In Emperator ET Imperium (For Emperor and Imperium)
—An Odestrian saying.
The Emperor and Autocrat of Odestria and her Imperium (Panasian: Autokrator ET Emperator Imperium Odestram), sometimes styled as Emperor and Protector of Odestria and Her Imperium (Odesi'ar ET Emperator Imperium Odestram); was the full name for the position of head of state and head of government of the Odestrian Imperium. This title was created by the legendary Odestre Sanatov, also known as Odessan when the Imperium was established in 5123 ABY.
The power of the Silver throne has differed throughout the various Imperial eras, but the longest and most well known iteration of the position was during the Fourth Imperium when the position served as the constitutionally autocratic position of the Imperium. In this regard the Emperor, or Empress if female, was in command of all executive, legislative and judicial functions of the Imperium, being aided in each of those positions by the Imperial Council, the Odestrian Senate and the High Imperial Court respectively.
While the overtly autocratic nature of the Odestrian throne has great potential for misuse the Emperor is taught from birth in order to respect the state, being seen by the people as a "first servant of the state" rather than full royalty. Furthermore, with the establishment of the Charter of Imperial Service, the autocracy granted to the Emperor is often seen as a "Limited Autocracy."
Etymology[]
The use of the term "Emperor" dates back to as early as Odestre Sanatov's unification of the Panas System. The earliest records, indicated by the Library archives in Odestralee, indicated that it originated as a basic loanword which was then subsequently incorporated into the Panasian language as Emperator. This was done by combining the word with the Panasian word for "Ruler of a place" which was Imperator, and ending up with the final word. The use of the term Imperator is maintained for single regents such as during the Rule of the Disciples following Odessan's death as well as Darth Dajivan's rule during the Tri Decim Humilitus.
Powers and Functions[]
Governance[]
The Emperor of Odestria was, as the title implies, an autocratic position in which they held unlimited power of the state. This was established in the Charter of Imperial Service. During the Second and Third Imperial, the Emperor was a constitutional monarch who largely shared power with the Senatus Odestram. During the 4th Imperium, this was changed to make the relationship between the Emperor and the legislation more absolute but limited by their own behaviour. The power and authority was derived from two major places. The first was a martial, hierarchical position as ruler of the nation. The notion behind this was the Emperor or Empress' place as a symbol of protection for the IPPO as the state resided in a very chaotic part of the galaxy. As a result, the authority of the Emperor as a sort of "protector" was enshrined under the principal of House Kopan's place within the Odestrian state's hierarchy. This resulted in every member of the Imperial family serving within the Odestrian Legion, regardless of the capacity. Every attempt was made to raise hiers within the larger populace as to avoid the notion that the autocrat of the state was above the large populace.
The second of these was the notion of the force. In Odestrian society, the force was seen as "Odessan's gift" as a result, it was required that the autocrat be force-sensitive, proving they were, in some sense, gifted by Odessan who still existed as the prophet of the Odestrian Orthodox religion. Symbolically, the Emperor was head of the church and, as a result, the position was still theocratic. This was further compounded with the place of the Emperor as head of the Silver Council of the Order of the Odestra Knights, the force sensitive body of the IPPO.
Military[]
In addition of the constitutionally given right as an autocrat, the Emperor held rule over the Odestrian Legion with the rank of Grand Imperial Battlemaster. This was established within the Charter, however the Emperor would usually devolve power to OdestraCom in order to allow for smooth miltary decisions. In addition to this, during wartime, it was expected that both the Emperor and OdestraCom where to remain in close contact, coordinating decisions which would then be relayed to the larger legion.
The Emperor would make check ins and inspections of military units across the Imperium. These were met with large parades and military demonstrations as well as wargames. The Emperor was always accompanied by their Shadow and a unit of the OO-Sentinum, all of which were Odestra Knight Honour Guards.
Succession[]
As a largely autocratic position, the position of Emperor, since the establishment of the Charter of Imperial Service, has been strictly hereditary. Panarus Kopan I established the rules of succession when the Charter was drafted and the rules are enshrined in Article I which states that the first Force-Sensitive (though the official document uses "Gifted by Odessan") child, regardless of gender is the heir apparent. They are then partnered with a Shadow from House Turgachev and raised alongside each other. The Imperium as well as the OdestraRaad is strict on these rules and several times within Odestrian history, the title of Heir Apparent or officially JuniusPrincus has been past down the succession hierarchy. In the event of the ending of a sitting Emperor's autocracy, whether it be due to voiding or death, the JuniusPrincus is required to immediately take up the position of Head of State and government.
In the event that the Heir is unable to act as the Emperor, due to age or some other unforeseen circumstance, the OdestraRaad governs as a collective regency until a new Emperor takes the silver throne. At this point, the new Emperor can choose to dissolve the OdestraRaad and select a new one with the consent of the old council.
During the regency of 2 BBY, the OdestraRaad selected Cassius Brusilov to be the head of the Council, effectively replacing the autocratic position of the Emperor with the position of First Minister of the State until a new Emperor was found.
Style of Office[]
The Emperor was referred to formally as, "My lord Emperor" or "My lady Empress" should the reigning autocrat be a female. Additionally, they were also referred too as simply "Your Imperial Majesty" or "Your Majesty." Colloquially, the reigning autocrat was simply referred to as just "the Emperor" in most conversations. Attempts were made by Panarus Kopan I and other later autocrats to "de-royal" the position, making it seem more martial than lavish. Most Odestrians, when outside the Imperium, referred to the Emperor as the "Autark Odestram" which simply meant "The Leader of Odestria" in Basic.
Behind the Scenes[]
Initially, the Odestrians were led by a simple "General" when the author created the faction in his youth. However, as it further developed into an Empire, he chose to title the leader as "Emperor." The position still remained very martial and as Odestrian society developed into a more stratocratic one, the author chose to make the position of Emperor more martial rather than regal. He used inspiration from the Roman emperors, first during the Principate and then during the Constantinian dynasty. From here, when he chose to make the position more autocratic, he took inspiration from the Tsars of Russia, leading to the full official title of the Emperor being based on the title of "Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias."