Monarchy of Aretias
| Despot of Aretias | |
|---|---|
| Δεσπóτēσ τῆς Ἀρητιάς | |
 | |
| Incumbent | |
 | |
| Basil IV since 20 September 2016 | |
| Details | |
| Style | His Majesty |
| Heir presumptive | Heraclius, Crown Prince of Aretias |
| First monarch | Basil I |
| Formation | 19 June 1759 |
| Residence | Antelias Palace |
The Monarch of Aretias, officially the Despot of Aretias (Peratene: Δεσπóτēσ τῆς Ἀρητιάς), is the autocratic head of state and head of government of Aretias. The title s held by the paternal descendants of Athanasios I Kamytzes. The Despot is the head of the House of Kamytzes and the royal family.
History
The Despotate of Aretias traces titular descent from the Perateia, following the grant of the imperial appanage by Athanasios I Kamytzes to his third son Prince Basil Kamytzes. As such, the monarchy in Aretias was first established on 19 June 1759, and due to this it claims direct descent from the Perateian and Lihnidosi personal union. From 1759 to 1830, Aretias remained an imperial appanage tied to Perateia. However, with the collapse of the Perateian-Lihnidosi personal union in 1830, Aretias fell under the suzerainty of the nascent Hazaraspid kingdom in nearby Vardana. It remained under Hazaraspid domination until the Vardani Revolution in the 1920s, at which point Aretias asserted its independence and proclaimed sovereignty over its territory.
Role
The monarch is the absolute head of state of Aretias. As head of state, he is the chief executive and chief representative of Aretias internationally. All legislative, executive, and judicial power rests in the hands of the king. The judiciary is subordinate to the king, as is the consultative assembly.
The monarch wields much power through the Royal Council and his councilors, which include government ministers. The monarch is empowered to appoint or remove councilors, of which the monarch presides. Despite the monarch's key role in this system, the Secretary of State has become the most influential member of the council outside of members of the royal family. This system results in royal decrees forming the basis of the country's legislation – this is often done in concert and through the Royal Council.
Titles, styles and honors
Aretian royal titles are typically in flux, and vary from ruler to ruler, however the title of "Despot of Aretias" is a constant fixture in the role of titles. Along with that, the titles have grown since the initial grant in 1759, and at times the ruler has preferred the title of "Basileus" to that of Despot, especially from 1830 to 1924 when Aretias was no longer a semi-autonomous appanage of Perateia. The monarch's current title and style is:
- Basileus Basil II, By the Grace of God, Despot of Aretias
Title of the heir apparent
Traditionally, he heir apparent of Aretias lacked any specific formal title aside from that of Prince. It was in 1877 that the heir apparent was often granted the title of Kaisar. In 1930, the heir apparent, then Prince Constantine Kamytzes was conferred the title of Sebastokrator by Perateian Emperor Alexios IX Byzennios. Every successive heir apparent to Aretias has claimed or been granted the title of Sebastokrator by the reigning Perateian emperor.
Succession
Prior to 1932, there was a lack of formal succession laws due to requirements of the Peratene emperor to confer the title of despot on the ruler of Aretias from 1759 until 1830. However, this did not prohibit, and often times still resulted, hereditary succession from father to son.
Aretias has had no female rulers, and on one occasion has passed over a female heir. This has led to questions whether a female heir could ultimately succeed to the throne. The current heir presumptive, Princess Zenobia was officially proclaimed her father's heir on 1 September 2017. Per a 2017 royal decree, Zenobia was granted the title of Sebastokratorissa by her father, and named his heir should she not be displaced by a younger, legitimate brother. Zenobia was displaced by her younger half-brother Heraclius, Crown Prince of Aretias in 2020 following his legitimization.