Succession System of Olympia

== Succession System of Olympia ==
The succession system of Olympia covers the system by which each Matriarch of Olympia is determined. The system has undergone gradual changes throughout it's history, with it's roots within ancient feudal tradition, and the principles of nobility, and femininity. Initially, the death of the sovereign would allow all reigning female members of the aristocracy to collectively vote on whom should succeed the Matriarch. With the gradual expansion of the aristocracy, and the rule of Minachia, the system contorted, allowing only landed female aristocrats to vote. This excluded Princesses, and extended families, incentivising the nobility to spread out their holdings, which allowed the Matriarchs to consolidate further power as the feudal age came to a close. After the independence war, the House of Ioannakou continued to win elections, due to a stranglehold on land, and enormous prestige. This allowed them to change the system a final time, allowing only members of the Ioannakou Dynasty to retain the seat of power, merely allowing other nobles to vote between each member of the family.
=== 1743-1803 (Ioannakou and Athanouli Dynasties) ===
After the death of Katia I, the absence of a succession system led the four Houses to all nominate their own House Heads. As each house vied for power, tensions between the Houses resulted in name calling and weak threats. However, some Houses decided to force their way to the throne. House Ioannakou formulated an alliance with House Athanouli, promising political favors from the monarchy if they supported Evangelia Ioannakou. House Roussea joined forces with House Vasciadi. House Roussea promised similar favors and confiscated territories to House Vasciadi if they supported Evanthia Roussea. War between the two alliances lasted for an entire year until the alliance between House Roussea and House Vasciadi fractured due to a difference in military strategy. House Ioannakou and House Athanouli routed the split forces at the Athanaian Valley and won the conquest.
After the war, Evangelia Ioannkou, as head of the Ioannakou-Athanouli alliance, did not punish or subjugate members to become members of either House Ioannakou or House Athanouli. In order to win the people's favor, Evangelia called for House Roussea and House Vasciadi to remain intact. Evangelia declared that the land would follow an heir designation succession system, in which the sovereign's death would be followed by a collective vote to determine the next monarch. Furthermore, anyone who gained the backing of a House could be elected monarch. The Houses agreed with this idea and decided to implement this system into tradition.
The first collective vote held in Olympia saw Evangelia Ioannakou become Grand Duchess due to her creation of the system. This system lasted 60 years with 4 different monarchs presiding over Olympia during the open heir designation period.