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 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 Mithradat-Alcaeia, Chousa, Fasargadai, and Ecbatana in the Farsian regions of the empire; they also continued to maintain royal courts in the southern regions particularly at their ancestral seats 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 (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).

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.

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 reiging 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. 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.
9. 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 just below the immediate imperial family and princes of the blood imperial.
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.

See also

• Monarchy of Mesogeia