Politics of Halcyon (Collapse Era)

Here I will explain the in-depth political machine of the city of Halcyon. It's lengthy, but I want to cover my ass!

## Everything On This Page Put Simply:

* Halcyon was a constitutional monarchy.
* Halcyon was split into five social classes: Nobility, Clergy, Ministry, Military, and Peasantry.
	+ People were only allowed to be part of one of the three middle estates (clergy, ministry, military). For example If you were a soldier and wanted to become a priest or a representative, you would have to give up your old power and job.
	+ People in the clergy or military could (and often were) somewhat part of the nobility - if they got given titles and land for good service or by their noble friends.
	+ You could not be a Noble and part of the elected Ministry at the same time!
	+ The Military was formed of the Army, Navy, and City (guards/police).
	+ 50% to 80% of people were in the peasantry. Among the peasants, the intellectuals ('intelligentsia') were emerging.
* Halcyon's government was bicameral (two-chambered).
	+ The Lower House was formed of the Ministry Estate - democratically elected representatives who served five year terms.
	+ The majority party in the Lower House chose a Prime Minister, who then chose their Ministers for things like war, commerce, transport, etc.
	+ The Upper House was chosen by the nobility. It usually contained a lot of nobles, plus some powerful clergyfolk and military leaders, appointed for life!
* The monarch technically had the **divine right of judgement** and could veto or decree anything, but this would often be seen as unpopular or unwise.
* Halcyon had a large poverty gap. The north was more industrial and poor, whilst the south was more affluent and luxurious.

# If You Want the Full, Gory Details:

## On Social Classes: the Five Estates

Everyone in Halcyon was part of one (or more) of the **Five Estates** (*yxelo,* pl. *yxelosi*), which were the social classes. Essentially, you had Peasantry at the bottom, Nobility at the top, and then people could be in ONE of the three Middle Estates, but not more than one. You could be a priest, OR a representative, OR a soldier, but not more than one at a time. It's not as hard as it sounds thank god.

### Nobility

The **Noble Estate** were the hereditary nobility of Halcyon, the figureheads. The King/Queen (Euluska: *reku*), their family, their appointed court, advisors, dukes, lords, and other gentry all fit here. The monarch and their **King's/Queen's Court** had the power to appoint anyone they pleased as a noble - their allies, peasants, the clergy, anyone - which usually came with titles and land. The monarch had final veto over the parliaments and the military, though rarely did they exercise this right.

The Noble Estate was held up by longstanding tradition and could be traced back through bloodlines. Their power was given by the monarch and consolidated through marriages, deals, and deeds. Titles and land were passed down generation after generation. Many, *but not all*, of the nobles sat on the **Halcyian Convocation of the Aristocracy**. It was the Upper House of the legislative chamber (explained later). The monarch and their inner circle of advisors could *not* be on the Upper House.

The Nobility was kept in check by the Ministry estate, who acted as the voice of the people, ensuring the nobility did not become autocratic. The monarch could had the **Right of Ultimate Judgement** - they could veto anything in any of the other estates, including the Ministry - remove a representative, stop a law, make a decree, dissolve the entire Lower House parliament, allow a priest to become a soldier, allow an admiral to become a minister - but this would be rare and usually unpopular.

### Clergy

The **Clerical Estate** consisted of the priests and members of the church (Euluska: *ikahekasi*) of Halcyon. This followed the state religion, Euluskan religious tradition / Maiönism. Priests, reverends and bishops of small and local Halcyian churches would appoint in total twenty-two **cardinals** across the city (Euluska: *kurya*, plural *kuryathin*). From among the 22 cardinals, they would choose one of them to become **Archon of Halcyon**, the head of the state church.

Members of the clergy enjoyed a higher social class than the ministry or military, but not as high as the nobility. The clergy were forbidden from joining the military or the ministry, as they were too important. However, it was not uncommon for some members of the clergy to have one foot in the Noble Estate, if they were given land or titles by the monarch.

### Ministry

The **Ministerial Estate** consisted of democratically elected officials (Euluska: *Solon*, plural *Solonsi*) by the people, to represent the people. It was headed by the **Prime Minister** and their inner circle of **Ministers** of different governmental areas. All members of the Ministry estate sat on the **Halcyian Convocation of the Commoners**, aka the **Lower House**.

The Ministerial Estate was held up by democracy and fair elections, and by representation of the people of Halcyon. It kept the power of the monarchy in check through laws and legislation. The monarch could veto anything in the Ministry - remove a representative, stop a law, make a decree, dissolve the Lower House parliament - but this would be rare and usually unpopular.

Nobles, clergy, and the military could never enter the Ministerial Estate. Only peasants could enter it. However, some Ministers might then leave to join the Nobles if they were rewarded at the end of their tenure with land or titles, or perhaps they might leave to join the army or navy.

### Military

The **Military Estate** was the social class of soldiers and guards. It contained the army and navy, the generals, admirals, commanders, etc. Military service in Halcyon was voluntary during peacetime, with conscription rare and unpopular (except for during the God Wars). Many people joined the Military estate to leave the peasantry and elevate their station. A lot of generals and high-ranking members also had one foot in the Noble Estate, and when they retired they might be given land and titles.

The Military Estate was split into three Divisions.

* The **Army Division** contained all soldiers - cavalry, infantry, generals, cartographers, sappers, engineers. The **Field Marshal** was in charge.
* The **City Division** (Euluska: *Kardia*) contained all home regiments - city guards, police, sheriffs, deputies. The **Sheriff in Chief** was in charge.
* The **Navy Division** contained all sea forces - admirals, captains, sailors, privateers, marines. The **Admiral of the Fleet** was in charge.

It was expressly forbidden for anyone in the military, clergy, or ministry to enter those other social classes. Soldiers could not be ministers or priests unless the monarch vetoed it, which was rare and unpopular. The ministry had minsters of the army, navy, and city, but they themselves had to not be part of the military, only closely linked.

### Peasantry

The Peasant Estate contained everyone else. The commoners, farmers, industrial workers, and literally everyone else - some estimates say between 50% to 80% of the population were the Peasantry. Among the peasants, there were some informal subdivisions - those who worked in industry, science, technology, farming, infrastructure, etc. Amongst the peasant estate, a new class had begun to emerge by the 200s C - the **intelligentsia** (Euluska: *zatoiäsi*), educated scholars and thinkers who critiqued, cultured, and shaped the social and intellectual state of society. The ruling classes saw them as a threat, whilst the Ministerial estate saw them as a blessing.

## On Bicameral Government

Halcyon's government was bicameral - there were two chambers. Legislature and decrees could be enacted as long as the bill had been approved by majority vote in both chambers - but the order did not matter.

The **Lower House**, or to give it its full title, **Halcyian Convocation of the Commoners**, was the Ministry Estate's parliamentary assembly, like the House of Commons. Each district of the city elected a representative (Euluska: *Solon*, plural *Solonsi*). Elections were relatively free and fair, with anyone who was not part of another middle estate permitted to run for the Lower House. Representatives generally belonged to one of numerous political parties. Whichever party gained the most seats appointed a representative to be the **Prime Minister**. The Prime Minister then appointed a council of minsters for various areas.

The **Upper House**, or its full title the **Halcyian Convocation of the Aristocracy**, was the assembly of Nobles as well as high-ranking members of the the Clergy and Military. People were generally appointed for life by the monarch or by hereditary succession.

## On The Dynamics Between Nobility and Ministry

There were tensions and struggles between these two estates. The nobility feared losing their traditional privileges and power to the elected officials. Meanwhile, the Ministers pushed for greater representation and influence, challenging the long-standing authority of the monarchy and the nobles.

## On Economic Disparity and North-South Divide

The north of Halcyon was more industrialised and less rich than the southern shore. There were stark differences even in the architecture, with *Rejuvination* [Hausmann] style houses in the south and grand palaces and churches, whilst the north was full of crowded blocks, slums, and factories. Many ministers from the central and north of the city pushed for reforms to help uplift the industrial areas whilst stopping the south becoming too affluent.

## On Industrialisation and Technology

Given the Industrial Revolutionary style technology level, technology had an impact on daily life. Early motorcars were rare, but not unheard of, and there were coal and crystal powered trains that linked much of Halcyon together. Ministers and nobles alike were aware of the impact of technology on society.

## On Social Conditions

Social conditions varied dramatically. Many peasants lived in poverty, others lived modest or even relatively well-off lives, but there were big differences between this and the much more well off nobility and clergy. They lived in huge safe houses with access to resources at their beck and call. Meanwhile, the ministry and military ranged from peasant to noble living conditions, being shallow classes in terms of permanent social standing.

## On the Monarch's Power and Circle

The monarch was a symbolic and traditional head of state, but they still had the power of royal assent over many things. Their **Ultimate Divine Right** allowed them to veto any law, appoint anyone to any post, dissolve parliament, etc. It was a balance between symbolic power and practical power, which often caused tension with the government. The monarch could also divinely order the military or clergy, but it was not common.

The monarch usually surrounded themselves with an informal council of trusted nobles, which might or might not include trusted members of the clergy and military too. In rare cases, they might try to secretly butter up members of the Ministry by inviting them into a circle, but if the minister was publicly exposed to be in the royal inner circle, they would be ousted from their job. The monarch chose who to place on the Upper House, so they would often try to influence them as best they could!

## On the Ministry Estate

The Ministry estate of government controlled budgets, laws, and multiple other areas I'll detail later. The Prime Minister was the governmental head of Halcyon and in charge of the day-by-day running of the city. They often were encouraged to befriend the monarch and act as a liason between the monarch and the parliament.

The Lower House generally dominated most matters of education, healthcare, welfare, economics, taxes, trade, and resource management. They pushed for progressive reforms that the Upper House resisted.

## On the Military and Clergy

The three main leaders of the Military (Field Marshal, Sheriff in Chief, Admiral of the Fleet) often convened with the Minister for War from the Ministry Estate. The three Military leaders might also befriend the nobility.

Likewise, the Clergy operated quite independently, with the priests choosing the Cardinals who chose the Archon. Internal decrees of the church were handled by the Cardinals, who also liaised with the Minster of Religion on the Lower House. High ranking clergyfolk were often part of the Upper House.