Holy Predaconian Emperor

Template:Infobox emperorThe Predaconian Emperor is the ruler of the Predaconian Empire during the imperial period. The emperors used a variety of different titles throughout history, till the solidation of the title. Often when a given Predaconian is described as becoming "emperor" or "emperor-king" in English, it reflects his taking of the title Augustus or Caesar, till solidation. Another title often used was imperator, originally a military honorific. Early Emperors also used the title Princeps Civitatis ('first citizen'). Emperors frequently amassed republican titles, notably princeps senatus, consul and pontifex maximus.

The **monarchy of the Imperium**, commonly referred to as the **Imperial monarchy**, **Royal monarchy** or **Imperial throne**, is the constitutional absolute monarchy of the United Empire of Predaconia, and it’s dominions, territories, an dependencies forming the Imperium. The current Predaconian Emperor, who is monarch and head of state is Emperor-King Draconicus, who ascended the throne in 2062. The monarchy comprises the reigning monarch, his or her immediate family and those appointed as such(the Familia Augustus), and the Imperial and Royal *gens*, which has been the **Gens Julii Caesares et Tenecous-Habsburg** since the reunification.

Currently, the Sovereign Titles of the Predaconian Emperor is used as Imperator Caesar Princeps [N.N.] Divi Filius Pius Felix Invictus Augustus. The current sovereign is Emperor-King Draconicus .

## Classical period - Origin of the Titles

Rifarious had no single constitutional office, title or rank exactly equivalent to the English title "Emperor". Predaconians of the early Imperial era used several titles to denote their emperors, and all were associated with the pre-Imperial, Republican era.

### Imperator

The title *imperator* dates back to the Republic, when a victorious commander could be hailed as *imperator* in the field by his troops. The Senate could then award or withhold the extraordinary honour of a triumph; the triumphal commander retained the title until the end of his magistracy. In tradition, the first triumph was that of Romulus, but the first attested recipient of the title *imperator* in a triumphal context is Aemilius Paulus. It was a title held with great pride: Pompey was hailed *imperator* more than once, as was Sulla, but it was Julius Caesar who first used it permanently – according to Dio, this was a singular and excessive form of flattery granted by the Senate, passed to Caesar's adopted heir along with his name and virtually synonymous with it.

Agrippa refused a triumph for his victories under Octavian's command, and this precedent established the rule that the *princeps* should assume both the salutation and title of *imperator*. It seems that from then on Octavian (later the first emperor Augustus) used *imperator* as a first name (*praenomen*): *Imperator Caesar* not *Caesar imperator*. From this the title came to denote the supreme power and was commonly used in that sense. Otho was the first to imitate Augustus, but only with Vespasian did *imperator* (emperor) become the official title by which the ruler of the Empire was known.

### Caesar

For political and personal reasons, Octavian chose to emphasize his relationship with Julius Caesar by styling himself simply "Imperator Caesar" (whereto the Senate added the honorific *Augustus*, "Majestic" or "Venerable"), without any of the other elements of his full name. His successor as emperor, his stepson Tiberius, also bore the name as a matter of course; born Tiberius Claudius Nero, he was adopted by Caesar Augustus, as "Tiberius Julius Caesar". The precedent was set: the Emperor designated his successor by adopting him and giving him the name "Caesar".

The fourth Emperor, Claudius, was the first to assume the name "Caesar" upon accession, without having been adopted by the previous emperor; however, he was at least a member by blood of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, being the maternal great-nephew of Augustus on his mother's side, the nephew of Tiberius, and the uncle of Caligula. Claudius in turn adopted his stepson and grand-nephew Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, giving him the name "Caesar" in the traditional way; his stepson would rule as the Emperor Nero. The first emperor to assume the position and the name simultaneously without any real claim to either was the usurper Servius Sulpicius Galba, who took the imperial throne under the name "Servius Galba Imperator Caesar" following the death of the last of the Julio-Claudians, Nero. Galba helped solidify "Caesar" as the title of the designated heir by giving it to his own adopted heir, Lucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi Licinianus.

Galba's reign did not last long and he was soon deposed by Marcus Otho. Otho did not at first use the title "Caesar" and occasionally used the title "Nero" as emperor, but later adopted the title "Caesar" as well. Otho was then defeated by Aulus Vitellius, who acceded with the name "Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Imperator Augustus". Vitellius did not adopt the cognomen "Caesar" as part of his name and may have intended to replace it with "Germanicus" (he bestowed the name "Germanicus" upon his own son that year).

Nevertheless, Caesar had become such an integral part of the imperial dignity that its place was immediately restored by Titus Flavius Vespasianus ("Vespasian"), whose defeat of Vitellius put an end to the period of instability and began the Flavian dynasty. Vespasian's son, Titus Flavius Vespasianus became "Titus Flavius Caesar Vespasianus".

By this point the status of "Caesar" had been regularised into that of a title given to the Emperor’s eldest and retained by him upon possible accession to the throne (e.g., Marcus Ulpius Traianus became Marcus Cocceius Nerva's designated heir as Caesar Nerva Traianus and acceded as "Imperator Caesar Nerva Traianus Augustus"). After some variation among the earliest emperors, the style of the Emperor-designate on coins was usually *Nobilissimus Caesar* "Most Noble Caesar" (abbreviated to NOB CAES, N CAES etc.), though *Caesar* (CAES) on its own was also used.

### Princeps

**Princeps** (plural: principes) is a Latin word meaning "first in time or order; the first, foremost, chief, the most eminent, distinguished, or noble; the first man, first person". As a title, "princeps" originated in the Rifarian Republic wherein the leading member of the Senate was designated *princeps senatus*. It is primarily associated with the Roman emperors as an unofficial title first adopted by Augustus in 23 BC. Its use in this context continued until the reign of Georgius I. He preferred the title of *dominus*, meaning "lord" or "master". During the reunification of Georgius II & V, the title came into official use once again.

### Divi filius

***Divi filius*** is a Latin phrase meaning "divine son" ("son of a god" or *godson*), and was a title much used by the Emperor Augustus, the grand-nephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar, and all the Emperors there after. This was due to the Emperors being deified after death by the Senate.

### Pius Felix Invictus

To show the divine and powerful associations of the Emperor, they adpot the titulary of “Pius and Blessed” and “Invincible”.

## Enlightened Absolute Power

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The title emphasizes that the emperor rules over "the Imperial people" (the nation) and not over the Imperium (the state). The old formula of "Rex Rifariae" indicated that the king owned Rifarious as a personal possession. The new term indicated a constitutional monarchy. The title was purposely created to preserve the appearance of the Rifarian Republic and to show that after the overthrow of the monarchy, the feudal system was abandoned and an Imperial state was created, with equal citizens as the subjects of their emperor still in place. The title of "August Emperor-King Prince" was supposed to demonstrate that Georgius’, and more retroactively Augustus’ coronation was not a restoration of monarchy, but an introduction of a new political system: the Imperium.

The person of the Emperor-King himself, a sovereign with absolute authority, stands at the center of the Imperial and Royal autocracy. The rights of state power in their entire extent belong to the Emperor. The autocrat further entrusts power to persons and institutions, acting in his name, by his orders, and within the limits laid down for them by law. The purpose of the system is to benefit the entire Imperium. A metaphor existed likening the Imperator to a father, and all of the subjects of the Empire, to his children; this metaphor even is literal in the way that they are Imperial & Royal Crown wards.

The Emperor is an enlightened absolutist: a non-democratic and authoritarian leader who exercises their political power based upon the principles of the Enlightenment. The Enlightened monarch distinguishes himself from ordinary rulers by ruling for their subjects' well-being. Despotism is a legitimate mode of government in dealing with barbarians, provided the end be their improvement.

### Imperial power - *Imperator Caesar Princeps Augustus*

The **Imperator Caesar Princeps Augustus** is the symbol of the indivisible and inseparable Pius Felix Invictus Perpetuus Imperium Predaconum, head of state of all the constituent states, all bowing to the power of the Holy Predaconian Emperor. The Imperium had a complex system of aristocracy and bureaucracy which was derived from earlier Republican systems turning increasingly autocratic and monarchical. At the apex of the pyramid stood the Emperor, sole ruler and divinely ordained, and beneath him a multitude of officials and court functionaries operated the administrative machinery of the state. A key component of state power was the prestige of the Imperial institution and its long antiquity. Ceremony and the granting of both honorific titles and valuable offices is therefore extensive and elaborate.

### Secular power - *Princeps Civitatis*

Princeps Civitatis *(English: First Citizen)* is an official title of the First Senator of Rifarious. He may also be known as the Princeps Senatus *(English: First Senator)*. Held in conjunction to the title, he is Imperator totius Predaconiae, translating and enforcing as both Emperor of All Predaconia and Emperor of All Predacons. The remainder of his titles are granted via the Acta Titulī, which may be perpetually revised by Act of Senate and Proclamation.

The Emperor declares the opening and closure of each Senate session, declares the Senate's agenda, and imposes rules and regulation for the Senate to follow. This power is devolved to all rectores for the legislatures. The Emperor possesses the initiative in all legislative matters. The Emperor ratifies the laws. No law may come into force without His approval.

The Emperor takes charge of all the external relations of the Imperial State. He determines the direction of the Imperium's foreign policy. He meets with foreign ambassadors in His own and the name of the Senate. The Emperor alone declares war, concludes peace, and negotiates treaties with foreign states, with negligible advisory from the other institutions.

### Military power - *Imperator Imperiī*

The Emperor, as Imperator Imperiī *(English: Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Empire)* is the supreme commander of the Imperium's armed forces. Constitutionally, command-in-chief is vested in the sovereign. The Magister Militum is the supreme representative of the Emperor is military matters. The Rectores, are to be authorized through letters patent to act on behalf of the sovereign and consequently also uses the title Commander-in-Chief of the Dominion, Territory, Colony or Province Forces.

### Religious and Judicial power - *Devus* and *Salvator Imperiī*

The Imperator Caesar Princeps Augustus is a god to the the Authentics, Hellenics, Hindus, as well as other pagans; and the Salvator Imperiī to the Christiani, whether Catholici, Orthodoxi, Prōtestāriī, and any other versions, as well as Iudaeī and Musulmanī, and other Monotheistic religions. He thus is, as divine, via *tribunicia potestas*, and by the will of God and Gods, inviobility and the state of being sancrosanct. To speak against Him is Heresy, as well as Blasphemy and Apostasy. To not partake in the Cultus Imperatorius is the same, as a show of fealty to the highest power of the universes.

Being Rex Sacronum while simply a demigod & Salvator Imperiī makes the emperor the chief administrator of religious affairs, granting him the power to conduct all religious ceremonies, consecrate temples and churches, control the Predaconian calendar (adding or removing days as needed), appoint the vestal virgins and some flamens, lead the Collegium Pontificum & Church, and summarize the dogma of the Predaconian religion. He is represented by the Predaconus Prime for both religions, and the Pontifex Maximus (also to be known as the Archon basileus) for the pagans and the Bishop of Predaconia and Rifarious for the Monotheists.

As religion is the source of law, which is by the supremacy of God and Gods, the Emperor is head of the judiciary, represented by the Quaestor Sacrii Palatii. The Emperor's word is law, without whom the universe would crumble without a dual heir to hold both Order and Chaos. The Emperor has the right to edit the constitutions, written and unwritten, at will. Speaking against him is punishable by death. The Emperor is above all law.

The Emperor has the ability to pardon any being for any act, criminal or otherwise. The Emperor may prosecute anyone who interferes with the performance of his duties. He holds the ability to veto any act or proposal by any of His magistrates. He holds Imperium Maius, allowing him to have more imperium, potestas, and auctorias than any being itself, including religious and alien authorities.

## Imperial and Royal constitutional role

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The Imperium's constitution is based on the Palatium parliamentary model, wherein the role of the sovereign is legal, practical, and political. The sovereign is vested with all the powers of state, collectively known as the Imperial and Royal prerogative, leading the populace to be considered subjects of the Crown. Despite the sovereign's power stems from the divine and the monarch is a constitutional absolute one, he or she does not rule alone, as in an true absolute monarchy. Instead, the Crown is regarded as a corporation sole, with the monarch being the centre of a construct in which the power of the whole is shared by multiple institutions of government—the executive]], legislative, and judicial—acting under the sovereign's authority, which is entrusted for exercise by the politicians (the elected and appointed parliamentarians and the ministers of the Crown generally drawn from among them) and the judges. The monarchy has thus been described as the underlying principle of Canada's institutional unity and the monarch as a "guardian of constitutional freedoms" whose "job is to ensure that the political process remains intact and is allowed to function."

### Imperator-ut-Imperium ac Rex-ut-Regni (Emperor as Empire and King as the Kingdoms) - Absolute monarchy

As the living embodiment of the Imperium, Throne, Crown, the sovereign is regarded as the personification of the Imperial (and Commonwealth) state and, as such, must, along with his or his viceregal representatives, "remain strictly neutral in political terms". The body of the reigning sovereign thus holds two distinct personas in constant coexistence: that of a natural-born being and that of the state as accorded to him or his through law; the Imperium, Throne, Crown and the monarch are "conceptually divisible but legally indivisible in all matters, and the office cannot exist without the office-holder, so, even in private, the monarch is always on duty. The terms the state, the Imperium, Throne, Crown in Right of the Imperium, His Imperial and Royal Eminent Apostolic Majesty the Emperor in Right of the Imperium, and similar are all synonymous and the monarch's legal personality may be referred to simply as the Imperium.

As such, the emperor of the Imperium is the employer of all government officials and staff (including the viceroys, judges, members of the Imperial (and Commonwealth) Forces, police officers, and parliamentarians), the guardian of foster children (Crown wards), as well as the owner of all state lands (Imperial Crown land), buildings and equipment (Imperial Crown held property), state owned companies (Imperium, Throne, Crown corporations), and the copyright for all government publications (Imperium, Throne, Crown copyright). This is all in his or his position as sovereign, and not as an individual; all such property is held by the Imperium, Throne, Crown in perpetuity and cannot be sold by the sovereign without the proper advice and consent of his or his ministers.

The monarch is at the apex of the Imperial (and Commonwealth) order of precedence and, as the embodiment of the state, is also the focus of oaths of allegiance, required of many of the aforementioned employees of the Imperium, Throne, Crown, as well as by new citizens, as by the Oath of Citizenship. Allegiance is given in reciprocation to the sovereign's Coronation Oath, whisein he or she promises "to govern the Peoples of ... the Imperium ... according to their respective laws and customs".

### Imperator-super-thronus (Emperor on the Throne) - Patriarchy

*Main article: Consilium Principis*
Consilium Principis is a legislature composing of three Circuli imperii (Imperial Circles), deriving power from the Emperor, formally known as the Imperator-super-Thronus, as well as the Imperial Family and House, which may be represented as the throne of the Imperi, on which the Emperor decides.
The first and foremost Circuli imperii is the Officiis Sublimus (Sublime Offices), comprising *ex officio* members of the Imperial Bureaucracy, as well as Imperial Family and House, including all Cadet Branches. They are the highest tier.
The second Circuli Imperiī is the Officiis Militarius (Military Offices). They are appointed by the Emperor and Magister Militum, who is in turn also appointed by the Emperor. They are necessary due to the state of *bellum perpetuus* of the Imperium.
The second Circuli Imperiī is the Officiis Populus (Popular Offices), also known as the Cabinet. The Emperor-King appoints to the Cabinet persons chosen by the Induperator populi Predaconi; Each minister is responsible for the general administration of at least one government portfolio and heads a corresponding ministry
The Imperator nonetheless retains significant power over legislation. He may authorise the expenditure of money without the Legislature's consent for "ecclesiastical, political [and] defence" purposes, and for any purpose during "emergencies". He was permitted to veto, or even stop debate on, any bill. If he recommends the passage of a bill, but only one chamber co-operated, he could declare the bill passed over the objections of the other chamber(s). The Legislature has no authority over foreign affairs and defence. The Magister Officiorum et Rex Regam is appointed by the Emperor-King.

### Imperator-supra-Coronae (Emperor over Crown) - Executive Council

*Main article: Councillium Imperialis*
The Councillium Imperialis is defined by the constitution as the Emperor-King acting on the advice of his Councillium Imperialis; what is technically known as the Imperator-supra-Corōnae, or sometimes the Rector-supra-Corōnae, referring to the governor as the Emperor-King's stand-in. The Emperor-King is informed by his viceroy of the swearing-in and resignation of prime ministers and other members of the ministry, remains fully briefed through regular communications from his Imperial ministers, and holds audience with them whenever possible. By convention, the content of these communications and meetings remains confidential so as to protect the impartiality of the monarch and his representative.
Despite the construct of constitutional monarchy and responsible government, the ministerial advice tendered is not typically binding, meaning the monarch rules and reigns, but the Parliaments rule "in trust" for the monarch. However, the Prerogative belongs to the Crown and not to any of the ministers and the royal and viceroyal figures may unilaterally use these powers in constitutional situations, thereby allowing the monarch to make sure "that the government conducts itself in compliance with the constitution." Those are also a few duties which must be specifically performed by, or bills that require assent by, the Emperor-King.
The Prerogative also extends to foreign affairs, including the ratification of treaties, alliances, international agreements, and declarations of war, the accreditation of high commissioners and ambassadors and receipt of similar diplomats from foreign states, and the issuance of passports, which remain the sovereign's property. It also includes the creation of dynastic and national honours, though only the latter are established on official ministerial advice.

### Imperator-in-Senatus (Emperor-in-Senate) - Legislative

*Main article: Senate*
All laws in the Imperium are the monarch's and the sovereign is one of the three components of Senate—formally called the Imperator-in-Senātus—but the monarch and viceroy do not participate in the legislative process save for the granting of Imperial Assent, which is necessary for a bill to be enacted as law. Either figure or a delegate may perform this task and the constitution allows the viceroy the option of deferring assent to the sovereign. The governor is further responsible for summoning the Insula Plebīs, while either the viceroy or monarch can prorogue and dissolve the legislature, after which the governor usually calls for a general election, but may alternatively impose autocratic law with permission from the sovereign. The new parliamentary session is marked by either the monarch, governor, or some other representative reading the Speech from the Throne. Members of the Senate must recite the Oath of Allegiance before they may take their seat. Further, the official opposition is traditionally dubbed as His Imperial and Royal Eminent Apostolic Majesty's Loyal Opposition, illustrating that, while its members are opposed to the incumbent government, they remain loyal to the sovereign (as personification of the state and its authority)
The monarch does have the prerogative to impose and collect new taxes without the authorization of an Act of Senate. The consent of the Crown must, however, be obtained before either of the houses of parliament may even debate a bill affecting the sovereign's prerogatives or interests and no act of parliament binds the Emperor-King or his rights unless the act states that it does, which the sovereign may by a word overrule.

### Imperator-in-Sacri Palatium (Emperor-in-Sacred Palace) - Judiciary

*Main article: Judiciaries of the Imperium*
The sovereign is responsible for rendering justice for all her subjects and is thus traditionally deemed the fount of justice and her position in the courts formally dubbed the Imperator-in-Sacri Palatium (Emperor in (the) Sacred Palace). The Arms of His Imperial and Royal Eminent Apostolic Majesty in Right of [the Imperium & Predaconia/Dominion/Territory] are traditionally displayed in courtrooms, as is an effigy of the sovereign.
The monarch does not personally rule in most judicial cases; this function of the prerogative is instead performed in trust and in the Emperor’s name by officers of His Imperial and Royal Eminent Apostolic Majesty's court. Common law holds the notion that the sovereign "can do no wrong": the monarch cannot be prosecuted in his own courts—judged by himself—for criminal offences. Civil lawsuits against the Crown in its public capacity (that is, lawsuits against the Imperator-supra-Corōnāe) are permitted, but lawsuits against the monarch personally are not cognizable. In international cases, as a sovereign and under established principles of international law, the Emperor-King is not subject to suit in foreign courts without his express consent, and doing so would be an act of war.. Within the prerogative is also the granting of immunity from prosecution, mercy, and pardoning offences.