Thrones of Themiclesia
The several thrones of Themiclesia are symbolic furniture used by members of the royal family and high-ranking aristocrats in public ceremonies. In some cases, they metonymically refer to the monarchy, the reigning monarch, or other individuals entitled to sit upon them.
History
Themiclesia and Dayashina are two of the oldest continuous monarchies in the world, and dispute continues, particularly on Internet fora, as to which one is the older. According to legend, Dayashina was founded in 660 BCE by an emperor of divine birth, while Themiclesia unified by treaty more than 800 years later, in 256 CE. The latter has the older monarchy in purely historical terms, since the identities of Dayashinese emperors prior to the 6th century are not considered verifiable by most historians.
As a piece of furniture conceptually and formally distinct, thrones are relatively late to develop in Themiclesia. The furniture most congruent to the functions of a throne was the bed (牀). Monarchs during the Hexarchy sat on highly ornate beds positioned prominently and symbolizing the user's status and authority over the place it occupied, but other aristocrats too used similarly ornate beds for comparable purposes over spaces they dominated. The distinction between a seat and a bed, which were formally similarly platforms raised off the floor, was that a room usually only had one fixed bed, while seats could be added or removed at will. The bed was thus associated with the host, and seats with guests.
The prominent bed as a symbol of power evolved with architecture and lifestyle. Until the 3rd century, rulers resided in large halls that combined the functions of bedchamber, office, dining room, and audience hall; the bed was the centrepiece of this arrangement. The Sk′ên′-ljang palace was rebuilt with a separate bedchamber (寢), leaving the main hall as purely a working space, but the prominent bed was retained in the main hall as relayed by contemporary writing. In the 4th century, in the context of the main hall, the prominent bed was described as the "bed of state" (御牀), as the monarch sat upon it to exercise his powers; in artwork, the bed of state was also painted larger than other seats, emphasizing its distinct status. This change accompanied the redefinition of the main hall as a ceremonial, symbolic space, detached from daily life since the monarch moved to the bedchamber.
The 4th century was a time of rapid expansion of royal power and wealth, brought by dozens of barons of the palatine states to the Patriarch of Tsjinh. His unique status was expressed materially by formal rules regulating and displaying the differences between ranks of nobles. A canopy, a common fixture over aristocratic beds, was declared to be the preserve of rulers in the ceremonialized space of the palace's main hall, whose furniture also became more rigidly regulated. From 323, only patriarchs, who were junior rulers, enjoyed seats under a single canopy at the main hall, and the Patriarch of Tsjinh, as high ruler, was entitled to the state bed under two canopies. No other officer was permitted to sit under a canopy or bed.
It is believed that the fundamentals of the Themiclesian throne (the genearl shape, double canopy, and positioning) were established by the end of the 4th century or early in the 5th, roughly at the same time the classical understanding of the monarchy gained widespread and stable recognition across the Themiclesian heartland. There were more than one throne at the turn of the 5th century, as the Tsjinh patriarch possessed more than one hall. At the same time, the distinction between the bed of state and other beds symbolizing authority also became more visible outside of the ceremonial halls: other members of the royal family and aristocrats were forbidden from using double canopies over their beds, thus firmly establishing the character of the throne.
Form
The form of the Themiclesian throne encompasses not only its physical characteristics like material and shape, but also decoration, its own positioning within a confined space, and that relative to other pieces of furniture.
Like Mengheans, Themiclesian aristocrats expressed relative position through seating order. As the east was associated with the host, and the west with guests, the bed was usually placed on the east side of the hall, facing west; however, the bed of state was placed in reverse orientation, on the west, facing east, even though its occupant was the host. The position of honour, west, was usually given to guests, but as the bed of state symbolized the highest dignity throughout the land (there cannot be a guest of higher dignity), it always occupied the position of honour. The throne almost always had seats laid out either next to or directly opposite it, for visiting patriarchs. Generally, in a room with a throne, there are no seats laid out with backs facing the throne, though there are exceptions.
Physically, the thrones in history have varied in design quite visibly. Very early thrones were similar to beds, consisting of a simple platform supported by legs around six inches tall. Subsequently, the platform
Current beds of state and similar beds
Ladh-gjek Hall
The throne in the Ladh-gjek Hall dates to the 1100s. It measures 4 by 3 metres and is surfaced with soft rush. The frame is spruce, secured by joinery; caps on woodwork are gold-gilt silver. It has a thick red laquer coat that has been re-applied several times. The inner canopy is suspended by means of a wooden frame resembling that of a miniature house, and the canopy is brocade embroidered with gold thread. The outer canopy is similar in shape but has a different design. The throne is further enclosed by a velvet baldachin suspended from the ceiling. The emperor sits upon this throne to send and receive officially diplomatic missions.
Kaw-men Hall
The throne in the Kaw-men Hall, the seat of the House of Lords, dates to 1384. It measures 4 by 2.65 metres and is formally similar to the throne in Ladh-gjek Hall. The installation of this throne was historically recorded as dedicated to the empress-regent , who lived in the hall at that time. During the Themiclesian Republic, the throne was used by officials who sat in the hall. When the monarchy was restored, it was only infrequently used. The emperor sits upon this throne during the state opening of parliament.
Notable incidents
- The throne in the Ladh-gjek Hall was depicted in a very famous photograph taken during the Dayashinese occupation of Sk′ên′-ljang Palace in 1940. A Dayashinese paratrooper had himself photographed sitting in a chair placed on the bed of state. The photograph was shocking to many Themiclesians, but others considered it ridiculous, because the paratrooper did not realize the bed was meant to be sat upon and used it as a dais instead.