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The '''Imperial Court of Mesogeia''' (Farsian: Darbār e Azam) refers to the institution comprising the domestic, military, and religious entourage of the Emperor of [[Mesogeia]], which supports both the reigning sovereign and the members of the [[Mesogeian Imperial family|Imperial Family]].
The '''Imperial Court of Mesogeia''' refers to the institution, which historically has been divided regionally into the '''Imperial Court of the North''' (Farsian: Darbār e Azam) and the '''Imperial Court of the South''' (Alcaenian: βασιλική αυλή), which are comprised of the domestic, military, and religious establishments and entourages of the Emperor of [[Mesogeia]], which supports both the reigning sovereign and the members of the [[Mesogeian Imperial family|Imperial Family]] in the fulfillment of their duties.


==Organisation==
==History==
The basic administrative structure of the Imperial court has existed in its present form largely unchanged for close to a thousand years. The Imperial court has historically been divided into the Outer ("Birûni") and Inner ("Andarûni) Courts, each with their own particluar services.
The imperial court of Mesogeia originated as the court of the Alcaeids in the 11th century BC, which was synonymous with the imperial government, meaning that essentialy they were one in the same. Such court titles as '''Hazarapatis''' (Master of the Thousands), '''Visapatis''' (Marshal of the court), '''Databara''' (Master of laws), '''Ganzabara''' (Chief Treasurer), '''Arstibara''' (keeper of the Spear), '''Vacabara''' (keeper of the bow), and '''Azdakara''' (Chief Announcer), were all attested as having existed in the 5th century BC during the reign of Artaxerxes III.  Of these ancient offices few survived into the present day, although the title of Hazarapatis is believed to have been the precursor for the mordern title of Megas Chilliarch, which is the most senior great officer of the empire.


Eventually following the hellenic overthrow of the old Alcaeid empire in the 4th century BC the new Aegaid dynasty began a process of hellenization. Although the Aegaid dynasty monarchs maintained royal courts at Azgartia in Ochran, they used the cities of Mithradat-Alcaeia, Chousa, Fasargadae, and Ecbatana in the Farsian regions of the empire; as wella as maintaining royal courts in the southern regions of modern Mesogeia particularly at their ancestral seats Aegai and Pella, effectively creating alternating court structures.


The overall head of the entire imperial establishment is the Megas Darigansalar, as Grand Master of the Imperial court.
By the time the city of Ctesiphon was founded across the river Aranz from Mithradat-Alcaeia to serve as a garrison for northern troops in the early 2nd century BC, two seperate imperial courts existed at Mithradat-Alcaeia in the north and Pella in the south. The southern imperial court moved with the Emperor when the imperial capital was transfered to Parisia in 21 BC. The southern imperial court moved to Alexandropolis (the current national capital) in the 4th century AD; although the northern imperial court was maintained at Chrysopolis (a term referring to the tri-cities of Mithradat, Alcaeia, and Ctesiphon during the entirety of these centuries.


==The Outer Court (Birûn)==
By the mid 4th century AD two established heads of the imperial courts were attested, a Darigansalar for the northern court and a Prokoitos for the southern court; both of which were given the honorific ''Megas'' (great), althohgh the Darigansalar no longer uses the honorifc.
The outer court consists of the amala-ye rekāb, "agents of the stirrup" which is composed of the imperial guards, the farrāši "spreader of carpets", the aides-de-camp, and all attendants of attached to the imperial camp, collectively called the riding companions "moltazemīn-e rekāb"


==The Inner Court (Andarûn)==
The basic administrative structure of the Imperial court has existed in its present form largely unchanged for well over a thousand years. The Imperial court has historically been divided into the '''Imperial Court of the North''' and the '''Imperial Court of the South'''.
The Inner Court is composed of the imperial enclosure/chamber (ḵalwat-e ḵāṣṣa) department, the gynaikeion ("andarūn-e ḵāṣṣa") department, the Court Services ("ḵedmat-e ḵāṣṣa)") department, the bureau of the inner treasury ("ḵezāna-ye andarūn"), and the inner chancellery.


===The imperial chamber ("ḵalwat-e ḵāṣṣa")===
==Structure and organization==
The '''imperial chamber''' or '''enclosure''' ('''ḵalwat-e ḵāṣṣa'''), ii headed by PLACEHOLDER, who oversees all the court functionaries bearing the distinction of attendants in waiting (ʿamala-ye ḥożūr), which implies nominal personal attendance on the imperial person.
The Imperial Court of Mesogeia is divided into two seperate establishments for the north and the south, known as the Imperial Courts of the North and the South. Since at least the 11th century there was a Grammateus ton  oikeiakon for the administering of the southern court on the behalf of the Megas Prokoitos. It was not until the 16th century that the establisments of both regional imperial courts were centralized under a sole [[Ministry of the Imperial Court (Mesogeia)|Imperial Court Ministy]], although they continued to have nearly identical departments in some cases, with slight variations for several centuries further.


This section is divided into the imperial chambers (semi-private reception rooms of the imperial palace, the Tamieion Basilikon ("the imperial apartments of the monarch", and the koiton ("Imperial state bedchamber"); with the final chamber being the  most sacred of the imperial chambers.
==Great Offices of the courts==


==Imperial Court of the North==
===The Birûn===
The '''Birûn''' or '''Outer Court of the north'''  relates to the public section and exterior services of the court: which consists of public reception rooms, imperial secretariat, guards-house, palace kitchens, workshops, stables, the camp services, and the gardens and parks.


The offices attached to the imperial chamber include the attendants in waiting (divided into lords and gentleman of the chamber), the valets of the imperial chamber, and the imperial pages
'''Public reception rooms''' refers to the public rooms, salons, banqueting rooms, audience halls and throne rooms, of the imperial palaces of the north, all of which fall under the sphere of the '''Ishik Aqasi bashi''', as ''Grand Steward'', who is assisted by the '''Piškašnevis''' (Chief gift registrar).


===The Court Services Department ("ḵedmat-e ḵāṣṣa")===
'''Imperial Secretariat of the North''', with most of its duties and functions having been absorbed by the Great Imperial Chancellery or split off into related government ministries, it was once responsible for a number of functions in the northern regions of the empire including finance, land grants, collection of revenue, correspondence, language translation, imperial archives, military records, and the imperial seal of the north.
The court services department is responsible for extensive activities which deals with the innermost workings of the imperial household and court on a domestic and maintenance level.


The department itself is composed of the supervisory Bureau, the lighting & heating department, the imperial pharmacy; and is heaed by the Megas Papias who has has five subordinate Paipiai responsible for the Chalke Gate, Blachernai Palace, Daphne Palace, Boukoleon Palace and Magnaura Palaces respectively.  
The '''Imperial Guardshouse''' or the '''Military establishment of the Northern Court''' refers to the military branch of the court, consisting of five regiments: the Qurchi Guards corps, Gholam Guards corps, Tupchi Guards corps, Tofangchi Guards Corps, and Qoroqči Guards Corps.


Below the Paipiai are various subordinates responsible for provisioning the kitchens, cleaning, lighting, and the general maintenance of the Imperial Palaces, it includes:
'''Palace Kitchens''' under the direction of '''Khvansalar''' (the chief caterer), is responsible for the provisioning of food, its preperation and table service within the palace. It is composed of provisions storehouses, bakery, buttery, pantry, coffeehouse, teahouse, brewery, waterhouse.
* Deuteros, the deputy of the Paipiai who is responsible for the safekeeping, transport, and upkeep of the Imperial furniture.
* Diaitarioi, chamberlains working monthly shifts responsible for the various rooms, halls, and chapels of the Imperial Palace.
* Hebdomadarioi, serving weekly rotations they were subordinate to the Diatarioi
* Loustai, Servants responsible for preparing Imperial baths and the Imperial Laundry
* Kandelaptai, originally charged with lighting candles in the palace, now dealing with lighting of the palaces through electricity. The section is also responsible for the thousands of candles used at state functions.
* Kaldarioi, charged with heating the Imperial palaces,
* Horologoi, responsible for managing the hundreds of clocks and timepieces within the imperial palaces.
* Zarabai, responsible for the Imperial Silverware and Tableware adorning the imperial table.


The '''Imperial Workshops''' refers to the section of the Imperial court of the north responsible for overseeing the manufacturing houses and workshops tasked with the upkeep, storage, and maintenance of all movable pieces within the palaces of the north, including but not limited to furniture, art, and manuscripts, and apartment furnishings.


The '''Imperial stables''' refers to the exterior section of the northern court's establishment responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the court's horses, mules (and for a time elephants and camals), lions, as well as the collection of litters, palanquins, carriages, holsters, and saddlery.


The '''Imperial Camp services''' is the section of the court of the north was at a time responsible for a variety of functions and taskes related to the outdoor and exterior services of the palace. Authority of this section of the court is overseen  by the '''Farras-Bashi''' (as the chief carpet spreader) and '''Nasaqci-Bashi''' (Chief Discipliner): bearing the responsiblity for camp services, delivering of imperial commands, and punitive measures.


Under its umbrella were the aides-de camp (''Yasāvolān-e ṣoḥbat''), and stewards of the imperial camp of the north and all those bearing the distinction of being a riding companion to the monarch.


==Department of the Grand Kourator==
Other sections affiliated with the Imperial Camp Serivces include the '''Imperial Hunting Office''' responsible the organizing of hunts as well as forests and nature reserves.
The Department of the Grand Kourator (Megas Kouropalates) is overseen by the Grand Kourator who functions as supervisory head for the entire Imperial Court. The Department of the Grand Kourator is possibly one of the largest and most influential departments of the Imperial Court being responsible for administrative, financial, and personnel matters in some form. The Department of the Grand Kourator is subdivided into six sections, which are repsonsible for a host of functions, these five sections are the Exchequer & Accounting Department, the Human Aid Department the Administrative Office the Court Services Office, and the Military Household.


These five departments are responsible for various agencies including the Payments Office, Department of Imperial Travels, Department of Uniforms, Department of Buildings Maintenance, The Telegraph Office, the Ecclesiastical Household, Court Physician Bureau, Salon Services, Imperial Court Pharmacy, the Imperial Buildings Management, Court Utilities, Imperial Theatres Bureau, Imperial Guards, and the Imperial Gardens and Parks Bureau. In addition to these the Department works alongside the Office of Ceremonies for the arrangement of all state functions.
The '''Imperial gardens and parks''' refers to the pleasure gardens and palace parks attached to the court of the north. Under its supervision falls the '''Bagban-Bashi''' (Imperial Gardener), and the '''Moqanni-Bashi''' (Chief of Irrigation). In the present the gardens and parks are under the admnistration of the Maintenance and Construction Department of the Imperial Court Ministry.


===The Andarûn===
The '''Andarûn''' or '''Inner Court''' is composed of the  private audience halls, page apartments, eunuch apartments the imperial enclosure, the Women's apartments, and the domestic staff.


===Exchequer & Accounting Department===
The '''Private audience halls''' refers to the antechambers between the imperial apartments where the emperor would receive guests in  "semi-private" audience setting during such ceremonies as the morning private audiencse, meetings of the councils, reception of vassal kings, grandees and high dignitaries warranting the right to a private audience.
The Exchequer & Accounting Department with approximately 250 full-time staff members serves as the financial arm of the Imperial court with its director being responsible for various sub-departments, such as the Accounting office, the department responsible for managing the court's finances; and the Payments Office, the bureau responsible for issuing payments to the court's employees. Furthermore the office of the Exchequer has financial oversight along with the Office of Ceremonies over all state functions and receptions.


It is a modern update to the ancient office of the Vestiarion, or Imperial Wardrobe, which has long overseen the Imperial fortune; it should not be confused with the oikeiakon vestiarion, a position denoting the private wardrobe of the Emperor. This office responsible for managing the assets tied to the Imperial Court and at the disposal of the Emperor by virtue of his position. The department is overseen by the Sakellarios, the Imperial Purse-Bearer.
The '''Apartments of the Pages''' refers to the section of the court traditionaly entrusted with the care and management of the  
young male servants, collectively called pages; whose primary duties were to serve in the private apartments of the sovereign and imperial family. The '''Gholām-bačča-bāšī''' (''Chief Page of Honour''), responsible for supervising the page boys attached to the Court of the north


The Sakellarios is assisted in his duties by his deputy Vestarches. The office employs mid ranking officials such as a routine of Vestai and the Prokathemenos of the vestiarion, which are attending lords of the Treasury. The lowest ranking associates of the office are the Vestitores which perform a number of functions.
While historically a good portion of the palace pages were drawn from enslaved or captured children a portion did come from elite families looking to better their positions. The '''Page school of the North''' originated from the Apartments of the Pages.


Historically the Vestiarion functioned as one of the country's imperial treasuries until the state's finances were split off into other fiscal departments, leaving the Vestiarion in charge of the Emperor's Public Wardrobe, that is the finances of the Imperial court.
The '''Eunuch apartments''' is the section responsible for the eunuch courtiers attached to the imperial court of the north. It is overseen by the '''Khwaja-Bashi''' (Chief Eunuch of the Gate), and the '''Raʾīs-e Safid''' (Chief Eunuch of the Harem), who are responsible for the '''Khwaja-sarāyān''' (eunuch staff).


The '''Imperial Enclosure''' or (''ḵalwat-e ḵāṣṣa'')  refers to the private inner service of the imperial court of the north. It is headed by the '''Wazīr-e ḥożūr-e homāyūn''' (Minister of imperial attendance), who oversees all the court functionaries bearing the distinction of being personal attendants in waiting (ʿamala-ye ḥożūr) to the imperial enclousure or apartments of the sovereign, which includes the ''Nāẓem-e ḵalwat'', ''Pīš-ḵedmat-bāšī'', ''Pīš-ḵedmat-e ḥożūr'', and the ''Farrāš-e ḵalwat''.


The '''Department of Imperial Travels''' is charged with the business of court travel and handles the Emperor's trips and travels within the country, ensuring the safe arrival of the Emperor, the imperial family, and their housholds, in connection with the Imperial Stables.
'''The Women's apartments''' of the northern court were fully integrated into the main [[Imperial_Court_of_Mesogeia#The_Women's_Court|women's apartments]] in the chief imperial palace in Alexandropolis, although some remnents of its former role can be seen within the modern establishment.


The '''Department of Uniforms''' with its small staff has direction over the court uniform, allowing for the maintance and upkeep of the court uniform.
'''Domestic staff''' or '''Housekeepers apartments''' relates to the domestic staff of the imperial court of the north. It consists of (doorkeepers (qāpūčīs), ushers ((īšīk-āqāsīs), and housekeepers (sarāydārān), which are under the sphere of the '''Saraydār-bāšhī''', as chief Housekeeper of the palace.


The '''Department of Buldings Maintenance''', is responsible for the security and safe upkeep of the Imperial Palaces


The '''Telegraph Office''' having existed since the nineteenth century for the purpose of receiving and responding to imperial telegrams, currently deals with the telephones and mobile devices attached to the Imperial court.


The '''Ecclesiastical Household''' functions as the religious arm of the Imperial Court, having oversight over various cathedrals, chapels, and monasteries with imperial patronage and all religious ceremonies in the imperial court, such as Mass, imperial marriages, baptisms, and funerals. The office is responsible for the distributions of alms and donations to various charities
==Imperial Court of the South==
===The Basilikon Andronitis===
The '''Basilikon Andronitis''' or '''Outer Court chambers of the south''' relates to the public section and exterior services of the imperial court of the south: it consists of various public reception rooms which includes the parade apartments, audience halls, banquet halls, council chambers; in adddition to various historic institutions connected to the monarch in the perfomance of official duties such as the Imperial Stables, Imperial Camp, and the attached gardens and parks of southern imperial palaces.


The office is headed by the Synkellos in his role as Imperial Chaplain. Its staff includes hundreds of Priests, nuns preachers, and chaplains. The various cathedrals, churches, chapels and monasteries under the patronage of the Imperial Court include: the Pantheon Cathedral, Cathedrak of [[Hagia Triada]], Cathedral of [[Hagia Aima]], Palace Chapel of the Theotokos, Hormisdas Church and Monastery Chora Church, Hagia Irene, Panagia Hodegetria Monastery, Pammakaristos Church, Zoödochos Pege Monastery, Myrelaion Monastery, Nea Ekklesia, Stoudion Monastery,  
===The Basilikon Thálamos===
The '''Basilikon Thálamos''' or '''Inner Court chambers''' refers to private sections of the imperial palace as well as the personal retinue attached to the Mesogeian sovereign in their role as Emperor of the southern regions. The inner court chambers consist of the imperial apartments of the monarch and imperial family (which historically consisted of the rooms of the emperor, his family, and his wives and concubines), as well as the domestic staff of the palaces, chamberlains, eunuchs, page and so forth.


Its senior offices include the '''Parakoimomenos tou Koitonos''', '''Parakoimomenos tes sphendones''', '''Arcithyroros'''.


While subordinate staff consist of the Koitonarioi, Prokathemenoi, and Basilikoi Paidopouloi.


'''Salon Services''' is responsible for employing doorkeepers, ushers, and announcers throughout the official state apartments, the publicly open sections of the palace.
==The Women's Court==
The '''Women's Court''' refers to the seperate establishment within the imperial court which defines the hierarchy of the women of the court, including the empress, imperial consorts, imperial princesses and their respective entourages and staff. The Women's court is divided into southern and northern branches although it is run from Alexandropolis.  


===Administrative Office===
Traditionally speaking the senior Empress Dowager functions as the overall head of the Women's court on behalf of the sovereign. However since the death of the last Empress Dowager based on seniority her Imperial Highness, Dowager Imperial Consort Theophano serves unofficially serves head of the Women's court without the title.
The Administrative Office of the Department of the Grand Magister is responsible for the administration of various agencies falling under the control of the Imperial court, such organisations include: the Imperial Pharmacy, Imperial Managerie and Zoological Park, Imperial Gardens and Parks Agency, and the Imperial Buildings Management.


Imperial Consort Theopano being the step mother of the reigning Empress Elena II ranks directly below the Empress regnant being the only surviving consort to the late Emperor Constantine XXII..


There are two groups of women, within the imperial court of Mesogeia: the first group being '''Women of the Harem''' and '''Ladies of the Court'''. Women of the Harem or Women of the Court (as they were sometimes called) refers to the empress, imperial consorts, imperial princesses, concubines and all other female relatives of the Mesogeian sovereign.


The '''Imperial Managerie and Zoological Park Administration''' is responsible for overseeing the Imperial Blachernai Managerie, Alexandropolis Zoo, and the Troiana Zoo; its staff includes zookeepers and veterinarians.  
In contrast the Ladies of the Court refers to the ladies in waiting and female attending staff attached to the entourages of the women of the court.


The '''Imperial Gardens and Parks Agency''' is responsible for the management and oversight over the Imperial parks and gardens within the capital, which includes the Imperial Palace Gardens in the Alexandropolis Palace, the Acropolis Park, the Nymphaeum Park, the Blachernai Gardens, Kynegion Park, Mangana Park, the Chalke Gardens; as well as the Pege Park, a public amusement park located on the outskirts of Alexandropolis, the imperial capital.
'''Women of the Court ranks:'''
 
#'''Empress Dowager''': The senior rank of the entire female establishment is that of the woman bearing the status of empress mother by virtue of being the widow or biological/adoptive mother of a reiging or past reigning monarch. The Empress Dowager officially uses the titles '''Mahd-e Olyā''' ("Sublime Cradle" or "Highest Ranked Lady"), '''Basilometor''' ("Empress Mother''), and '''Basilissa''' ("Empress").
The cut flowers and bulbs from the Imperal gardens serves as source of income to the Imperial Court.
#'''Empress Consort''': The second-highest rank in the women's court is reserved for the chief consort or empress of a reigning sovereign. The Empress consort officially uses the titles of '''Padishah Begum''' ("First Lady"), and '''Basilissa''' interchangabaly.
 
#'''Imperial Consorts''': The secondary wives of an emperor were entitled to be styled as '''Shahbanu''' ("Lady of the Emperor"). Historically speaking the Mesogeian church allowed for the Emperor to have 1 empress, 4 consorts, and numerous concubines.
The '''Imperial Buildings Management''' deals with the actual managment of the individual imperial palaces, such as Imperial Palace of Alexandropolis, Chrysopolis Palace, Troiana Acropolis, Fasargadae Palace, Sousa Palace, Magnaura Palace, Tower of Sykai, Blachernai Castle, Chrysokeras Palace, Hieria Palace, Hebdomon Palace, Philopation Palace, Bryas Palace, Makellon Palace, Mangana Palace, and Porphyrogenitus Palace; as well as the Imperial Court Theatre, the Imperial Opera House, and the Imperial Theatre Storage Depot.
#'''Despotissa of Morea''': is the official title reserved for the wife of the Despot of the Morea (the heir apparant). It is equivalent to the position of Crown Princess, and is generally believed to supersede that of Grand Princess.
 
#'''Kyria Despoina''': (literally "Lady Mistress") is a title specifically created for the eldest daughter of the reigning monarch. The position is held for life when available.
 
#'''Sebastokratoria''': Is a title reserved for the wife of the Emperor's brother.
 
#'''Grand Princesss''': A title reserved for the daughters, male-line grand-daughters of reigning monarchs. Officially called  '''Megas Basilopoula''' ("Great Princess") or  '''Shahdokht''' ("Imperial Princess"). All princes and princesses of imperial blood in the male line are entitled to be have the style '''Shahzada''' affixed to their names.
The '''Hunting Office''' is headed by the Protokynegos (Grand Huntsman), who is assisted by Protoierakarios (Chief Falconer) both of which must be drawn from the the upper aristocracy. The Hunting office is responsible for organising imperial hunts, the sale of hunting rights, and the management of the imperial hunting reserves at the Blachernai Palaces, Makellon Palace, Bryas Palace, Philopation Palace and Pege Palace
# '''Anassa''' A title equivalent to Queen, also less commonly referred to as '''Banu''' as the wife of a constituent king or Hypotelis-Princes (Vassal Princes) ranked between the immediate imperial family and princes of the blood imperial.
 
# '''Princess''': The title of a Princess of the blood Imperial, that is reserved for the female descendants (that is the great-grand daughters) of the younger sons of the emperor and his brothers and those in the female line to the third-degree. They are collectively entitled to use '''Sebaste'''.  
 
#'''Igemonis''': A rank reserved for the legitimized daughters of concubines.
'''General Directorate of the Imperial Theatres''' is responsible for the management of the imperial theaters, of which includes six theatres, two opera houses as well as oversight over various opera, ballet, drama companies, and several theatrical schools.
#'''Concubine'''.: Given their status as not legal wives, concubines ranked behind all other senior "women at court" and were divided into four classes overall. The highest ranking concubine was entitled to be styled as '''Chief Hetaira''' ("Chief courtesan").
 
##'''Begum''': reserved for concubines possessing imperial blood, or royal vassal blood and having entered the harem; although most would become Consorts or empresses.
===Military Household===
##'''Khanum''': reserved for concubines belonging to the Mesogeian nobility having entered the harem
The military household operates as a branch of the Department of the Grand Master of the Camp, under the direction of the the Grand Master of the Camp (Megas Statopedarches) as senior head overseeing the nine guards units. The Megas Statopedarches surbordinates include:
##'''Khatun''': reserved for women entering the harem from the lower classes of society.
* Domestic of the Schools: Commander of the Scholai
##'''Kaniz''': officially defunct, it refers to the women who were captured or purchased  specifically for the harem in historic times, literally slave concubines.
* Domestic of the Excubitors: Commander of the Excubitores
#'''Noblewomen''': Although not apart of the Imperial Harem system, noblewomen are generally believed to rank behind the female relations of the sovereign, princesses of the blood imperial, consorts of subordinate kings, legitimized natural imperial daughters, and imperial concubines. This rank is further divided into:
* Droungarios of the watch: Commander of the Vigla  Guard units
## Female Grandees/Wives of Grandees ('''Wuzurgan''') holding the rank of Duke, Prince, and or Marquess.
* Domestic of the Hikanatoi: Commander of the Hikanatoi Guards
## Female Peers/Wives of Peers ('''Hetairoi''') or ('''Azadan'''), those not possessing grandeeships.
* Prōtovestiaritēs: Commander of the Vestiaritai Guard
## Untitled noblewomen/wives of untitled nobles ('''Pronoiars''') or ('''Dehqan''')
* Grand Hetaeriarch: Commander of the Hetaireiarches Guards
## Appointed noblewomen (non hereditary nobles)
* Akolouthos: Commander of the Varangian Guard.
* Domestic of the Noumeroi: Commander of the Noumeroi Guard, known as the Domestikos ton teichon.
* Domestic of the Athanatoi: Commander of the Athanatoi Guards.
 
==Department of the Grand Chamberlain==
The '''Department of the Grand Praepositos''' is headed by the Grand Praepositos, with its functions including oversight over the Koiton (the private domain of the Emperor), cultural institutions attached to the Imperial Court, and physical access to the Emperor through the granting of audiences.
 
The Sub-departments of the Department of the Grand Praepositos include the Office of the Grand Praepositus, the Koiton (Imperial Chamber), Oikeiakon Vestiarion  (Private Wardrobe), the Historic Art Collections, and the Imperial Academies.
 
 
The department of the Grand Praepositos manages various cultural institutions such as the Oikeiakon Vestiarion, Imperial Court Library, the Imperial Art Gallery, Imperial Museum, the Hormisdas Palace, the Imperial Armoury, Imperial College of Heraldry, and the College of Chivalry. In his role as cultural minister the Grand Praepositos oversees the Crown Jewels, Imperial art collection, and the various Imperial Academies.
 
 
===Office of the Grand Praepositos===
The Office of the Grand Praepositos serves as the administrative office of the Department of the Grand Praepositos; with its responsiblities including matters concerning heraldry, ancestry, geneology, and the proper use of arms. Under its authority includes the sub-departments of Imperial College of Heraldry, and the College of Honour, which are headed by the Grand Seneschal and Grand Constable respectively
 
===The Koiton===
The '''Koiton''', refers to the Imperial Chamber or the Private Apartments of the Emperor. The Koiton is headed jointly by the Parakoimomenos tes sphendones, the keeper of the Emperor's personal seal); and the Parakoimomenos tou koitonos (Chief Eunuch).
 
Their staff includes their deputy Megas Archon (Head of the Emperor's Routine), Prokathemenos of the koiton (Attending lords of the bedchamber), Prokathemenos of the Blachernai, Prokathemenos of the Great Palace, and the Koitōnitai (Eunuch Chamberlain serving within the private chambers of the Emperor), Archontopouloi (Noble pages), and the paidopouloi (common pages).
 
===Historic Art Collections Agency===
The Historic Art Collections Agency is responsible for overseeing the management of the Imperial Collections, which is spread out among various palaces, museums and art galleries. The primary components of the Historic Art Collections Agency consist of the Imperial Court Library, which functions as the National Library of Mesogeia; the Imperial Art Gallery, housing a large collection of the Imperial Family's extensive art collections on display; the Imperial Museum, the national museum of the empire housing Mesogeian specific art in addition to historically significant works; and the Hormisdas Palace, a palace technically attached to the Imperial Palace complex in Alexandropolis which houses an extensive art collection gifted to the state.
 
The Historic Art Collections Agency is overseen by an eight-member board consisting of:
* Custodian of the imperial furniture, refers specifically to furniture on display at various museums and public rooms in the palace. The head of the Imperial Furniture Depository.
* Curator of the Atrium: responsible for the displays in the atriums of every imperial palace. Director of the Imperial Museum.
* Custodian of the Paintings: responsible for all paintings in the imperial collection
* Curator of the Picture galleries: oversight over the Imperial Art Gallery
* Custodian of the Ancestral Masks: responsible for matters pertaining to funerary art and the ritual death masks. Its head has oversight over the imperial crypt underneath the Cathedral of Hagia Aima
* Custodian of the Statues: responsible for all imperial statuary, sculptures, busts and statues in the possession of the imperial court.
* Custodian of the Valuables: responsible for the ceremonial plate, that is the gold, silver, and porcelain dinning services used for state functions
* Curator of the imperial jewels: responsible for the crown jewels, that is jewels passed on to the next generation, and officially at the disposal of the Emperor or the Empress consort.
 
===Bureau of the Imperial Academies===
The Bureau of the Imperial Academies is the governing body tasked with the management and general oversight of the eight Imperial Academies and various imperial societies; organisations founded by imperial decree with the intent to promote Mesogeian cultural heritage.
 
The Bureau consists of:
* Imperial Mesogeian Academy
* Imperial Academy of Fine Arts
* Imperial Academy of the Humanties
* Imperial Academy of Music
* Imperial Academy of Sciences
* Imperial Academy of Agriculture
* Imperial Academy of War Sciences
* Imperial Academy of Naval Sciences
 
==Office of Ceremonies==
The Office of Ceremonies, with its presiding officer the Grand Seneschal, is responsonsible for the organisation of state ceremonies, such as Baptisms, marriages, state funerals, royal entries, coronations, imperial festivals, ambasadorial receptions, state balls, and the state opening of [[Parliament of Mesogeia|parliament]]. The office is headed by the Grand Primmikerios who is assisted in his duties by low ranking courtiers called the silentiarii, who originally charged with the maintenace of silence and order within the Imperial Palaces.
 
==Office of the Imperial Domain==
The Office of the Imperial Domain is unique in that while being a part of the Imperial Court in theory certain sections of this department are classified as personal assets of the emperor and the Imperial Family. The office is overseen by the Count of the Imperial Domain, with the department being further subdivided into two main sections, Aulic Property, that is property and assets that the Emperor and Imperial family are entitled to use due to their position; and private assets, that being private assets seperate from their public role.
 
The Office of the Count of the Imperial Domain is responsible for the assets derived from various institutions attached to the Imperial Court and to the crown such as the Aulic Property Office, Imperial Pharmacy, Imperial Gardens, Imperial Hunting Office, rented properties in the cities, and agricultural estates in the country. Assets derived from the Aulic Property Office are paid to the state each year in return for the annual civil list.
 
The estates belonging to the Aulic Property Office include, [[Great Sacred Palace|Imperial Palace of Alexandropolis]], [[Palace of Chrysopolis]], [[Acropolis of Troiana]], Farsargadae Palace, Sousa Palace, [[Palace of Magnaura]],  [[Tower of Sykai]], [[Blachernai Castle]], [[Chrysokeras Palace]], [[Hieria Palace]], [[Hebdomon Palace]], [[Philopation Palace]], [[Bryas Palace]]  [[Makellon Palace]], [[Mangana Palace]], and [[Porphyrogenitus Palace]].
 
Seperate from the Aulic Property and the state properties attached to the crown are the assets derived from the Emperor's personal fortune and the Imperial Family Trust, an asset management foundation established to strictly control and administer the Imperial Family's private assets. The personal assets of the Imperial Family include:
 
* Grand Principality of Dardanellia, 157,000 acres of agricultural, commercial and residential land, valued at $682 million.
* Despotate of Morea, 117,000 acres of land throughout the empire, used for agriculture, residential, and commercial properties. Valued at $1.5 billion
* Emperor's personal estate Bosphoros Palace contains some 15,000 acres of farmland, and commmercial property.
* Emperor's private estate,  Villa Prinkips with 3,500 acres of agricultural, commercial, and residential property.
* Rhomaios Castle, ancestral seat of the Imperial family, with about 5,622 acres of farmland
* Investment portfolio valued at $2 billion
* Personal collection of artwork, paintings, sculptures, furniture, and jewellry.
 
It should be noted that certain estates held by members of the imperial family fall somewhere between the private and state properties, these are called tied estates, because they are permanently tied to the specific title and cannot be sold and revert to the Imperial Domain when the holder dies without a male heir; they are however administered privately by the holder as imperial appanages separate from the Imperial Domain, when in use.
 
These tied estates include:
* Duke of Chalcedon Estate, including, Chalcedon Palace, Lauseion House, Kyklobion House, Elaion Akra Palace, and well over 150,000 acres of agricutural, commercial and residential real estate. It should be noted that the Duke of Chalcedon married the fabulously wealthy Penelope Rhomaios-Troadinos, heiress to the Prince of Opsikion, the last male of the House of Opsikion, a branch of the imperial house whose wealth as long since rivaled if not dwarfed that of the immediate Imperial family.
* Duke of Lacedaemon Estate, including Meloudion Palace, Aretai House, and additional properties
* Duke of Ellis Estate, including the St. Euphemia Palace, and additional properties.
 
==Office of the Gynaikeion==
 
The Office of the Gynaikeion refers to the seperate establishement within the imperial court which defines the hierarchy of the women of the court. The official head of the Gynaikeion based on her seniority is her Imperial Highness, Dowager Consort Theophano who serves as Padishah Begum, first lady of the Imperial Court, the highest ranking women at court, second to the Empress regnant only.
 
Imperial Consort Theopano being the step mother of the reiging Empress Elena II ranks directly below the Empress regnant being the only surviving consort to the late Emperor Constantine XXII. The Grand Mistress of the Gynaikeion is the Zoste Patricia who oversees all female courtiers being responsible for the daily routine of the women of the court, all financial accounts related to the Gynaikeion and the organization of the staff.
 
The Zoste Patricia is assisted by the Kouropalatissa, and the Protovestiaria. The Kouropalatissa responsibilites include the travels of the court ladies, and the furnishing of their apartments. The Protovestiaria is responsible the clothing and jewelry of the court ladies, and the supervision of the dressing ceremony.
 
Another position, that of Patrikia Pedagogia is a position of much importance because it denotes the official Governess of the imperial children, a role denoting the woman responsible for the rearing and raising of the imperial children.
 
Mid-ranking female courtiers called Koubikoularia serve as ladies in waiting in the Gynaikeion, they are divided into the Koubikoularia tōn Gynaikōn (Ladies of the Chamber) and Koubikoularia tōn oikeiakon (Women of the Court). The majority of female courtiers are part of the lowest ranking class of female staff, the Vestiaria who are responsible for a host of functions, primarily acting as maids of honour.
 
It should be noted that women selected to be in the Gynaikeion as possible concubines typically start out as a Cariye or an Odalik, Courtesans and Chamber attendants, women whose primary fuction is to wait on the empress and imperial princesses.
 
==Office of the Ektomiai==
The Office of the Ektomiai is unique to the Imperial Court of Mesogeia for the simple fact that it refers to the third seperate hierarchy at court reserved exclusively for eunuchs. The department administers and oversees the activities of the thousands of eunuchs employed throughout the imperial palaces of Mesogeia. The Office of the Ektomiai is headed by the Parakoimomenos tou koitonos, who acts as Chief Eunuch, overseeing the activities of the corps of eunuchs at court.
 
From a high of 70,000 to 100,000 eunuchs in the medieval ages, the Imperial Court now employs only about 2,500 registered eunuchs spread across the five main imperial residences at Alexandropolis, Parisa, Chrysopolis, Farsagadae, and Sousa. The court titles reserved for eunuchs are nearly identical to the court titles reserved for men with minor differences, with the highest rank being, Protoi Philoi (Friend of the first rank); while the lowest rank is that Nipsistiarios.
 
==Office of the Imperial Stables==
 
The Office of the Imperial Stables refers to the department responsible for the ceremonial and everyday transport of the Imperial family of Mesogeia. The department is responsible for managing the stables, carriage houses, the breeding farms, and the Imperial Riding Schools attached to the Imperial Court.
 
The office of the Imperial Stables is open to the public for much of the year, having in its possession 60 horse-drawn carriages, coaches, and landaulets; together with 20 motorized vehicles. Being one of the most expensive departments of the Imperial Court is said to possess 30 horses, from a high of 270 in the late 19th century.
 
The carriages housed in the Imperial Stables include the Imperial State Coach, the Diamond State Coach, The Despot's State Coach, 1904 State Landau, and the Imperial Hearse.


'''Ladies of the Court ranks:'''
* '''Chief Mahaldar''': the lifetime post of  Grand Mistress or Superintendant of the Court Ladies. The seniormost female attendant at court is responsible for financial and organizational matters of the women's Court, as as oversight of the female attendants. Special functions included reporting to the sovereign about harem matters. In earlier times this office was called Kyria Potnia (Lady Mistress).
* '''Chief Khanadar''': Second in command of the Ladies of the court. She is responsible for overseeing the travels, furnishings and supply of linen, lace, silk, furniture to the apartments of the empress and of the other women of the court and court ladies.
* '''Protovestria''': The Mistress of the Wardrobe, the thrid highest Lady of the court rank is responsible for the daily preparing of the empress' wardrobe (her undergarments, riding dress, and public and leisurely attire)


* '''Mahaldar''': A Superintendant of female attendants. In the present each female relative of the immediate imperial family has a Mahaldar who reports to the Chief Mahaldar and peferoms the duties of Lady of Honour to her female charges. Historically when princes were allowed multiple wives each of their establisments contained Mahaldars.
* '''Khanadar''': A lady in waiting responsible for a host of functions in relation to their imperial charges; including wardrobe and travel matters
* '''Daroga''': A term for a high-middle ranking lady in waiting at court. The post is divided into the Daroga of the Chamber and Daroga of the Court; while the former performed mostly ceremonial functions, the latter were responsible for regular attendance on their female charges.
* '''Vestria''': A position junior to that of lady-in-waiting, these maidens were drawn from the nobility and upper echelons and entered court service at a young age often to attend the Court Ladies School and contract a good marriage.


==Court Ranks and honorifics==


==Court etiquette==




==See also==
* [[Monarchy of Mesogeia]]




Latest revision as of 18:55, 18 September 2022

The Imperial Court of Mesogeia refers to the institution, which historically has been divided regionally into the Imperial Court of the North (Farsian: Darbār e Azam) and the Imperial Court of the South (Alcaenian: βασιλική αυλή), which are comprised of the domestic, military, and religious establishments and entourages of the Emperor of Mesogeia, which supports both the reigning sovereign and the members of the Imperial Family in the fulfillment of their duties.

History

The imperial court of Mesogeia originated as the court of the Alcaeids in the 11th century BC, which was synonymous with the imperial government, meaning that essentialy they were one in the same. Such court titles as Hazarapatis (Master of the Thousands), Visapatis (Marshal of the court), Databara (Master of laws), Ganzabara (Chief Treasurer), Arstibara (keeper of the Spear), Vacabara (keeper of the bow), and Azdakara (Chief Announcer), were all attested as having existed in the 5th century BC during the reign of Artaxerxes III. Of these ancient offices few survived into the present day, although the title of Hazarapatis is believed to have been the precursor for the mordern title of Megas Chilliarch, which is the most senior great officer of the empire.

Eventually following the hellenic overthrow of the old Alcaeid empire in the 4th century BC the new Aegaid dynasty began a process of hellenization. Although the Aegaid dynasty monarchs maintained royal courts at Azgartia in Ochran, they used the cities of Mithradat-Alcaeia, Chousa, Fasargadae, and Ecbatana in the Farsian regions of the empire; as wella as maintaining royal courts in the southern regions of modern Mesogeia particularly at their ancestral seats Aegai and Pella, effectively creating alternating court structures.

By the time the city of Ctesiphon was founded across the river Aranz from Mithradat-Alcaeia to serve as a garrison for northern troops in the early 2nd century BC, two seperate imperial courts existed at Mithradat-Alcaeia in the north and Pella in the south. The southern imperial court moved with the Emperor when the imperial capital was transfered to Parisia in 21 BC. The southern imperial court moved to Alexandropolis (the current national capital) in the 4th century AD; although the northern imperial court was maintained at Chrysopolis (a term referring to the tri-cities of Mithradat, Alcaeia, and Ctesiphon during the entirety of these centuries.

By the mid 4th century AD two established heads of the imperial courts were attested, a Darigansalar for the northern court and a Prokoitos for the southern court; both of which were given the honorific Megas (great), althohgh the Darigansalar no longer uses the honorifc.

The basic administrative structure of the Imperial court has existed in its present form largely unchanged for well over a thousand years. The Imperial court has historically been divided into the Imperial Court of the North and the Imperial Court of the South.

Structure and organization

The Imperial Court of Mesogeia is divided into two seperate establishments for the north and the south, known as the Imperial Courts of the North and the South. Since at least the 11th century there was a Grammateus ton oikeiakon for the administering of the southern court on the behalf of the Megas Prokoitos. It was not until the 16th century that the establisments of both regional imperial courts were centralized under a sole Imperial Court Ministy, although they continued to have nearly identical departments in some cases, with slight variations for several centuries further.

Great Offices of the courts

Imperial Court of the North

The Birûn

The Birûn or Outer Court of the north relates to the public section and exterior services of the court: which consists of public reception rooms, imperial secretariat, guards-house, palace kitchens, workshops, stables, the camp services, and the gardens and parks.

Public reception rooms refers to the public rooms, salons, banqueting rooms, audience halls and throne rooms, of the imperial palaces of the north, all of which fall under the sphere of the Ishik Aqasi bashi, as Grand Steward, who is assisted by the Piškašnevis (Chief gift registrar).

Imperial Secretariat of the North, with most of its duties and functions having been absorbed by the Great Imperial Chancellery or split off into related government ministries, it was once responsible for a number of functions in the northern regions of the empire including finance, land grants, collection of revenue, correspondence, language translation, imperial archives, military records, and the imperial seal of the north.

The Imperial Guardshouse or the Military establishment of the Northern Court refers to the military branch of the court, consisting of five regiments: the Qurchi Guards corps, Gholam Guards corps, Tupchi Guards corps, Tofangchi Guards Corps, and Qoroqči Guards Corps.

Palace Kitchens under the direction of Khvansalar (the chief caterer), is responsible for the provisioning of food, its preperation and table service within the palace. It is composed of provisions storehouses, bakery, buttery, pantry, coffeehouse, teahouse, brewery, waterhouse.

The Imperial Workshops refers to the section of the Imperial court of the north responsible for overseeing the manufacturing houses and workshops tasked with the upkeep, storage, and maintenance of all movable pieces within the palaces of the north, including but not limited to furniture, art, and manuscripts, and apartment furnishings.

The Imperial stables refers to the exterior section of the northern court's establishment responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the court's horses, mules (and for a time elephants and camals), lions, as well as the collection of litters, palanquins, carriages, holsters, and saddlery.

The Imperial Camp services is the section of the court of the north was at a time responsible for a variety of functions and taskes related to the outdoor and exterior services of the palace. Authority of this section of the court is overseen by the Farras-Bashi (as the chief carpet spreader) and Nasaqci-Bashi (Chief Discipliner): bearing the responsiblity for camp services, delivering of imperial commands, and punitive measures.

Under its umbrella were the aides-de camp (Yasāvolān-e ṣoḥbat), and stewards of the imperial camp of the north and all those bearing the distinction of being a riding companion to the monarch.

Other sections affiliated with the Imperial Camp Serivces include the Imperial Hunting Office responsible the organizing of hunts as well as forests and nature reserves.

The Imperial gardens and parks refers to the pleasure gardens and palace parks attached to the court of the north. Under its supervision falls the Bagban-Bashi (Imperial Gardener), and the Moqanni-Bashi (Chief of Irrigation). In the present the gardens and parks are under the admnistration of the Maintenance and Construction Department of the Imperial Court Ministry.

The Andarûn

The Andarûn or Inner Court is composed of the private audience halls, page apartments, eunuch apartments the imperial enclosure, the Women's apartments, and the domestic staff.

The Private audience halls refers to the antechambers between the imperial apartments where the emperor would receive guests in "semi-private" audience setting during such ceremonies as the morning private audiencse, meetings of the councils, reception of vassal kings, grandees and high dignitaries warranting the right to a private audience.

The Apartments of the Pages refers to the section of the court traditionaly entrusted with the care and management of the young male servants, collectively called pages; whose primary duties were to serve in the private apartments of the sovereign and imperial family. The Gholām-bačča-bāšī (Chief Page of Honour), responsible for supervising the page boys attached to the Court of the north

While historically a good portion of the palace pages were drawn from enslaved or captured children a portion did come from elite families looking to better their positions. The Page school of the North originated from the Apartments of the Pages.

The Eunuch apartments is the section responsible for the eunuch courtiers attached to the imperial court of the north. It is overseen by the Khwaja-Bashi (Chief Eunuch of the Gate), and the Raʾīs-e Safid (Chief Eunuch of the Harem), who are responsible for the Khwaja-sarāyān (eunuch staff).

The Imperial Enclosure or (ḵalwat-e ḵāṣṣa) refers to the private inner service of the imperial court of the north. It is headed by the Wazīr-e ḥożūr-e homāyūn (Minister of imperial attendance), who oversees all the court functionaries bearing the distinction of being personal attendants in waiting (ʿamala-ye ḥożūr) to the imperial enclousure or apartments of the sovereign, which includes the Nāẓem-e ḵalwat, Pīš-ḵedmat-bāšī, Pīš-ḵedmat-e ḥożūr, and the Farrāš-e ḵalwat.

The Women's apartments of the northern court were fully integrated into the main women's apartments in the chief imperial palace in Alexandropolis, although some remnents of its former role can be seen within the modern establishment.

Domestic staff or Housekeepers apartments relates to the domestic staff of the imperial court of the north. It consists of (doorkeepers (qāpūčīs), ushers ((īšīk-āqāsīs), and housekeepers (sarāydārān), which are under the sphere of the Saraydār-bāšhī, as chief Housekeeper of the palace.


Imperial Court of the South

The Basilikon Andronitis

The Basilikon Andronitis or Outer Court chambers of the south relates to the public section and exterior services of the imperial court of the south: it consists of various public reception rooms which includes the parade apartments, audience halls, banquet halls, council chambers; in adddition to various historic institutions connected to the monarch in the perfomance of official duties such as the Imperial Stables, Imperial Camp, and the attached gardens and parks of southern imperial palaces.

The Basilikon Thálamos

The Basilikon Thálamos or Inner Court chambers refers to private sections of the imperial palace as well as the personal retinue attached to the Mesogeian sovereign in their role as Emperor of the southern regions. The inner court chambers consist of the imperial apartments of the monarch and imperial family (which historically consisted of the rooms of the emperor, his family, and his wives and concubines), as well as the domestic staff of the palaces, chamberlains, eunuchs, page and so forth.

Its senior offices include the Parakoimomenos tou Koitonos, Parakoimomenos tes sphendones, Arcithyroros.

While subordinate staff consist of the Koitonarioi, Prokathemenoi, and Basilikoi Paidopouloi.

The Women's Court

The Women's Court refers to the seperate establishment within the imperial court which defines the hierarchy of the women of the court, including the empress, imperial consorts, imperial princesses and their respective entourages and staff. The Women's court is divided into southern and northern branches although it is run from Alexandropolis.

Traditionally speaking the senior Empress Dowager functions as the overall head of the Women's court on behalf of the sovereign. However since the death of the last Empress Dowager based on seniority her Imperial Highness, Dowager Imperial Consort Theophano serves unofficially serves head of the Women's court without the title.

Imperial Consort Theopano being the step mother of the reigning Empress Elena II ranks directly below the Empress regnant being the only surviving consort to the late Emperor Constantine XXII..

There are two groups of women, within the imperial court of Mesogeia: the first group being Women of the Harem and Ladies of the Court. Women of the Harem or Women of the Court (as they were sometimes called) refers to the empress, imperial consorts, imperial princesses, concubines and all other female relatives of the Mesogeian sovereign.

In contrast the Ladies of the Court refers to the ladies in waiting and female attending staff attached to the entourages of the women of the court.

Women of the Court ranks:

  1. Empress Dowager: The senior rank of the entire female establishment is that of the woman bearing the status of empress mother by virtue of being the widow or biological/adoptive mother of a reiging or past reigning monarch. The Empress Dowager officially uses the titles Mahd-e Olyā ("Sublime Cradle" or "Highest Ranked Lady"), Basilometor ("Empress Mother), and Basilissa ("Empress").
  2. Empress Consort: The second-highest rank in the women's court is reserved for the chief consort or empress of a reigning sovereign. The Empress consort officially uses the titles of Padishah Begum ("First Lady"), and Basilissa interchangabaly.
  3. Imperial Consorts: The secondary wives of an emperor were entitled to be styled as Shahbanu ("Lady of the Emperor"). Historically speaking the Mesogeian church allowed for the Emperor to have 1 empress, 4 consorts, and numerous concubines.
  4. Despotissa of Morea: is the official title reserved for the wife of the Despot of the Morea (the heir apparant). It is equivalent to the position of Crown Princess, and is generally believed to supersede that of Grand Princess.
  5. Kyria Despoina: (literally "Lady Mistress") is a title specifically created for the eldest daughter of the reigning monarch. The position is held for life when available.
  6. Sebastokratoria: Is a title reserved for the wife of the Emperor's brother.
  7. Grand Princesss: A title reserved for the daughters, male-line grand-daughters of reigning monarchs. Officially called Megas Basilopoula ("Great Princess") or Shahdokht ("Imperial Princess"). All princes and princesses of imperial blood in the male line are entitled to be have the style Shahzada affixed to their names.
  8. Anassa A title equivalent to Queen, also less commonly referred to as Banu as the wife of a constituent king or Hypotelis-Princes (Vassal Princes) ranked between the immediate imperial family and princes of the blood imperial.
  9. Princess: The title of a Princess of the blood Imperial, that is reserved for the female descendants (that is the great-grand daughters) of the younger sons of the emperor and his brothers and those in the female line to the third-degree. They are collectively entitled to use Sebaste.
  10. Igemonis: A rank reserved for the legitimized daughters of concubines.
  11. Concubine.: Given their status as not legal wives, concubines ranked behind all other senior "women at court" and were divided into four classes overall. The highest ranking concubine was entitled to be styled as Chief Hetaira ("Chief courtesan").
    1. Begum: reserved for concubines possessing imperial blood, or royal vassal blood and having entered the harem; although most would become Consorts or empresses.
    2. Khanum: reserved for concubines belonging to the Mesogeian nobility having entered the harem
    3. Khatun: reserved for women entering the harem from the lower classes of society.
    4. Kaniz: officially defunct, it refers to the women who were captured or purchased specifically for the harem in historic times, literally slave concubines.
  12. Noblewomen: Although not apart of the Imperial Harem system, noblewomen are generally believed to rank behind the female relations of the sovereign, princesses of the blood imperial, consorts of subordinate kings, legitimized natural imperial daughters, and imperial concubines. This rank is further divided into:
    1. Female Grandees/Wives of Grandees (Wuzurgan) holding the rank of Duke, Prince, and or Marquess.
    2. Female Peers/Wives of Peers (Hetairoi) or (Azadan), those not possessing grandeeships.
    3. Untitled noblewomen/wives of untitled nobles (Pronoiars) or (Dehqan)
    4. Appointed noblewomen (non hereditary nobles)

Ladies of the Court ranks:

  • Chief Mahaldar: the lifetime post of Grand Mistress or Superintendant of the Court Ladies. The seniormost female attendant at court is responsible for financial and organizational matters of the women's Court, as as oversight of the female attendants. Special functions included reporting to the sovereign about harem matters. In earlier times this office was called Kyria Potnia (Lady Mistress).
  • Chief Khanadar: Second in command of the Ladies of the court. She is responsible for overseeing the travels, furnishings and supply of linen, lace, silk, furniture to the apartments of the empress and of the other women of the court and court ladies.
  • Protovestria: The Mistress of the Wardrobe, the thrid highest Lady of the court rank is responsible for the daily preparing of the empress' wardrobe (her undergarments, riding dress, and public and leisurely attire)
  • Mahaldar: A Superintendant of female attendants. In the present each female relative of the immediate imperial family has a Mahaldar who reports to the Chief Mahaldar and peferoms the duties of Lady of Honour to her female charges. Historically when princes were allowed multiple wives each of their establisments contained Mahaldars.
  • Khanadar: A lady in waiting responsible for a host of functions in relation to their imperial charges; including wardrobe and travel matters
  • Daroga: A term for a high-middle ranking lady in waiting at court. The post is divided into the Daroga of the Chamber and Daroga of the Court; while the former performed mostly ceremonial functions, the latter were responsible for regular attendance on their female charges.
  • Vestria: A position junior to that of lady-in-waiting, these maidens were drawn from the nobility and upper echelons and entered court service at a young age often to attend the Court Ladies School and contract a good marriage.

Court Ranks and honorifics

Court etiquette

See also

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