Administrative Divisions of Tagmatium

The Greater Holy Empire of Tagmatium has a unitary structure in terms of administration and this is one of the most important factors shaping Tagmatine public administration. Almost all power - executive, legislative and judicial - is exercised by the central government and are considered to be the main functions of the state, so local administrations have little power. The Greater Holy Empire does not have a federal system and the provinces (Laimiaic: themata, singular: thema) are subordinate to the central government. Local administrations were established to provide services in place and the government is represtented by the provincial governors (protonotarios), who oversee their provinces on behalf of the central government but are advised on local issues by the provincial councils (Laimiaic: synhedreia, singular: synhedreion), which are directly elected by the people. Other senior public officials are also appointed by the central government rather by the provincial councils, although again the choice is often advised by the councils. The provinces are divided into districts, which are governed by elected councils (Laimiaic: boulai, singular: boule) and then further subdivided into subdistricts, again governed by elected councils (Laimiaic: koureia, Fragran curia). The smallest subdivision, the municipality, also has an elected council (Laimiaic: ourdos, Fragran: ordo).

Within this unitary framework, Tagmatium is subdivided into four levels of administrative district: provinces, districts, subdistricts and municipalites. Provinces (Laimiaic: themata, singular: thema) are divided into "districts" (Laimiaic: meroi singular: meros), which are then divided into "subdistricts" (Laimiaic: droungoi, singular: droungos) and finally municipalities (Laimiaic: banda, singular: bandon). Tagmatium is also divided into eleven regions (Laimiaic: regeonai, Fragran: praefectura) and these are geographic, demographic and economic purposes; this does not refer to an administrative division.

Several large cities are also considered to be seperate administrative divisions given an element of self-governance outside of the framework of the themata especially the "imperial cities" (Laimiaic: Basilikoi Poleis) of Arome, Europatorion and Tagmatika. Whilst this is little more than a freedom to enact some policies, such as urban planning, environmental and energy policies, it is often very beneficial to those cities. Due to this, there are three types of city within Tagmatium. The first is the three "imperial cities", which have an ancient history of self-governance and have a status as joint capitals of the Greater Holy Empire and are accorded high status within the political and cultural spheres. The second is the "great city" (Laimiaic: megalopoleis), which are part of the province in which they are located accorded but administrative freedom in the same way as the "imperial cities". The third is the "thematic city", which are merely a recognition of a large urban settlement that is still governed within the limits of the province and function as second or third level administrative divisions depending on population size, and are again further subdivided.

Regions

The country is split into eleven administrative regions (Laimiaic: regeonai, Fragran: praefectura). These are the highest tier of sub-national divisions in Tagmatium, although they do not fulfil any functions within the government of the nation beyond statistical, economic and policy purposes. Regions are often historic in nature and are somewhat ecletic in origin - some reflect the administrative divisions of the nation from the time of the Octarchy until reforms undertaken during the Ioannesian Dynasty, such as Nidoria and Transmeria. Others reflect far ancient tribal boundaries that predate even the Aroman Empire, like Laimias and Vrygeia. Some are much more modern, like Kleisourakon, which was an amalgamation of small military border districts (Laimiaic: kleisoura) that had been set up to defend the border with Haruspex and formed in reforms of Konstantinos VII. The main role that the regions play is for the implementation of national-level policies, as well as for censuses and some judicial and law enforcement agency purposes. In some instances, namely in the case of Laimias, Nidoreia, Flektemon and Tzankheia, the regional bodies help the Themata within the region to act with more cohesion, especially with regard to economic practices. These regions have a strong history as occasionally de facto independent nations, which means in turn that the central government often keeps them on a short leash.

The regions are as follows, with the Fragan name in brackets where applicable:

• Nidoreia (Nidoria)
• Laimias
• Megale Agrotikon (Magna Agri)
• Tzankheia
• Flektemon
• Kleisourakon
• Vrygeia
• Psilepediades
• Transmireia (Transmeria)
• Aeireskollai (Aeriscolles)
• Tegouneia (Degunia)

Provinces

The principle administrative divisions of Tagmatium is the province, or in Laimiaic, thema. There are $number of provinces. These are based in reforms carried out in response to the changing situation that the country faced during the 6th to 9th centuries and were primarily military in nature. They formed the recruitment pools for army units based in those areas or, in case of the coastal or riverine provinces, naval units as well. At first, they were intrinsically linked to the army, with the commanding general of the army unit based there also acting as the civil governor as well. The civilian administration was very much a support element to that of the military. However, by the $year, this had changed and the military and civilian administrations had fully divorced, with what had been the general's chief civilian aide becoming the provincial governors instead. The provincial governors themselves are appointed by the central government. The provinces are then further subdivided into smaller districts, subdistricts and municipalities. There are democratically elected councils at all levels, who act in an advisory capacity to the provincial governors. The provinces are also the main building blocks for the juidicial organisation of Tagmatium. They do retain an organisational role within the military, hower this is entirely secondary to the civilian administration of the provinces themselves.

The provinces are as follows:

Cities

Imperial Cities

The Imperial Cities (Laimiaic: Basilikoi Poleis) of Tagmatika, Europatorion and Arome are the mind, body and soul of the nation. Tagmatika is the current political capital and, although it can claim to be the current residence of the Holy Emperors of Tagmatium, it is the youngest of the capital cities. It boasts a population of 5.3 million, with a metropolitan area of 8 million. Europatorion is the largest of the capitals, with a population of 12.5 million and an estimated 20 million residents in the metropolitan area. Arome is the smallest of the capitals by far, with a population of 1.2 million and a metropolitan population of 2 million. This reflects the tumultuous history of the ancient capital after its burning in AD297, as it was often seen as the prize of attempts to legitimise claims to rulership of the Aroman Empire by seizing the namesake capital. Arome is the city with the highest number of historical sieges in Europa, although the last of the three capitals to be besieged was Tagmatika in 2005, when it was briefly invested by the forces of Leon Basilikos, who hoped to gain the Leopard Throne after the assassination of Theodosios VI.

Great Cities

The Great Cities are large cities, several with a population of over 3 million and the port city of Dymafos a population over 6 million. They are accorded some administrative freedoms in line with the Imperial Cities, although more restricted. Unlike the Imperial Cities, they remain part of the province in which they are located. They are also the administrative capitals of the provinces that they are located in. They are important industrial, trade and transport centres, with several, such as Thenion, Dymafos and Petrion, being international ports as well.

Adramittion, Trapezon, Kalamanon, Resafa, Dyrrakion, Myzithras, Gorytos, Heiropolis, Thenion, Easteia, Kibitos, Skouton, Kontos, Petrion, Onanion, Kommodopolis, Theodosopolis, Ikonion, Kotion, Neamagonos, Boreapolis, Matapon, Nystras, Klimatos, Dymafos, Seleoukeia.

Provincial Cities

Provincial cities are much smaller and are merely a recognition of a large urban settlement that is still governed within the limits of the province. These cities often act as second or third level administrative divisions, depending on their size. The majority of the Provincial Cities have a population of less than half a million, with the low hundred thousands being more common than anything higher.