Imperium

The Empire (Magonian: Imperium) is a sovereign transcontinental country located on the central part of Arhet. Most of its territory is located on the continent, at the south of the Icarian Sea, and it also has a large number of islands in Mare Mercatorium and the Gregorian archipelago in Icarian Sea. It limits to the north with Ligaj Libra Leschinogerade and to the west with Belleland. The empire has an area of around 11.3 million of square kilometers.

The country is a parliamentary monarchy under a regional autonomy system. There are 64 subdivisions in the Empire, these are commonly named provinces but contain different types of subdivisions: Republics, Kingdoms, Archipelagos and proper Provinces. The current emperor is Gregorius IX, whose historical title is emperor-elect, despite the fact that the election system changed in 1720.

The capital of the empire is Magium, a global city and financial center with a metropolitan population of 19.3 million. Other main cities are Sanctus Augustus, Balisipo, Milanum, Orei, Crusina, Olisipo and Burdigala.

Etymology and terminology
According to the early historian Fabius Musca, the inhabitants of the central imperial zone referred to the primitive empire as Imperium Aetherium, a term from the Proto-Magonian language, using the words imperium (empire) and aetherius, an adjective meaning ("ethereal, celestial, heavenly"). This name gives reference to the first emperor, Magius, who descended from the heavens and therefore his direct descendants were considered "deities of the Ether".From the south often visitors came to the emperors to honor their alliance to the rulers of Magium after the end of Second Greco-Roman War. They often referred to the empire as the Imperios Magnos ("great empire" in Proto-Magonian), gradually this term came into usage in the 2nd century.

After the death of Levitatus II, his adoptive son Titanius II ascended the throne, becoming the first emperor who did not descend directly from Magius. The fact of not being a blood descendant of Magius made him considered "an terrestial diety", for this reason the priests considered it offensive towards the gods of the Ether to continue calling the empire as Imperium Aetherium. The decision was made to officially start using the name Imperium Magnum, a modern version of "Imperios Magnos", as originally used by visitors from the south. Some nearby civilizations called the region where Magium was founded Magonia, a word that literally means "land of Magius". This term is mostly used for the territory around and to the west of Magium these days and for the language that originally derives from this area and is currently spoken all over the Empire.

Prehistory and early history
 There are a large number of archaeological sites indicating signs of human settlement since the Stone Age. One of the oldest sites was found south of Colonia Arida, in the Caverna Consa, where a group of paleontologists discovered the skull of Homus Consus, a pre-hominid considered a predecessor of modern humans, confirming the existence of human beings in Imperium for more than 2.3 million years. According to archaeological studies by Antonius Scrofa in the beginning of the 20th century, modern humans lived in near Ialysus, in the republic of Phlegethon approximately 40.000 years ago. Some archaeological sites that evidence the presence of hominids in the Paleolithic-era are found throughout the empire, but the most important are near Aphrodisia in the Greek region. Imperium, due to the large size of its territory, is home to the first advanced civilizations in Arhet, begging with the Magnisianic civilization, the oldest on record, appeared on the Sporades around 3200 BC, the Skyran civilization in Phlegethon (2400 - 1200 BC), the Miletan civilization in Herakleia (2500 - 1700 BC) and then the Hespedian civilization in the mainland, at the west of Egeia (1800 - 1100 BC). These civilizations developed the first forms of Proto-Icarian writing, sculpture and painting, which were the basis for the language and culture of the Icarian civilization. The Hespedian gradually absorbed the Miletan, while the Skyran civilization continued to develop to the point of becoming a rival to the Hespedians, which slowly caused their demise near 1150 BC. However, while these civilizations declined in influence, the unexpected miscegenation between the two gave rise to the contemporary Icarian civilization, considered key in the development of the culture and history of Imperium.

In the western part, important civilizations developed that were the basis for the Phocaean culture, beggining with the Viridian civilization in Virides (2700 - 1500 BC), the Caerulean civilization in the northern part of Caerulea (2000 - 700 BC), the Isopan civilization, an important civilization that developed in the upper reaches of the Osis river, in Osis Superior (3100 - 600 BC) and the Calmean civilization in Phocaea (2500 - 1700 BC). The Caerulean gradually absorbed the Calmean and, after many years of constant conflicts, they finally conquered the Viridian territories. The Caerulean ruled a vast territory that, as the years passed, spread out and led to the rise of other important groups. The instability of the societies that were once part of the Caerulean territory and the little military preparation they had, allowed the rapid rise of the Phocaean civilization, which managed to lead a large territory under a republican system and enough military power to definitively defeat the Isopan in 607 BC, allowing them to obtain great resources offered by the Osis river. During the following years, the Icarian and Phocaean civilizations continued their expansion, conquering most of the coast of Mare Mercatorium.

Phocaeo-Icarian period
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Following the end of the Dark Ages (the period of decline of the Hespedian and Skyran), several Icarian kingdoms and city-states emerged, stretching from the Phlegethon to the Akarnis river, that came to establish port and agricultural colonies to the north and some to the south, of which the most distant is Alkmaeon (founded in 586 BC). These states and their colonies reached great levels of prosperity that resulted in an unprecedented cultural boom, expressed in architecture, theater, science, mathematics and philosophy. These city-states, of which the most prominent are Orei, Herakleia, Ephthera, Sarpedon and Aphrodision, were administered under a democratic system in which the rulers were elected by the citizens. In 774 BC, Democratos instituted the first democratic system of government in Orei, and this system spread rapidly to most of the Icarian region before 550 BC. The Phocaeans successfully invaded Isopu, the capital of the Isopan Empire, in 607 BC and defeated the reigning dynasty. This victory allowed them to control a large territory (even larger than the Caerulean Empire) and to have access to important natural resources that allowed them to have a strong and practically invincible army. The territory of the Phocaeans was administered under a monarchical system for 212 years until 574 BC, when the general Spurius Nautius expelled the last king, Horatius Maximus from the capital, Tosa, and they began to use a republican system as a form of government, where the figure of the Phocaean Senate was created, an institution of a legislative nature that had a fundamental role in the administration of the Res Publica Phocaeensis. The example of this institution was important in the creation of the High Council, and later the Senate. The Phocaeans conquered the central area of ​​the current Imperium, where Magium, the capital, is located. Around 535 BC, under the leadership of the dictator Traianus, the Phocaeans were planning to take over the entire coast of the current Mare Mercatorium. The king of Herakleia, Gregorius Icarianus, was warned by a group of Phocaean deserters of this great plan of conquest of Traianus, which caused the formation of a military alliance, commanded by Gregorius, to defeat the Phocaeans and preserve the integrity of the region, whose southern limit was the Strymus river. In 528 BC, in the midst of an internal civil war, the Phocaeans began a dangerous campaign to conquer Masa, the most important Icarian colony south of the Phlegethon. The Phocaeans were finally defeated by Gregorius Icarianus and a troop of more than 10,000 men in the current city of Crusina, costing the life of General Aurelius Bruttius, an important ally of Traianus in the civil war. The death of Aurelius caused the defeat and subsequent assassination of Traianus in 524 BC, leaving a republic devastated, unstable and vulnerable to foreign military attacks.

Gregorius Icarianus took advantage of the instability of the Phocaeans, now led by Claudius Cittinus, who was focused on rebuilding the Res Publica Phocaeensis and launched a successful 7-year campaign that allowed him to conquer Almura in 516 BC, at a short distance from Oesus, an important Phocaean military and commercial center (south of the current historic center of Magium). After initiating the invasion, he was surprised by a massive group of Phocaean soldiers who defeated and assassinated him in the Battle of Pavotis around January 15, 515 BC. The death of Gregorius saw a massive mobilization of Icarian troops against the Phocaean, unleashing a violent war of more than 12 years that almost caused the destruction of both civilizations. The violent and catastrophic situation caused the goddess Terra (by instruction of Gaia), to send Magius, son of the titans Cronus and Rhea, who had remained hidden from humanity, to fulfill his life goal and prevent the extinction of humanity. The goddess Terra helped Magius to reach Decius Vibulanus, the commander of the army and possibly the succesor of Claudius Cittinus, in October 30, 512 BC. Magius managed to convince him to establish a peace agreement with Gregorius Tosus, son of the murdered Gregorius Icarianus and leader of the Icarian side, with the promise of giving Vopiscus Decius an important position in the great empire that they could found with peace (which he very much desired, as he had plans to overthrow Claudius). In the same way, Magius came to Gregorius Tosus (using the form of the god Hermes) on November 12, 512 BC, telling him that the gods were ordering him to make peace with Decius west of Oesus, so that a divine envoy (Magius) led both civilizations, which would be the fulfillment of a prophecy that he knew. After accepting the peace proposal, both met in the current city of Pax Decii without any soldier, where they ended a war that almost destroyed both civilizations by peaceful means. After having sealed the pact, Magius descended from heaven, from the top of a cloud surrounded by the Greek and Roman gods together, accompanied by the golden eagle (symbol of the military might of the Phocaeans) that wrapped him in a Greek robe (symbol of Icarian culture), and landed in front of them, and they (after seeing such a divine act) made the decision to unite and create a great empire and name him, Magius, as their first emperor.

Location and borders
The vast majority of the Empire's territory and population is situated in Central Arhet, with around xxx islands in the Mare Mercatorium and the Icarian Sea. It is bordered by Ligaj Libra Leschinogerade and Republika Hurmanska in the north, the Icarian Sea in the northwest, the Mare Mercatorium and Belleland in the west. All the borders of the Empire are delineated by natural boundaries and geographic features. The Empire's territory includes many islands, most of them near to the continental zone, while Pharos, Dodekos, Thorikos, Gregoriana and Gregoria are located in the central part of the Icarian Sea. Its whole territory covers around 11.3 million km, including the islands.

Geology, topography and hidrography
Due to its large size and the layout of its territory around the Mare Mercatorium and in almost the entire central area of ​​Arhet, the Empire has a very diverse topography. The Metropolitan Region is mostly flat, because this region is mostly located in the plain between the Minois and Caburis rivers, and places with more than 100 m of altitude are rare in the area. The highest mountains in this area are the Parrona and the Domus Deum (a holy place for the Magonians). The Central Region, which surrounds the Metropolitan Region, has a more diverse geography; with a large number of intermediate-sized mountain ranges (between 500 m and 4000 m), valleys, plains and lakes. The Lacus Hydraeus and the Lacus Magoniensis, that connect with each other thanks to Peisis river, they are fundamental in the fertility, geology and biodiversity of the area.

The Desert Region, due to the characteristics of its climate and geology, has a low population density and little biodiversity. Its soil is mainly flat, where the highest altitudes correspond to rocky massifs, dunes, hills covered with sand and green hills that are mainly towards the northern limit. These formations do not exceed 1000 m. of altitude, and they are key, in many cases, for the formation of oases and semi-permanent bodies of water, which are very common in the area. Its arid climate does not allow rivers to have a permanent course, which causes that important rivers such as the Biratis, Osiris and Styx are intermittent and reduce the flow of water to the most humid areas.

Government
The Empire is a federal constitutional monarchy with strong oligarchic and democratic traditions. The current government system was defined after the Promulgatio Democratiae in 1720, which defined legislative supremacy over the other organs of the state, which ended a process of democratization of the governmental system that lasted more than 700 years. The emperor, the head of state of the Empire, has a mainly representative and honorary role and the position cannot be inherited directly to his descendants. The emperor is chosen from the members of the Bassus-Cotta Family by the Senate of the Empire, in a process in which a suitable candidate from this family is selected to fill the position for life. The current emperor is Gregorius IX since 2018. The position of Consul Plebeius, head of government of the Empire, belongs to the senator who is the leader of the party with the largest number of seats in the Senate of the Empire. The Consul Plebeius has the responsibility of appointing senators to form the Epistalma and leading together with him, each of the members under its own area of ​​work, the executive branch of the government. The emperor has no power over the decisions of the Consul Plebeius or the Epistalma, and has only advisory, fomentative and warning rights. The current Consul Plebeius is Milo Antonius as of December 1, 2018.

The Consul Concilii, the leader of the High Council of the Empire, is considered the second head of government de jure, and it has a mainly corrective and supportive role for the Consul Plebeius. In addition to these functions, he has no authority over the decisions of the Epistalma, unless the Consul Plebeius or the Senate takes his advice into account. This office is usually given to the leader of the Concilium Principum, is granted for life and it's not heritable (life peer). Before the Promulgatio Democratiae, the Consul Concilii was the only head of government of the Empire; it had executive powers in the government, and the responsibility (along with the High Counci l) to elect the emperor. The Parliament of the Empire is a bicameral legislature formed by the Senate (the lower house) and the High Council (the upper house), and it has supremacy over the other organs of the state. The Senate is de facto primary chamber of Parliament and has the power to elect the emperor, dismiss the government; propose, discuss and approve the laws and constitutional regulations of the Empire, and carry out actions for the benefit of the unity of the Empire and the welfare of all citizens. The 624 senators that make it up are elected through direct elections (with different dates according to each state/province) and his term in office depends on the population it represents. The High Council is the upper house of the Parliament, and it has the responsibility of ratifying the laws of the Senate, regulating the activity of the governmental organisms (Epistalma) and preserving the imperial unity, by means of the supervision of the state systems and the application of measures against disloyalty to the government. All powers of the High Council are limited by the Senate; in case of disagreement between the two houses, the Senate has the final say. The High Council is made up of representatives (1 for each state/province) from the Concilium Principum, Concilium Theurgarum and Concilium Hierophantarum. and its leader, the Consul Concilii, is usually the leader of the Concilium Principum and to occupy the position requires the approval of the other two councils. This institution had a greater relevance in the past, until 1720, where it had full responsibilities for the administration of the Empire and also chose the emperors (from 1072 to 1720 with the ratification of the Senate).

Each state/province of the Empire has its own local government, is led differently, and all of them have a state senate (chosen by direct elections). These institutions have the responsibility of responding primarily to the needs of their territory; proposing, discussing and approving regional laws, as well as electoral regulations, and constantly evaluating the performance of national senators, as well as giving them advice and talking about the priorities of the population.