Halyr

Halyr (lit. "The Highest") is the highest political and military rank in the Maninist world, with strong religious overtones. 
===The Living Halyr===
The title originated as political rank during the Maninist Great Ordeal. The High Ward Risadri bestowed it upon Altaro Javan at the conclusion of the coup that brought Javan to power in Gallat, and transformed the League of Gallasa into the Halyrate of Gallat. Initially it was intended as something of a place-holder - Javan and his cohort were too busy fighting Aitahists to worry about strictly delineating their government, and the title of Halyr was, like so much else, simply the nearest thing they could grab that would do the job. The Halyrate's successful repulse of the Aitahist invasion and subsequent destruction of the Dual Empire imbued the title with a great deal of prestige and so it was maintained during the Restoration period. When Altaro Javan disappeared without a trace at the height of his power, leaving Maninists to look to their own affairs, Javan's fiercely loyal veterans made it clear that as far as they were concerned no one living was fit to succeed the vanished Halyr, and the title fell vacant. Altaro Javan would be the first and, at least so far, last man to actually attain the highest position.
===The Absent Halyr===
The disappearance and rumoured Ascent to Terminus of Javan transformed the title of Halyr. The memory of the Great Ordeal and the Peregrination, the cult of Javan, the efforts of the Faith: all these combined to sanctify the title in the minds of the people. While Synods laid down some ground rules for the selection and powers of any new Halyr, it was no longer in any real sense a political title. It became instead a cultural touchstone, a unifying ideal for the Maninist world, practically unattainable by mortals and only to be filled in the hour of great need. In the minds of the people the Halyr had moved beyond mere politics and become an almost messianic figure. A popular legend across most of Athis held that it would remain vacant until Javan himself returned from Terminus to protect the Faithful once more. The Concourse did not endorse this belief, but neither did they take any steps to eradicate it: for who can say what lies beyond Terminus, and whether any that pass beyond might return?
Category:Titles
Category:Gallat
Category:Maninism
Category:Political Philosophy