Imperial Court of Mesogeia

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 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 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.

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 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).

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.

Imperial Court of the South

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 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).

Triklinion Basilikon

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.

Tamieion Basilikon

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).

Hyperesia Department

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.

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.

• 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
  • Loustai: resonsible for the imperial bathhouse
  • Kandelaptai: responsible for lighting the imperial palace
  • Kaldarioi: responsible for heating the rooms of the imperial palaces
  • Horologoi: responsible for attending to the palace cocks.

Provisioning Department

• 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)

Therapeia Department

The Therapeia (known as the Imperial Retinue department) refers to the courtier retinue entourage attached to the sovereign. The Imperial retinue is administered by the Megas Tzaousios, whose duties are largely confined to maintaining law and order in the imperial court, overseeing the imperial retinue, and handling legal matters partaining to the imperial family.

The Megas Tzaousios is assisted by the Protokynegos (First Huntsmen), the Protostratotius (Imperial Chief of Staff), Protostrator (Imperial Stable Master), and theArchiatros (Imperial Chief Physician).

Gynaikeion department

The Gynaikeion department (women's apartments) refers to the women's chambers in the imperial palace, this includes the apartments of the empress, imperial consorts, imperial princesses and their respective entourages and staff.

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.

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).

Schedule

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 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. 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, 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:

• 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.

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, 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