Former Monarchy of Sarenium

Emperor of Sarenium
Last to reign Ghaender II 6 July 1560 – 26 November 1594
Details
Style	His Imperial Majesty
First monarch	Sarnei I
Residence	Alexander Palace Capitoline Palace Sarneian Keep Cairo House Apadana Hariana House Palace of Halus Florentine Palace
Appointer	Hereditary Absolute Primogeniture

The monarchy of Sarenium, commonly referred to as the Saren Empire or Saren Monarchy, is the form of government by which a hereditary sovereign reigned as head of state of the Empire of Sarenium and it's territories. The Saren Monarchy is deemed to have officially begun with the accession of Queen Sarnei, with historians placing this as having occurred in roughly 2500 to 2400 BCE. Accurate depictions and evidence of the existence of the monarchy prior to the writing of "The Line", is limited to songs, artwork and ill-translated texts and scrolls. The Monarchy is said to have evolved from a Kingdom located on the South Iberian coast, around modern day Cádiz to encompassing the bulk of the Iberian Peninsula by the 11th Century BCE, at which point surviving texts point to a concerted effort to expand into either Africa, or Aquitaine. The crown, monarchy and office of Emperor was officially abolished by the Proclamation of Unity in 1594 CE.

Over time, the Kingdom grew from Iberia to cover all of Africa, the Persian Plateau, the Caucuses, the Aegean Isles, and pockets of land in India, Sri Lanka, East Asia and South America. Beginning with the First Mongol Invasion, the Crown retreated en masse from the Persian Plateau and the Caucuses, and would lose the Aegean in the process of retreat. The monarchy itself has consisted of at least twenty-five royal or imperial houses. In 111 BCE, the Saren Senate was formed in the wake of the Firmhold Revolt, and in 559 CE, the influence of the Parrheonic Monasteries on the Monarchy was weakened by the passing of the Pluralism Doctrine.

The monarchy had always been passed by absolute primogeniture, leading to changes in royal or imperial house occurring when a Tribute to Hera acceded to the Throne.

In 220 BCE, under Alexander I, the Kingdom was proclaimed as an Empire, with the capital moved to modern-day Seira. Accordingly, Alexander Palace was constructed in the Atlas Mountains as a summer retreat, and is still in use by the Saren Government today, having been rebuilt and reconstructed multiple times in history, the original throne room of the Palace is intact as it's original version with Alexander's Throne unmoved. The more functional Capitoline Palace was built on what is now Parliament Island (then called Emperor's Isle) and was lost in the course of the Second Civil War, leading to the reconstruction of the modern Parliament Island on the island in one of the first Caesarian Acts. The Palace of Halus served as the home to the heir to the throne prior to the abolition of the monarchy, and has been retrofit to serve as the home and office of the President of Sarenium.

The Imperial Jewels of Sarenium were moved from the Cádiz Vault to Alexander Palace in 1610 and have for the vast duration of their existence been used as partial collateral to strengthen the Saren currency of the time.

At the abolition of the monarchy, the Emperor was styled as Emperor or King of Kings depending on locality, while the heir to the throne was The Marasen Prince or Princess, and held the Principality of Tagusia, historically a territory encompassing modern-day Lisbon and it's corresponding provinces. Since the time of Alexander I, the honorific title Prince has been granted to all direct descendants of a sovereign, while the only territorial principality, that of Tagusia was granted to the Marasen Prince or Princess upon their seventeenth birthday. Similarly, the honorific title and position of Grand Duke was awarded to descendants of the sovereign, with reversion to the crown upon the individual holder's death. At the time of abolition, the House of Cicaphelon held the Throne. The long-defunct throne has since been returned to the House of Hariana.

Constitutional Role

Throughout the two millennia of Saren Monarchy, a range of constitutional obligations and requirements has existed. Earlier monarchs would have served as absolute monarchs of a small Kingdom located on the southwest Iberian coast. Throughout time, the role expanded to be Head of State of Sarenium, with varying powers at times. The Senate of Sarenium was formed by Alexander I, and it's membership has at times been in opposition to the actions of a Sovereign, accordingly a substantial share of evolution in constitutional role for the sovereign occurred in the context of an ever-present push and pull between the Senate and the Sovereign. By abolition, the role of the Sovereign had evolved to have a limited purview over national finances, the day-to-day lawmaking or the direct regular interactions of foreign policy. A limited though still significant role was played by the Sovereign over affairs of the Legions, and in governance of the colonies which existed outside the jurisdiction of a local Lord to act in the stead of the Sovereign. Substantial elements of modern-day Sarenium are impacted by traditions that draw their roots from that of the monarchy, the appointment of Judges by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, mimics the appointment of Judges by a Sovereign on the advice of selected Senators and the Privy Council. The tradition of dragging the elected Speaker of the House of Commons to their Chair can be traced to the undesirability of the office at a time when it's holder would relay occurrences of the House to the Sovereign, and could bear the repercussions of an intransigent monarch.

Relationship with the Parrheonic Faith

Further roles surrounding adherence to, and drawing legitimacy from the Parrheonic Faith depended on the situation of the Empire at the time. In times of war, the Sovereign would often lead courses of tributes and offerings to Maahes the God of War. Since Sarnei I, the Sovereign and their descendants have acted as Protector of the Faith from a position generally exceptional to all it's doctrines. The role of the God of femininity, marriage, duty and sacrifice, Hera and associated Heraen Temples devoted to propagating their tenants played a significant part in why the title 'Tribute to Hera' was created. Such a Tribute would sacrifice their claim to carrying forward the name of their House through marriage, and be the cause for why the Royal House would change. Such Tributes were generally rare, and would occur more prominently to settle disputes, reaffirm peace, be a mark of capitulation and represented the greatest sacrifice a living Sovereign could make. In converting a child into a Tribute to Hera, on their accession to the Throne, they would serve as Sovereign, but be considered a member of the House into which they married. The last Tribute to Hera, and the only recorded male Tribute to Hera, was Nolaxir II of House Cicaphelon (born Nolaxir Ramestador Barul of House of Barulian). Born amidst the Cicaphelon Revolt, and as the only surviving member of the royal line of House Barulian, the sixteen year old at the time would be immediately betrothed to Hanyinor of House Cicaphelon and forced to agree to Tributation before accession and coronation, had he acceded to the Throne in writing, it is considered likely he too would have been killed and the Throne passing to a distant Barulian relative who in turn would have been forced to grant tributation to their heir to seal the peace. Tributes to Hera who's being a Tribute has had potential to be met with resistance have historically been surrounded by the adopting house's advisers, staff and house guard to ensure no effort to restore their original house ends up successful.

All coronations generally involved a homage of small sorts to Iragec, for justice, peace and light in the darkness, Maahes, for strength should the realm need it, and to Jengiton, for prosperity and good fortune. A collective prayer would then be said for the other six 'high gods of Parrheon'.