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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 entourage 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.
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.


==History==
==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.
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 a royal courts at Mithradat-Alcaeia (the precursor to modern Chrysopolis) Chouza, Fasargadai, and Ecbatana in the Farsian regions of the empire; they also continued to maintain royal courts in the southern regions particularly at Aegai and Pella, effectively creating two court structures.
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 during the entirety of these centuries.
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).
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'''.
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'''.
==Imperial Court of the North==
The '''Imperial court of the North''', functioning as the northern branch of the imperial establishment and being based out of the ancient city of Chrysopolis (which is an amalgamation of the cities of Mithradat, Alcaeia, and Ctesiphon). This court is administered by the '''Megas Darigansalar''' as  Grand Master of the Imperial court of the north.


The imperial court of the north is divided into the Outer ("Birûni") and Inner ("Andarûni) Courts, each with their own particular services.
==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 [[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.


==Great Offices of the courts==


==Imperial Court of the South==
==Imperial Court of the North==
The '''Imperial court of the South''', functions as the southern branch, (and at times the main arm) of the imperial establishment being based out of the national capital at Alexandropolis. This court is administered by the '''Megas Prokoitos''' as Grand Master of the Imperial Court of the south.
===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 Imperial court of the south is composed of of the Triklinion Basilikon (Imperial Outer Chambers), the Tamieion Basilikon (Imperial Inner Chamber), the Hyperesia (imperial service department), the Therapeia (imperial retinue department) and the Gynaikeion (women's apartments).
'''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).


===Triklinion Basilikon===
'''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 '''Triklinion Basilikon''' (known as the '''Imperial Outer Chambers''') refers to the court department responsible for the public face of the court and the organisation and implmenting of state receptions. It is headed by the '''Archedeatros''' (the ''Chief Seneschal'') who is responsible for organising  imperial court ceremonies and receptions.


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.


===Tamieion Basilikon===
'''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 '''Tamieion Basilikon''' (known as the '''Imperial Inner Chamber'''), refers to the department responsible for overseeing the sovereign's imperial apartments, and his personal retinue attached to the inner chamber. The inner chamber is co-chaired by the '''Parakoimomenos tou Koitonos''' (''High Chamberlain of the Bedchamber'') and the '''Parakoimomenos tes sphendones''' (''High Chamberlain of the Imperial Privy Seal'').  


While the Parakoimomenos of the Sphendone is limited to duties related to personally overseeing the Sphendone, the ring with which the sovereign uses to personally seal all personal correspondence. Its counterpart the Parakoimomenos of the Koiton is charged with actual supervision of the Imperial bedchamber being assisted by the '''Prokathemenos tou koitonos''' (''Gentlemen of the Bedchamber''), through which he oversees the corps of Koitonarioi (inner chamber chamberlains), and basilikoi paidopouloi (imperial pages).
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.


===Hyperesia===
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 Hyperesia department (known as the '''Imperial Service department'''), refers to the domestic entourage and staff of the imperial court establishment. The imperial service department is overseen by the '''Megas Papias''' (''Grand Concierge''), who is responsible for palace security and maintenance being charged with keeping the palace keys.


The Megas Papias has under his supervision:the General Maintainence department, the Provisioning Department, and the Imperial Furniture depository.
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.


'''General Maintenance Department''' is overseen by the Deutros, the deputy of Megas Papias, who is simultaneously responsible for the safekeeping and monitoring of the furniture stored at the imperial furniture depository.
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.
* Hebdomadarioi:  subordinate chamberlains working in weekly shift rotations, responsible for the buildings of the Ireakioski Imperial Palace and of the general upkeep of its halls and reception rooms which includeds: the Hall of Stepsimon, the Hall of the Council of Hetairoi,
** The Ostiarikon, department overseeing the palace doorkeepers.
** The Stratorikion, department overseeing the palace grooms


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.


'''Provisioning Department'''
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.
* Edeatros tes basilikoi trapezes: Chief Connoisseur, responsible for provisioning the imperial table, overseeing the banquet, and tasting the dishes.
** Archiartoklines: Chief Breadmaster, responsible for overseeing the Imperial Pantry, and the palace bakery
** Archichasapis: chief butcher, responsible for cutting the emperor's meat at state receptions, overseeeing the butchery
** Archikylikiphoros (Chief Cupbearer; bearer of the kylix
** Archioinochoos (Chief Wine-pourer)
*** Paroinochoi (Assistant Wine-pourer)


===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 Therapeia (imperial retinue department) and the Gynaikeion (women's apartments).
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 [[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.


Appointees to the imperial court are divided into two groups: the ''amīn al-Padishah'' ("confident of the Emperor") for office-holders within the inner court, specifically speaking the imperial enclosure (ḵalwat); with the more prestigious honorific of ''eʿtemād al-šâhanšâhi'' ("the trust of the empire") being granted to the Great offices of the Imperial Court.
'''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 role of overall head of the imperial establishment is co-chaired by the Megas Prokoitos (for the south), and the Megas Darigansalar (for the north).




==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.


==Schedule==
===The Basilikon Thálamos===
The Empress typically resides at Chrysopolis during the spring months in order to celebrate  the traditional festivities of Nowruz (Mesogeian new year); although the imperial family return to Alexandropolis periodically during this time in order to attend the Easter and city founding festivities in the capital. The time spent in Chrysopolis culminates in one court ball, the Nowruz ball which although not apart of the official ball season is nonetheless notable for being the largest such event hosted each year by the imperial court, having over 5,000 to 3,000 attendees in the gardens of the Ali Zarinqapu Palace.
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.
 
The court does not officially retire to one of the summer palaces until mid june, during these summer months the empress and the imperial family alternate between various summer palaces outside Alexandropolis and in the country's hinterland. Torch light receptions are given at various summer residences or at the imperial palace at Ceragan Palace, usually two or three in number, with 600 attendees; these summer galas being far less
 
The sovereign takes up residence in the imperial palace in Alexandropolis in the early Autumn months just in time for the celebration of the Mehregan festival in October, which is followed closely by the Empress' official birthday celebrations on October 16, and the social season where the empress hosts four court balls (with each one becoming more exclusive as the year draws to a close): the Grand State ball at the Boukoleon palace or at the Mangana Palace for 2,500 guests, the Mouchroutas Ball for 1,500 guests, the Daphne Ball for 700 guests, and finally the all exclusive reception for 300 guests in the Koiton.
 
The Empress remains near the capital until just after the state opening of Synedrion, the Silention ceremony before retiring from the capital.
 
 
 
 
 
==The Outer Court (Birûn)==
The outer court consists of the amala-ye rekāb, "agents of the stirrup" which is composed of the imperial guards, stewards, riding attendants, aids-de camps, and all other officials with duties that brought them outside of the the Inner Court. In modern times these officials and functionaries have been organized into two seperate departments: the Military Household, the Ecclesiastical Household the Outdoor & Camp services Department, and the Office of Public Diversions, and the Bureau of Protocol.
 
===The Military Household===
The military household operates as the military arm of the Imperial court, under the general direction of PLACEHOLDER, as the senior head overseeing the ten guards regiments responsible for protecting the sovereign and for providing security for members of the imperial family and guarding the imperial palaces.
 
The subordinates include:
* Hazarbed-Aqasi (commander of the Imperial Athanatoi Guard)
* Chilliarch (commander of th Basilikon Agema Guard)
* Qorchi-Bashi (commander of the Imperial Qezelbāš Cavalry Guard)
* Qullar-Aqasi) (commander of the Imperial Ghulam Guard)
* Tupchi-Bashi (commander of the Artillery Guard)
* Tufangchi-Aqasi (commander of the Imperial Musketeers)
* Chilliarch (commander of the Argyraspides Guard
* Chilliarch (commander of the Chalkaspides Guard
* Chilliarch (commander of the Chryaspides Guard)
* Chilliarch (commander of the Leukaspides Guard
 
===Ecclesiastical Household===
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 and religious organizations.
 
The office is headed by the Synkellos in his role as Imperial Chaplain, with directors overseeing the Apostolic Church establishment, the Olympianism establishment, and the Aletheic church establishment in  Mesogeia.
 
Its staff includes hundreds of Priests, nuns preachers, and chaplains. The various cathedrals, temples,  churches, chapels and monasteries under the patronage of the Imperial Court include: the Pantheon Cathedral, Cathedra of [[Hagia Triada]], Cathedral of [[Hagia Aima]], Palace Chapel of the Theotokos, Hormisdas Church and Monastery, the Panagia Hodegetria Monastery, Pammakaristos Church, Zoödochos Pege Monastery, the Myrelaion Monastery, and the Stoudion Monastery.
 
===Outdoor & Camp Services Department===
The '''Outdoor & Camp Services Department''' is responsible for all outer court activities related to the imperial court. This department is composed of the Imperial Stables & Transport Department, the Department of Camp Services, the Imperial Hunting Bureau, and the Maintenance & Construction Department.
 
====Imperial Stables & Transport Department====
The '''Imperial Stables & Transport Department''' is responsible for the ceremonial and everyday transport of the imperial family of Mesogeia. The department is charged with overseeing the sovereign's travels within the country, ensuring the safe arrival of the monarch, the imperial family, and their housholds; in addition to this the department is charged with 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, palanquins, covered-litters; together with 20 motorized vehicles. Being one of the most expensive departments of the Imperial Court it is said to possess 30 horses. In its heyday, the imperial stables contained horses, mules, camels, elephants, amounting to 10,000 to 30,000 pack-animals in the early 17th 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.
 
Also attached to the transport department are imperial outriders, dressed in ornate red, white, and gold uniforms with their elaborate headgear and noted for running behind the imperial cavalcade.
 
====Department of Camp Services====
The '''Department of Camp Services''' is headed by the Megas Stratopedarches ("Grand Master of the Camp") who oversees camp services, in adition to the ''Farrāš-ḵāna'' and the ''Nasaq-ḵāna'', through his subordinates. All three offices are an extraordinary testament to the fearsome punitive power of the Mesogeian monarch.
 
The Megas Stratopedarches is responsible for the officers, aides-de-camp, and the stewards of the imperial camp often collectively called the riding companions. Historically there were two groups of riding companions, those from the southern nobility and those from the northern nobility.
 
The '''Farrāš-ḵāna''' is a department with mostly ceremonial functions in connection with the imperial footmen or tent pitchers as they were historically known in Mesogeia, and headed by the ''Farrāš-Bāšī'' ("Chief of the Carpet Spreaders"). Historically their duties were far more fearsome being responsible for delivering imperial messages and carrying out imperial punitive commands ranging from arrests, beatings, extortions, and more serious acts.
 
The '''Nasaq-ḵāna''', is a department with largely ceremonial functions in the present-day it was once responsible for carrying out the most severe and dreaded punitive measures on behalf of the sovereign. Its head is the Nasaqčī-Bāšī ("Chief Discipliner"), who oversees the nasaqčīs; executioners or agents of torment). While historically this department was responsible for the most extreme punishments of the state, including torture, blinding, mutilation, and state executions.
 
Currently the Nasaqčī-Bāšī ("Chief Discipliner") is responsible for countersigning all death warrants on behalf of the sovereign.
 
====The Imperial Hunting Bureau====
The '''Imperial Hunting Bureau''' 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.
 
====Maintenance & Construction Department====
The '''Maintenance & Construction Department''' is responsible for the exterior maintenance and upkeep of the imperial palaces, attached gardens and parks, and qanāts. Its sub-sections include the Imperial Gardens and Parks Agency, the Imperial Managerie and Zoological Park Administration, and the Bureau of Imperial Building Management.
 
Functioning as a subsection of the Maintenance and Construction Department, 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 cut flowers and bulbs from the Imperal gardens serves as source of income to the Imperial Court.
 
The '''Imperial Managerie and Zoological Park Administration''' is responsible for overseeing the Imperial Blachernai Managerie, Alexandropolis Zoo, and the Parisia Zoo; its staff includes zookeepers and veterinarians.
 
The '''Bureau of Imperial Buildings Management''' deals with the actual managment of the individual imperial palaces, such as Imperial Palace of Alexandropolis, Chrysopolis Palace, Parisia Acropolis, Fasargadae Palace, Khouzia 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.
 
===The Office of Public Diversions===
The Office of Public Diversions, with its presiding officer the PLACEHOLDER, 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 PLACEHOLDER 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.
 
 
===The Bureau of Protocol===
The '''Bureau of Protocol''' is overseen by the Master of Ceremonies who is responsible for overseeing both public and private audiences.
 
==The Inner Court (Andarûn)==
The Inner Court is composed of the imperial enclosure/chamber (ḵalwat-e ḵāṣṣa) department, the gynaikeion ("andarūn-e ḵāṣṣa"), the Court Services ("ḵedmat-e ḵāṣṣa)") department, the Bureau of the Imperial Treasures, the Imperial Accounting & Finance Department, the inner Chancellery, and the Imperial Crown Lands.
 
===The imperial chamber ("ḵalwat-e ḵāṣṣa")===
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
The imperial chamber is responsible for employing doorkeepers, ushers, and announcers throughout the official state apartments, the publicly open sections of the palace.
 
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 Chamberlain serving within the private chambers of the Emperor), Archontopouloi (Noble pages), and the paidopouloi (common pages).
 
 
===The Gynaikeion ("andarūn-e ḵāṣṣa")===
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 acting 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 historically 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 PLACEHOLDER, 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 Chouza. 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.
 
 
===The Bureau of Imperial Treasures and Patronages===
The '''Bureau of Imperial Treasures and Patronages''' is a unique department of the Imperial Court which refers to the tangible treasures attached to the imperial establishment both material, artistic, and of monetary value; in addition to the imperial patronages
 
This bureau is composed of the Imperial Historic Treasures Collection and the Imperial Patronages Agency. The Imperial Historic Treasures Collection is responsible for overseeing the management of the Imperial Collections and treasures, which is spread out among various palaces, museums and art galleries throughout the nation.
 
The primary components of the Imperial Historic Treasures Collection 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 which includes photographs, paintings, mosaics, icons and etc; the Imperial Museum, the national museum of the empire housing Mesogeian specific art in addition to historically significant works; and Imperial Atelier.
 
The Imperial Historic Treasures Collection 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. Co-chair of the Imperial Art Gallery
* Curator of the Picture galleries: oversight over imperial photography department; co-chair of 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.
 
The Imperial Patronages Agency 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 or with official patronage by a member of the imperial family with the intent to promote Mesogeian cultural heritage.
 
The Academies 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
 
===The Imperial Accounting & Finance Department===
The '''Imperial Accounting & Finance Department''' is responsible for all the financial matters partaining to the imperial court and its connected departments.
 
The Imperial Accounting & Finance 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 Imperial Privy Purse, Imperial Chest, and the  the Imperial Wardrobe.
 
The department is responsible for managing the court's finances and the assets tied to the Imperial court and at the disposal of the Emperor by virtue of his position; issuing payments to the court's employees; and has financial oversight along over all state functions and receptions.
 
Historically the Imperial Privy Purse, the Imperial Chest, and the Imperial Wardrobe functioned as a distinct sub-section country's imperial treasuries:
* The Imperial Privy Purse: Responsible for the Sovereign's personal assets;
* The Imperial Chest: responsible for the public assets of the Imperial court, that is assets derived from the court or the Imperial Crownlands.
* The Imperial Wardrobe: which despite the name was initially responsible for the imperial mints, the imperial arsenals, and the provisioning of the military. Presently it oversees the Imperial Trust of the Imperial Family.
 
There was a time that the Imperial Wardrobe functioned as the state treasury until the state's finances were split off into other fiscal departments, leaving the Imperial Wardrobe, the Imperial Privy Purse, and the Imperial Chest with financial matters retaining to the Imperial court and the Imperial family.
 
===The Inner Chancellery===
The  '''Inner Chancellery''' is responsible for administering the private chancellery of the emperor of Mesogeia; and is composed of the Imperial Translation Department; Imperial Secretariat, Imperial Stationery & Calligraphy Department, and the Bureau of the Imperial Archive.
 
===The Court Services Department ("ḵedmat-e ḵāṣṣa")===
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 five departments: the Palace Supervisory Department; the Domestic Services Department; the Imperial Pharmacy & Medical Department; the Amusements & Diversions Department; and the Telegraph Department.
 
 
The '''Domestic Services Department''' is headed 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.
 
Below the Paipiai are various subordinates responsible for provisioning the kitchens, cleaning, lighting, and the general maintenance of the Imperial Palaces, it includes:
* 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 cleaning the Imperial Silverware and Tableware adorning the imperial table.
 
 
The '''Amusements & Diversions Department''' is responsible for the management of the court entertainments and leisurely pursuits. The department is overseen by PLACEHOLDER.
 
A sub-section of the department is the ''bureau of imperial theatres'', which is responsible for the organizing of ballets, operas, and theatrical performances at the six imperial theatres, two imperial opera houses and various opera, ballet, drama companies, and theatrical schools with imperial patronage.
 
===Office of the Imperial Crown Lands===
The Office of the Imperial Crown Lands 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 Steward of the Imperial Crown Lands, 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 Imperial Crown Lands 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, Chouza 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.
* Troadinos 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 Crown Lands when the holder dies without a male heir; they are however administered privately by the holder as imperial appanages separate from the Imperial Crown Lands, when in use.


These tied estates include:
Its senior offices include the '''Parakoimomenos tou Koitonos''', '''Parakoimomenos tes sphendones''', '''Arcithyroros'''.  
* 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 Opsikion-Troadinos, heiress to the Prince of Opsikion, the last male of the House of Opsikion, a branch of the imperial house whose wealth has 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.


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


==Department of the Grand Chamberlain==
==The Women's Court==
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 '''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.  


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.
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..


The department of the Grand Praepositos manages various cultural institutions such as the Oikeiakon Vestiarion, Imperial Court Library, 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.
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.


===Office of the Grand Praepositos===
'''Women of the Court ranks:'''
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
#'''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").
#'''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.
#'''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.
# '''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.
#'''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.
##'''Khanum''': reserved for concubines belonging to the Mesogeian nobility having entered the harem
##'''Khatun''': reserved for women entering the harem from the lower classes of society.
##'''Kaniz''': officially defunct, it refers to the women who were captured or purchased  specifically for the harem in historic times, literally slave concubines.
#'''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:
## Female Grandees/Wives of Grandees ('''Wuzurgan''') holding the rank of Duke, Prince, and or Marquess.
## Female Peers/Wives of Peers ('''Hetairoi''') or ('''Azadan'''), those not possessing grandeeships.
## Untitled noblewomen/wives of untitled nobles ('''Pronoiars''') or ('''Dehqan''')
## 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==
* [[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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