development and welfare as set out in the economic constitution.

Minister: Grebram Stillshadow

Ministry of Education

The ministry of educations is tasked with implementing and overseeing the education system, including schooling and Academy Falderia. It sets the educational standards, develops schooling curricula, implements and enforces policies with a goal to improve the quality of education in the empire.

Minister: Stalvem Truthbinder

Ministry of Arts

The ministry of arts promotes cultural development, supports the arts community, and preserves and enhances the empire’s cultural heritage. It funds artistic endeavours, encourages public participation in the arts, and engages in the exchange of international cultural activities.

Minister: Griffon Goodchild

Ministry of Defence

The ministry of defence is charged with ensuring the national security and defence of the empire. It operates the minimal standing army of the empire, and grows the Naval presence as per the 2nd ammendment to the economic constitution.

Minister: Bertram Regalfire

Ministry of Rehabilitation

The ministry of rehabilitation administers the correctional system. Although capital punishment is handled by the chamber of deputies, non-capital punishment such as imprisonment and rehabilitation is handled by this ministry. The ministry focuses on reducing recidivism and encouraging reintegration.

Minister: Albert Fallenglow

Ministry of Agriculture

The ministry of agriculture supports the agricultural sector, the “tillers”, by promoting food-safe farming practices, ensuring food security, and providing financial assitance to farmers. It regulates food safety standards, and manages government subsidisation programs related to livestock, fisheries, forestry, and cultivation.

Minister: Germain Yardkeep

Ministry of Housing

The ministry of housing addresses the housing needs of the empire by developiung housing policies, supporting affordable housing projects, and regulating the private real estate market. The ministry additionally regulates construction standards for residential dwellings. It financially supports the construction and maintenance of the veteran housing in the 6th octant of New Thonham, as well as provides financial support to some first home buyers. It works to ensure that where possible, citizens have access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing.

Minister: Lloyd Rochenon

Ministry of Trade & Foreign Affairs

The ministry of trade & foreign affairs manages the international trade relations between The Falderian Empire and other nations such as Emberia, and Sylvana. The ministry negotiates trade agreements, and represents the empire’s interests. It also provides consular services to citizens. The ministry maintains a registry of trading organisations within the empire, and regulates the expectations of inter-organisation trade.

Minister: Pargon Guinne

Ministry of Internal Affairs

The ministry of internal affairs is responsible for internal security, law enforcement, and civil administration. Functionally, the ministry delegates internal security to the ministry of defence, as it is more effective for the empire’s military to operate as the local police force. The ministry also implements regulations around immigration, and emergency services.

Civil administration comes in the form of implementing a system of ombudsmen for which citizens can provide feedback to the various executive branch organisations. This process ultimately results in hearings in the Chamber of Deputies following an internal affairs investigation.

The ministry works to maintain public order and safeguard the rights and freedoms of citizens.

Minister: Yennen Vasserel

Royal Family

Pre-dominance

During this period, the empire was ruled by a variety of major families. In it’s earliest periods, The Falderian Empire has no recorded nobility, being ruled by the wealthiest family of the period, The Eriston Family. This family followed a lateral succession descendance pattern, in which the most suitable candidate of the family is chosen as the new head. Generally, this followed an absolute primogeniture pattern, although it was not determined to be so in the family’s constitution.

Sometime later, as The Falderian Empire had risen to great wealth as a nation, The Relon Family, a wealthy family responsible for the majority of The Falderian Empire’s might, staged a coup against The Eriston Family. As The Relon Family rose to power, The Falderian Empire began it’s conquest of Falderia. The leaders of The Relon Family are well documented as they assumed the power of various lands.

This marks the end of the pre-dominance era.

Intra-dominance

Technically, during the intra-dominance period, The Falderian Empire did not have complete control over Falderia. Karstenfey remained uncapitulated, and functioned as a self governing republic within the protection of the Feyleth Tropic.

The intra-dominance period has the greatest amount of recorded history, ranging from when Cyrus Relon conquered the last remaining territory in Falderia, The Isles of Matallaxos, to The Race Wars.

This period saw the settlement of Thonham grow to a population of over 200,000 people, and wealth spread to the far reaches of Falderia. Additionally, the city of Embersail (amongst other smaller villages) was settled as population concerns in Thonham pushed the poor further afar.

As the empire grew internally, the human dominant culture grew too, ultimately leading to The Race Wars that ends this period.

The intra-dominance period was tumultuous for The Falderian Empire’s governance, with many families holding the throne at one time or another. During this period (in chronological order), The Falderian Empire was led by the following families:

The Glynnorin Family was the governing family when tensions first broke into battle during The Race Wars. Karel Glynnorin, Emperor at the time, is often attributed as single-handedly “causing” The Race Wars, despite the tension having grown across the hundreds of years prior.

Post-dominance

After The Race Wars, King Aldem Titanfoot rose to power as per The Thonham Accords. The empire had receded to it’s new territory of south east Falderia, settling New Thonham. Through trade, the empire’s influence spread to include as far north as Hennick’s Quarry, but never strayed west of The Gannelore River nor into Eschenfeld.

In this period, the following people have ruled The Falderian Empire, along with their major contributions:

Economic Policy

At the beginning of his reign, King Aldem Titanfoot established the economic policy still used in The Falderian Empire today. The king established a constitution to guide the policy decisions, which at the time were made by the king and his court. Today, the chamber of deputies defines legislation following the guidance of the economic constitution.

The Economic Constitution

I, King Aldem Titanfoot, set forth these commandments for the economic constitution of our new nation. It is with these policies that I aim to usher in a new age. Following The Thonham Accords, The Falderian Empire has much to reconcile, and many reparations to make. The throne’s budget, as referenced in this document, is the remaining annual spend following reparations as required by The Thonham Accords. This document is expected to be amended as needs change and budgets grow, but the fundamental tenets remain. Infrastructure, education, and welfare are the cornerstones of our society; without them, we’d be nothing.

  • Infrastructure Development: Investment in roads, bridges, the port, and other public goods as the world develops yields employment for the people of our nation, yields improvements in the quality of life of our citizens, and stimulates economic velocity. In any given period, infrastructure development should constitute a quarter of the throne’s budget. This value should increase in times of economic uncertainty.
  • Education & Training: Education is of paramount import in our nation. Citizens are to be guaranteed basal education ‘til the age of 10, and one fifth the throne’s budget should be spent in enabling the further education of our citizens. Educated citizens yield economic growth, yield trade dominance, enable innovation through research and development, and allow for future self governance.
  • Welfare & Veterans Affairs: The strength of our nation is measured in how we treat our weakest citizens; the poor, the old, the meek, the mourning. The welfare of our citizens and the care for our veterans are of utmost importance. I see no time that the veterans of The Race Wars are ever repaid for their sacrifice; Special attention is to be given to our veterans, acknowledging their sacrifices. The throne’s budget should allocate one fifth to the establishment of provided housing, healthcare, financial aid, and other essential services to those in need. In times of economic uncertainty, welfare policies are to be reviewed to ensure that no citizen is left behind.

Amendment 1

I, King Adorellan Titanfoot, introduce the following amendment to this economic constitution.

  • New Thonham: New Thonham and The Falderian Empire are one in function, one in purpose. With so much of our population in New Thonham, and with so much paid in The Thonham Accords reparations, we must focus our resources on where we might have the most impact. The New Thonham unitary plan specifies land use, infrastructure investments, and public service goals for the future of our great nation. This amendment serves to ensure that the unitary plan is followed, enforced, and respected in future economic policy.

Amendment 2

I, King Aadamar Titanfoot, introduce the following amendment to this economic constitution.

  • Maritime Expansion: The Thonham Accords reparations continue to wreak havoc on our great nation. Through the commissioning of the port, The Falderian Empire has greatly expanded its trade options, stimulating excellent economic growth. The re-establishment of a Navy yields a new military industrial complex for The Falderian Empire, driving innovation, economic velocity, and providing employment opportunities for our poorest citizens.

Amendment 3

I, King Anfalen Titanfoot, introduce the following amendment to this economic constitution.

  • Chamber of Deputies: I hereby establish a chamber of deputies, whose legislative power will guide this nation forward. It is with this amendment that this legislative branch is kept in alignment with our nation’s interests. Members of the chamber of deputies may vote to adjust their salaries every 4 years. The new remuneration must be no more than twice the median earnings of the average citizen of their constituents, and must be agreed unanimously by the chamber. The chamber is to be kept in check by the throne, as raised by citizens outside of the newly established organisations. At some time in the future, this responsibility may be delegated to an ombudsman.

Foreign Relations

Following The Race Wars, the relationship between Eschenfeld’s member states Emberia and Sylvana remained strained. As per The Thonham Accords, trade continued between the two nations, essential for either to survive.

Karstenfey remains politically isolated, it does not trade with The Falderian Empire, and no influence is held over it’s politics.

The Falderian Empire holds some sway over The Duchy of Parzelon, although the political influence is mostly about ensuring that soldiers remain stationed at Seserex Fortress.

In the south west, Sal’Taq remains ungoverned, with no distinct political structures. Power is held in citizen’s trade with the various entities of Sal’Taq.

Military

The Falderian Empire is limited in it’s ability to have a standing army, as per The Thonham Accords. Despite this, no restriction is made as to the empire’s navy. As such, The Falderian Empire holds much of it’s might in the form of an active Navy. The majority of the military force is consolidated in the 4th octant of New Thonham.

The following diagram shows the structure of the empire.

flowchart TD
    Minister[Minister of Defence]-->NavyA[Admiral]
    Minister[Minister of Defence]-->ArmyA[General]
    subgraph Navy[Navy]
      subgraph NavyCommand[Command]
        NavyA-->NavyB[Admiral Lower Half]
        NavyB-->NavyC[Captain]
        NavyC-->NavyD[Commander]
      end
      NavyD-->NavyE[Lieutenant]
      NavyE-->NavyF[Ensign]
      NavyF-->NavyG[Cadet]
    end

    subgraph Army[Army]
      subgraph ArmyOfficer[Officers]
        ArmyA-->ArmyB[Colonel]
        ArmyB-->ArmyC[Major]
        ArmyC-->ArmyD[Lieutenant]
      end
      subgraph ArmyEnlisted[Enlisted]
        ArmyD-->ArmyE[Sergeant Major]
        ArmyE-->ArmyF[Staff Sergeant]
        ArmyF-->ArmyG[Sergeant]
        ArmyG-->ArmyH[Corporal]
        ArmyH-->ArmyI[Private]
      end
    end

Some notable people within the military are:

Graph View

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