Zahrian Republic

The **Zahrian Republic** was a magocratic republican state that emerged after the overthrow of the last Zahrian Emperor, Roshan II in 437 3E. The republic successfully developed and extended the idea of magocracy that originated in the First Zahrian Empire. Sometimes called an "*Open Magocracy*" or "*Indiscreet Magocracy*", the government of the republic gives the right to rule only to mages, who occupied every important office in the realm.

## History

### Early Republic (437 3E - 599 3E)

The Zahrian Republic formed after the Marzabadian Rebellion of 432 3E overthrew the Emperor Roshan II and his court. A quick meeting was set up between the three factions of the revolt in order to establish an emergency government. While original plans included bringing back the old "*Discreet Magocracy*" (meaning that mages would hold power, but wouldn't be the only ones to do so) and crowning Marzabad Varen, self-titled leader of the revolution, as Emperor of Zahria. For some reason, however, the subsequently released Marzabadian Concordat detailed a creation of an "*Open Magocracy*", where the mages, and only mages, would hold power. Some believe that the sorcerers put Marzabad and his allies under some spell, but that has never been proven.

The Marzabadian Concordat created the institution of the Sangra, a council of mages that would decide upon laws and then execute them. The mage rebellion's leader, Ehsan Iravani, became the country's first Chancellor. What followed was a major purge of the nobility that had become associated with the oppression of the Late Second Empire; most aristocratic families were replaced by sorcerer houses and land ownership ceased to be the reason for elitism as it held no connection with political power in the government.

While the Sangra was trying to assume complete control over the country, they were simultaneously attempting to reconquer lands that were lost during the War of Three Emperors and the Marzabadian Rebellion. In 440 3E, Yadhis Aruman Darbandi and Gathaspar Darbandi led a campaign into the recently formed kingdoms of Makanon and Sulolenza. While these wars were fairly successful, the Zahrian Republic would be soon attacked by the ambitious Khayadian king, Gathaspar II from the west. Weakened by wars in Olansa, the Zahrian Republic was forced to concede and lost substantial territory along the river Ashtar and around Lake Tlath.

Yadhi Aruman Darbandi would go on to become the republic's second Chancellor in 444 3E. His rule was marked by a large and significant focus on internal, rather than external politics. Seeing the political system as imperfect, he soon ushered in a number of smaller reforms in order to refine it. Moreover, he institutionalised magic schools in the country and divided them between Sahemic Universities, prestigious academies that didn't differ much from earlier magical universities, and Arcane Schools that taught all willing citizens basics and fundamentals of magic. Such a system created an illusion that anyone could become a mage and thus have a say in the republic's politics. In fact, the Arcane Schools' were too basic to teach anyone anything besides casting a small fireball or conjuring a source of light. They were, however, instrumental in making magic part of the Zahrian popular culture - it became a pervasive and familiar part of everyday lives. The capital of Ban Farbod became a symbol of mankind's mastery over sorcery - the city seemed to literally breathe magic, enhanced in many ways by sahemic inventions and advancements.

Shaped by the work of Zapatushtra 'the Ingenious' and his Perfection philosophy, the early Zahrian magistrates were highly idealistic, believing Zahria and only Zahria to be capable of ushering humanity into the Zapatushtran Perfection - a state where magic has improved reality in it's maximum capacity, thus rendering itself useless. That turned the Zahrian Republic into a highly expansionist, almost imperialistic state that didn't fear war and conflict if it was justified by the magistrates' ideals. The state was also treated as a gigantic sahemic research facility - year 478 3E saw the creation of the Magisterium, a governmental body dedicated solely to scientific research.

## Government

The Zahrian Republic is a magocracy, which means that only the mages and sorcerers of the realm have the ability to rule by holding vital offices. The country's republican government is divided into various bodies, assemblies and magistrates:

* The **Sangra**, having evolved from the historical Sorcerer Conclave (an advisory body that existed during the Zahrian Empire), is the main legislative body that consists of 200 officials (all required to have finished a Sahemic University) that vote on laws and interpret them. The members of the Sangra also elect the First Council and the Chancellor. The Sangra is also responsible for conducting Zahrian diplomacy: they receive foreign dignitaries and elect the republic's own diplomats among themselves. The Sangra's power stems not only from written laws, but also from precedent, esteem and prestige; many magistrates are public personas, influential mages known for their knowledge and skill.
* The **First Council** is an administrative body composed of 20 officials, presided over by the Chancellor. Elected by the Sangra, the magistrates of the First Council are responsible for administrating the country through the laws that the Sangra decrees. The officials of the First Council are divided into the ones exercising military power (with the most important being the two Yadhis) and the ones exercising administrative power (with the most important being the two Adhmans).
	+ The **Chancellor** is the leader of the First Council and the representative leader of the republic.
	+ A **Yadhi** is the leader of the Zahrian Army, the highest ranked military official and the most important commander in the country.
	+ An **Adhman** controls taxation and population census data.
* The **Magisterium** is a body of the most knowledgeable and skilled sorcerers in the realm that is dedicated to sahemic research. Controlled by the government, the Magisterium consists of many members of the Sangra and other influential Zahrian mages.