by James Ruhland and Giulio Caroletti

Structure & Composition of the Senate

The Thyatian Senate is formed in this way:

• 27 senators are the direct representatives chosen by the Dominion Rulers (1 each; there are 27 dominions, so there are twenty-seven; a Dominion Ruler with the status of Baron or Count could choose to be his own representative, but only some Mainland rulers do so)


• 11 senators are the Dukes and Arch-Dukes themselves


• 1 senate seat is reserved for the Emperor of Thyatis


• 40 senators are members of the aristocratic families of Thyatis. They have hereditary right to the seat, and if one of them is guilty of accusations that result in the stripping of title, then a member of the family inherits the seat

102 senators are elected, with elections called by the Emperor, but never more than 6 years between them. The elective Senators are chosen by the following formula:

• 1 senator from each Barony


• 2 senators from each County


• 3 senators from each Duchy


• 5 senators from each Grand-Duchy, Exarcate, plus Heldun and Thyatis


• 28 senators from the City of Thyatis (after AC 1016)*


• 15 senators are the pontifices [See James Ruhland's "Thyatian Religion" -Ed.]


• 3 are the Flamines [The chiefs of the Churches of Ixion, Tarastia and Valerias; see "Thyatian Religion" -Ed.]


• A varying number of senators are meritory persons, and will be former generals, diplomats, resigning rulers, etc; these senators are elected by the Senate, receive their position for life, and their seat is personal; thus, at the death of one of them, the Senate elects one more; there cannot be more than 39.

Thus, it is clear that the Senate varies in number from a minimum of 171 to a maximum of 210 (in AC 1016 following the changes in the City of Thyatis' status, this becomes 199 to 238).

If a Senator has access to more than one seat, things vary:

• If the senator is an aristocratic or a dominion ruler, he can resign his seat for the benefit of his heir, and keep the other (for example, an aristocratic cleric with a seat for his family becomes Flamen; he resigns the seat as member of the family to his first son and keeps the Flamen seat; Example 2: the Crown Prince occupies always the seat of the Duke of Thyatis, while the Emperor occupies the seat for the aristocratic family of which he is a member)


• If the Senator is a privateer (has been elected by the Senate as a meritory member, or is a representative of the people), he must renounce one of his seats; if he renounces the representative seat, a by-election is held in the region he represents; if he renounces a meritory member seat, the Senate that selects a new meritory candidate

Note that these events also proceed if a senator loses his seat not by his own accord, but rather because he has been stripped of the title by the Senate due to some major charge (betrayal of the nation, etc.). This is usually the way Emperors fill in more suitable senators if they are especially displeased by the current senators. But it is noteworthy that the Senate can also do this at the expense of the Emperor's loyalists, and thus collect enough votes to dethrone a weak Emperor.

*In 1016, just before the Crown War [See the Mystaran Net Almanac -Ed.], there were 187 senators.

Organization

When in session, the Emperor (as the "humble" Duke of Thyatis) holds the position of Princeps Senatus; if he is not present, the Crown Prince acts as Praesident Pro Tempore of the Senate (and holds the Emperor's vote in proxy). If neither are present, the most senior Senator present functions as Praesident Pro Tempore. These officers function as speakers (Dictators) of the Senate, recognizing individual Senators in debate and scheduling topics of discussion (which gives them a great deal of influence over what is discussed). Note that every Senator has the right to speak on every topic if he or she chooses, and so the Senate officers must be fair in recognizing those who stand to speak. However, the ability to guide the order in which topics are discussed and the order in which Senators are recognized to speak before the body can be critical.

There are no "political parties" in the Thyatian Senate, however there are a number of informal factions:

Factions & Members of the Senate

Optimas

This faction is built up around the aristocratic ancient families and their followers (Clientela) and allies. It is a very large group, comprising 112 senators, but it is roughly divided in four smaller groups, which share different views on the political conduct of the Senate and the Empire.

The four factions are:

Gens Aemilia (24 senators)

Idea: Expansion of Senatorial & Aristocratic Perogatives

Gens Aemilia, led by the related families Paulus and Scaurus, represents the part of the Senatorial aristocracy that always tried to reinforce the Senate's power at the expense of the Emperor. A good example of their politics is the politics of the Emperors of the Scaurus family (59-117). The Gens Aemilia has been particularly influential in the Duchy of Kantrium, where they possess vast estates and are an economic power. The Paulus family is now planning to send their younger members to the Hinterlands, to establish a personal dominion with strong ties to the Senate instead of the Emperor.

Important Senators:
Kritias Paulus (head of the Paulus family), Leana Scaurus (head of the Scaurus family), Duke Maldinius Kerendas, Duke Tarik Ben Nadir

Allies:
Baroness Gilla Blyskarats, Baron Babrak Biazzan

Enemies:
Gens Zendrolian, Gens Aurelia

Gens Aurelia (23 senators)

Idea: Theocratic Influence

This faction is represented by the Vorbian aristocratic family and is heavily influenced by the Church of the Trias. Members of the Gens Aurelia includes Adrian Aurelian, the most influential Pontifex of Thyatis, Werner Van Holze, the lieutenant of the Flamen of Solarios, and several dominion rulers. Their political goal is to support the Emperor through the organs of the Church, but they also use their power to strengthen the Church itself, and try to substitute the Church instead of the Senate in the role of the political counterpart of the Emperor. Many hands-off clerics of the Church do not like the machinations of the Gens Aurelia.

Important Senators:
Kallistos Vorbian (head of Vorbian family), Adrian Aurelian (Pontifex), Arch-Duke Derentarius

Allies:
Thyarius Palykratidius, Werner Van Holze

Enemies:
Republicans, Gens Sergia, Populares, Gens Aemilia, Philosophers

Gens Sergia (22 senators)

Idea: Moderate Conservatives

Both leading families of the Gens Sergia trace their origin back to Sergius Trenzantenbium, cousin of Lucinius, the King of Thyatis during the Struggle for Freedom. Licinian had two sons, Lucinius and Mucius. Mucius was later nicknamed "Scaevola" ("Left-Handed") due to the loss of his right hand. The two sons of Licinian gave their names to the two branches of the family that descended from him. Both families have distinguished themselves as moderate Optimas, far from the excess of the nationalistic aristocratic families. They have supported the Empire but also strongly the rights of the Senate; this equivocating position has resulted in several violent deaths and proscriptions by the hand of usurpers or intransigent senators.

Important Senators:
Sergius Scaevola (head of Scaevola family), Julian Lucinius (head of Lucinius family)

Allies:
Count Geraldan Actavius, Count Baldassarre Patrizio, Ettore Ottaviano, Iulius Scaevola

Enemies: Gens Aurelia, Republicans

Gens Zendrolian (43 senators)

Idea: Support the Imperial Family

The Zendrolian faction takes its name obviously by the first emperor of Thyatis, and the Emperor's counselors, advisers and political allies (Clientela) represent it. Many heavy nationalists and imperialists list themselves in the Zendrolian gens, but so do such people as Demetrion Karagenteropolus.

Important Senators:
Eusebius Torion (Emperor of Thyatis), Demetrion Karagenteropolus, Arch-Duchess Triella Tien Tang, Duke Callastian Retebius

Allies:
Vivianna Romanones, Tredorian, Justin Karameikos, Demetius Vannopolis

Enemies: Republicans, Populares, Gens Aemilia

Copyright (c) 2000, James Ruhland and Giulio Caroletti. All rights reserved. Used by permission.