Gentlemen (Themiclesia)

The Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (郎署, rang-dja) are the bodyguard of the monarch of Themiclesia and form part of his retinue. There are three such corps, the Gentlemen of the Enclosure (中郎, trjung-rang), the Gentlemen of the Corridor (郎中, rang-trjung), and the Gentlemen at Large (散郎, sans-rang). Their duties including protecting the monarch at intimate distances and providing companionship, and their election as well as intimacy has enabled their number to diversify into several government departments in Themiclesia. First entering historical record around 184 BCE, they are by some authorities regarded as one of the oldest continuously-existing military formations in the world, with others dissenting. The commander of all three is called the Marshal of the Gentlemen-at-Arms (郎中令, rang-trjung-mlings).

History

Menghean sources

The provenance of the Gentlemen-at-Arms is ancient. During the Warring States Period of Menghe (7th c. to 2nd c. BCE), rulers typically resided in buildings constructed on elevated daises, with a corridor around the edges of the dais and terraces on its walls. Gates were opened on these corridors, flanked by the terraces; hence, control of these corridors and terraces was a vital point of communication; the Gentlemen-at-Arms first originated as cadets of the lesser nobility particularly favoured by the monarch and thus retained as highly-trained guards, at a very intimate distance. With the unification of Menghe by the Meng Dynasty in the 2nd c. BCE, martial prowess became a requirement secondary to literary achievement. During this time, the Gentlemen-at-Arms not only provided protection but conversation as well, probably in competition with other retainers. These officials, serving the emperor directly, were distinguished statutorily from those who had definite jobs in governance, the former called the Emperor's Retinue (宦皇帝, ghwrans-ghwang-tis), and the latter Remunerated Officers (秩吏, trjit-sljis).

Pre-dynastic Themiclesia

Themiclesian history provides fragmentary accounts of the early monarchs' retinues, prior to unification under the Tsjins Dynasty (265 – 421). It is assumed that the more important states, including the one that evolved into the Tsjins, have imitated the political structure of the Meng State, though specifics are controversial. Bronze inscriptions, which were productive in Themiclesia for centuries after obsolescence in Menghe, demonstrated that Gentlemen-at-Arms existed in the Mja-tung State and the Sje-mra State; whether this is a copy of one from another, or both directly are imitations of Menghean analogues, is not known.

Dynastic Themiclesia

The unification of Tsjins with the assistance of Ghwjang Du' in the 260s lead to radical changes in the political structure of the Tsjins. Ghwjang himself possessed considerable knowledge of Meng Dynasty administration, through his clan, which was a politically active one at the Meng court. His reforms brought Themiclesia's own government closer in line with that of Menghe by introducing a dedicated clerical organization to centralize administration and a standing army with a military reserve, replacing the regional clans' individual control of the military. The same reforms introduced contemporary Menghean developments in the roles of the Gentlemen-at-Arms. By this point, their military function had largely deprecated, and their members have been seconded to other government departments. Ghwjang replicated this situation in Themiclesia, staffing clerical positions in the Inner Court with Gentlemen-at-Arms, on account of their proximity, familiarity, and literacy, a given even in Themiclesia.

It has been suggested that the Gentlemen-at-Arms, as practiced in Themiclesia, were originally hostages of vassal clans serving at the ruler's court. This view is challenged in that there is no explanation for placing individuals, from clans hostile or so untrusted as to require taking hostages, in a position over the ruler's safety. Nevertheless, by the period immediately before Ghjwang Du's time, they were instead voluntarily sent by regional clans to serve the paramount ruler, who had sufficiently centralized administration that courting his favours was a worthwhile exercise. Being a Gentleman-at-Arms was a financially unprofitable (for some, ruinous) activity: one paid for one's own armour, weapons, and mount, and those in higher ranks had to pay for one or several chariots' maintenance. Yet it was an alluring opportunity for those who desired advancement and were unwilling to rise through clerical work. Accounts indicate that the salaries paid to a Gentleman-at-Arms was nominal at best and then often in arreas.

In 292, King Gwan of Tsjins decreed that all candidates for a position as Gentlemen-at-Arms had to undergo preliminary testing before a formal interview and induction. An official selected by the court would investigate the local reputation (of his character, conduct, and literary ability) of the candidate and determine his elibility to serve. The candidate, by the opinions of prominent clans in his locality, is classified into nine ranks, of which the upper four were eligible to enter service. This policy would give rise to election by deliberation, which is the foundation of Themiclesian democracy. At the same time, each region's triennial selection quotas were established on the basis of enumerated population. The highest-ranking candidate would receive the opportunity to observe, at close distance, the making of policy and legislation, as a Protonotary, while the second- and third-best were retained as secretaries in important government bodies. The rest were left as undistinguished Gentlemen-at-Arms and formed the emperor's or crown prince's retinues. This appointment paradigm has deep political and philosphical meaning attached: the emperor assigns the best to the service of his country and contends himself with the lesser.

Role

As bodyguards

Today, the Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms, as military formations, are purely ceremonial. It has been argued that their function as bodyguards has been marginal since the very beginning of Themiclesian history, and that their use of bronze pole-arms is cited as proof of this matter, though not all of their armoury is bronze. As opposed to the Left and Right Guard Regiments, which have consistently been armed with more-or-less up-to-date technology, it seems the Gentlemen-at-Arms has been regarded as a pool for recruitment for the civil service, with a peripheral role of guarding the monarch, more than anything else. However, in spite of evolution of their organization, they are still an mustered body of individuals: every day, a troop will be present in the Enclosure to stand guard at the royal presence as well as to guard the Pavilion Gates, which lead from the Front Hall into the Enclosure. Another troop is stationed at the foot of the Gates of Rectitude, Thousand Autumns, and Myriad Springs, symbolically ensuring that the entrants are not armed beyond their uniforms. as he approaches the Front Hall

As a pool of future civil servants

Though deprecated as a military force, their proximity to the throne and unique recruitment method has permitted them to retain an identity quite as long-lasting as major political institutions. Out of Themiclesia's 57 prefectures, a figure stable since the medieval period, about 150 to 200 Gentlemen-at-Arms would be produced simultaneously to the members of the Protonotaries every three years. It is customary for Gentlemen-at-Arms, if they failed to acquire the largess of a government minister or similarly powerful figure during their six-year terms of service, to be appointed to minor positions in the civil service when that expires. A typical appointment is as a county's sheriff or alderman, at the very bottom of the civil service hierarchy. From this position, it is possible to work upwards, though successful ex-Gentlemen-at-Arms are few and far-between. As it was typical for regional clans to posit two or three candidates each triennial recruitment season, those that did not make it as Protonotary or Secretary to the Council were viewed their service as duty of the gentry and a necessary sacrifice; this did not stop them from complaining of poor salaries and prospect.

As retinue

During their terms of service, the king (or emperor after 542) was at liberty to appoint his Gentlemen-at-Arms to certain position mostly at his discretion. One of the main ways for Gentlemen-at-Arms to acquire more influence was to be appointed as an official of the royal household, which at the time boasted a variety of offices that barely was second to the bureacracy. The most desirable was perhaps that of the Director of the Amber Gate (黃門令, gwang-men-mlings), which over the centuries controlled the emperor's bedchamber and his activities there. A more curious one was that of Director of Cats (貓令, mraw-mlings), whose job was evidently to keep a litter of cats for royal pleasure and company. Commensurate positions also existed in serving the empress and the emperor's concubines. As retinue, however, they are also subject to competition from the President of the Royal Council (中大夫令, trjung-dais-pja-mlings).

Ranks and structure

There are no ranks such as undersood in a modern military context; the ranks which are present are, for the most part, based on proximity to the emperor and vary by pay grade. As mentioned, the Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms are divided into the Gentlemen of the Enclosure, the Gentlemen of the Corridor, and the Gentlemen at Large. The Gentlemen of the Enclosure enjoy the highest-ranking, at 400 bushels, guarding the Enclosure (禁中, kljims-trjung); they are led by two Captains-General (左右中郎將, dzuar'-gwjew'-trjung-rang-tsjangs), each of which is responsible for distributing the Gentlemen-at-Arms at various posting. Then are the Gentlemen of Corridor, at 300 bushels, guarding the Front Hall (前殿, dzian-den); they are also led by two Captains-General (郎中將, dzuar-gwjew-rang-trjung-tsjangs). The least senior are the Gentlemen at Large, who are retinue with the emperor only when he leaves the Front Hall, which happens rarely. They are led by three Captains-General, one specializing in chariots (車郎將, k'lja-rang-tsjangs), one guarding passageways (戶郎將, ga-rang-tsjangs), and one with cavalry (騎郎將, grjar-rang-tsjangs).

Recruitment

Historically, the Gentlemen-at-Arms have been recruited from the lesser candidates in the triennial civil service recruitment seasons. This remained the case until 1534, when elections for the Protonotaries were segregated from civil service recruitment; for the period between 1534 and 1822, the Gentlemen-at-Arms were open to the offsprings of senior civil servants, holding the Ninth Rank at court or above. They were no longer required to place between fourth and eighth to join the Gentlemen-at-Arms. Participation was leukwarm from the start, but in 1819 the position became untenable. The position of Gentlemen of the Corridor was slightly more desirable than Gentlement of the Enclosure, since the former entitled the officer to regular contact with members of the government, even though the latter technically outranked the former. By 1800, however, the failure of the Maverican Campaign hailed an series of unstable, short-lived governments. The children of the gentry found connections with such ephemeral statesmen unappealing and, in some cases, dangerous; a similar factor threatening the recruitment of the Gentlemen-at-Arms was the prominence of the Protonotaries, which came to exert itself on the executive with greater earnestness in the aftermath of the Campaign, whose fiscal requirements were so great that the rural gentry resorted to asking the Protonotaries to curb the executive's taxation.

After 1822, the government considered permitting members of the Left and Right Guard Regiments to stand in place of the Gentlemen-at-Arms or to replace them outright; this, however, invited much criticism from the officials already within the palace's inner sections. Most of this criticism would appear highly bigoted to a modern audience:

... that the suggestion that men, having experienced warfare, should be permitted within the most elevated Enclosure is antithetical and repugnant to this country's foundation. For centuries this rule has been upheld to ensure that the character and vision of our sovereigns is not tainted by the craze and brutality of the battlefield, which regrettably ravages anyone who has seen it. This country must be defended with arms, but the throne must be defended with integrity, character, and wisdom. Only through the most judicious selection for the gentry shall the latter be fulfilled. We entreat the proposers of this policy to consider these inimical tendencies it will have towards the customs and nature of the land. We consider the recruitment procedures for the Gentlemen-at-Arms that has been practiced to date the most proper and desire to see no change to it.

Though the country had legally emancipated its soldiers as commoners in decent standing, the elite were still unwilling to accept thus. Prime Minister Dzjian resigned in Mar. 1823 in response to these criticisms to permit soldiers or former-soldiers to enter the Front Hall or Enclosure. Royal Councillor Trjang Sgrew wrote in 1823 that the "walls of the palace are the final defence against an impending tide of corruption influence, lapping and eating away at the country's foundation. Powerless as [he] might be to change what happens beyond these walls, within [the palace] everything will be done to preserve what the Emperor's ancestors have so graciously bequeathed the current sovereign." He died in 1825. In 1831, it was legislated that each new member of parliament must submit a list of "gentlemen, no younger than 30 or older than 40, learned, of good character and mannerisms, of pure intent, and of talent" to the government, so that they could be interviewed and inducted into the Gentlemen-at-Arms.

See also

• Themiclesia
• Menghe