Long live the Argent County!
—Unidentified Argentan Commander
The County of Argenium, also known as the Argent County or, rarely, as the Iridus County, was the official government of Argenium and the Argenium System. It was represented as an Autocratic Demesne in the Diet of the Ethereal Demesnes, after having been originally colonized during the original lifespan of the Ethereal Empire under guidance of the Ethereal Family.
The original colonists of Argenium came from Luctanem and Cinnericium during the reign of the ancient Ethereal Empire, under the direction of the Ethereal Family. They adopted their homeworlds' cultural attachments to justice and lawfulness, but went in their own direction with their government and military. Argenium, when joining the Diet of the Demesnes, was one of the few truly autocratic Demesnes, having a more-or-less absolute monarchy with a relatively smaller, weaker legislature, though the legislature was still elected by the population.
The Argentan military, divided into two branches, had an unusual means of protecting the scattered Argentan territories; while the worlds were all governed by the Argent Count or Countess, the Argentan Interplanetary Militia, founded on personal order of Argent Countess Rezira Iridus, was controlled by the people as part of the limited civilian administration, and was their primary source of protection. The Argentan Guard, the military's standing, organized branch, rarely actually saw warfare for the County's sake, as they remained generally neutral in order to export their rare and valuable materials, artistic crafts, and industrial creations, however, the Guard was often rented to others as well-trained, well-equipped soldiers-for-hire.
The County did eventually become involved in the Demesnes' military affairs more directly, particularly during and following the Galactic Civil War and concurrent return of the Ethereal Empire under the leadership of King Arius Valdayn of Luctanem and Empress Atheria Valdayn. However, for the most part, they did not do so by supplying troops or ships to fight, rather, they instead offered their wealth of tibanna, durasteel, and other such materials crucial for any war effort. This was so much the case that, by the time of the Yuuzhan Vong War, Lord Talen Antarus noted in his report to the Ethereal Senate that Argentan ammunition supplied almost a full fifth of the Ethereal armies on their own.