Emperor's Council of Latium

The Advisors to the Emperor (Consilium Imperatoris), commonly referred to as the Emperor's Council or the Council, is the name given to the collection of councils within imperial court and the executive government of Latium. It is a formal council of advisors to the Latin Emperor, and organ of the executive whereby the Monarch and his or her ministers, or praetors, direct the government.

The Emperor’s Council includes all formal advisors and ministers of the Monarch. The primary components of the Emperor’s Council are the Sacred Assembly and Collegium Primicerium, which are comprised of ministers and formal advisors.

Committees

The pre-eminent council within the Emperor's Council is the Sacred Assembly, followed by the Collegium Primicerium. There are 10 councils, and 3 select councils, which can be established ad hoc by the monarch. Among these councils are:

• Treasury Board
• Trigintiviral Court
• Local Council
• College of Vicars
• National Defense Council
• Board of Trade
• Naval Board
• Committee of Affairs for Augustal Provinces

Sacred Assembly

Main article: Sacred Assembly

The Sacred Assembly is the highest political council of Latium and Imperial Court. Membership on the council varies, though permanent membership consists of the Counts First Class with the rank vir illustris.

Traditionally there are six Vir illustris (literally, illustrious men) offices or great officers of state, with the offices of Master of the Seal and Lord Admiral as later additions in the 11th century. The highest ranking Great Officer of State is the Master of Offices (Magister Officorum), or Imperial Chancellor. The Master of Offices is typically the Monarch's most trusted advisor and directs the civil service. The other vir illustrus officers are the Master of Soldiers (Magister Militum), Quastor of the Palace (Quaestor sacri palatii), Count of the Sacred Chamber or Imperial Chamberlain (Comes sacri cubiculi), and the two treasury offices of Count of the Sacred Largesses and Count of the Private Fortune. Other offices are ad hoc members of the assembly, and the Emperor is free to appoint any other individuals to the assembly.

The Sacred Assembly meets weekly, but more meetings are convened at the Emperor's discretion. Meetings are held in the XXXX room of Palatium Augusti, in Palatine, Castellum ab Alba.

Collegium Primicerium

Main article: Collegium Primicerium

The Collegium Primicerium consists of magistrates that are responsible for day-to-day administration of Imperial government agencies. Akin to a cabinet, magistrates primary roles is to advise the Monarch, who obtains their opinions and advice on a wide range of decisions. While its role is advisory and administrative and not to collectively decide government direction, the Council is quasi-parliamentary as all appointees to the magisterial roles are Counts Fourth Class, or Senators. Magistrates are appointed by the Monarch and serve at his pleasure; according to constitutional convention, most often from the leading faction of the senate but this is not always the case. All members of the Sacred Assembly are Collegium Primicerium.

Due to magistrates role as Senators, they are a primary liaison and lead government initiatives in preparation of legislation. Most legislation originates from the Collegium Primicerium.

Imperial Judicate

Main article: Imperial Judicate

The Imperial Judicate serves a key judicial function in Latium, and operates as the de facto court of last resort. The Judicate holds limited jurisdiction over legislation and no jurisdiction over executive orders or edicts. While ordinary courts hold primary jurisdiction over criminal and civil matters, the Judicate holds original jurisdiction over matters arising out of probate, patent or trademark, and the regulation of nobility, titles, and arms. It has delegated many of these original jurisdiction roles to newly created extraordinary courts, but retains the right of original jurisdiction.

It is responsible for regulating the legal profession in Latium.

Membership

Every month a full meeting of the Emperor's Council is held. This includes all members of the Sacred Assembly, all members of the Collegium Primicerium, and members of subcommittees that are not also members of the aforementioned councils, such as the College of Vicars. The council consists of the eight Vir illustris, and any other individual appointed to the Council by the Monarch.

Since the early 20th century, extraordinary offices of now magisterial rank, including Private Secretary to the Emperor, Urban Prefect, and Palatine Counsel. More recently, the Director of the Frumentarii, and the Director of the AIR often attend for matters of national security when a full meeting of the National Defense Council cannot be held. Other non-officers may regularly attend meetings as an Aid-in-Council or Comes consistoriani (literally, Count in the aid of the council), whom are appointed at the sole discretion of the Monarch.

Term of office

There is no set term of office for members of the Council or its sub-councils as all members serve at the pleasure of the Monarch. Individuals do not automatically leave office upon the Monarch's death, though often times many key offices are reshuffled following a succession. Any individual may be appointed to the council.

Individuals do not hold the dignity of council membership for life, though in most cases are afforded the privilege of retaining any style from office held. This privilege may be rescinded, most recently in 1945 when Consatntine of Keld was expelled from the Council and stripped of any rank, privilege or style that he was previous afforded.

Oath

All members of the council are required to swear an oath of loyalty to the Monarch before taking office, even if previously sworn an oath of loyalty in a different capacity. The oath reads as follows:

I do swear that I will be faithful, loyal and bear true allegiance to, and I will well and truly serve, Emperor Constantine XX Claudius, his heirs and successors. So help me God.

Meeting places

The main venue for meetings of the full Emperor's Council is Grand Ballroom at the Palace of Augustus, in Palatine, Castellum ab Alba. However, meetings take place wherever the monarch is located at any given time. As such, while the majority of meetings are held in Castellum, many meetings are held in Adrianople or Ascanium. Each individual council within the Emperor's Council has its own offices and venue for daily business.

See also

• Imperial court
• Collegium Primicerium