"Ab Imperatore" - Karlian Legalism

### Context

Karl Astilor, Overlord of the Astilor Fiefdoms and Regent of Justice is by education a scholar. His upbringing left him a deep seated desire to research, theorize and philosophise. Karl was brought up in the prevailing mainstream Vixoist philosophy of the Valrean ruling elite. An elite which sought the further bureaucratisation, to expand and pack their power in a concentrated unitary government. Karl, a legal thinker, one who found solace in legal codes and archives saw inherent flaws with Vixoism, or "The Solen Mandate". Upon the murder of Tyros II, and the ascension of Wilhelm the Usurper a civil war was fought in Valreach. The end of which saw Karl created Regent of Justice, and with it an opportunity to challenge the philosophical order of the realm. Thus, all of his research and work before came together in the work multi-essay series "Ab Imperatore" meaning "Flowing from the Emperor".

### Essay I

#### The Authority of Valreach

For this work to be understood from the beginning, to not be cast out or thrown aside, I must profess that I am an ardent autocrat. I do not believe in a government of limits, nor do I believe in government as an institution. I am an authoritarian, a one who sees the necessity of ruling with strength and determination as opposed to ruling at the whim of others. I rule my own feudal lands with strength, valour and integrity; as such I am well liked and my realm prospers. I rule with the advice of my vassals who in turn do the same. We all however understand a principle of power and authority which the prevailing Solen Mandate agenda does not understand. I argue power is descended from the Emperor, whilst the Solen Mandate prefers to store power in various faucets from which legitimacy can be drawn and centralise these notions into bureaucracy. We are then at odds, and must ask the question where does the authority of the Valrean state come from?

Both sides of this debate would answer the Emperor, but only one side truly means it. The Vixoist claims the Emperor but in truth prefers the expanded power of bureaucracy, hence our Regency and Courtier system alongside state managed guilds, and a distain for any form of bespoke autonomy. The central government handles issues, and handles areas even outside of their usual control exerting an influence only afforded by the bureaucracy, not indicative of their feudal status which has been wholly ignored. The central Valrean feudal tradition has been supplanted for this burgeoning political class of bureaucrats who have frustrated the authority of the Emperor into their own clasps. I say this as a Regent, fully aware that I live within the belly of the beast. One must play the game of course. Regardless, as mentioned before both factions would say the Emperor but only one means it; these are the followers of "Ab Imperatore", or "Flowing from the Emperor".

Authority in Valreach comes from the Emperor, and the Emperor alone. The legitimacy of the Emperor is a different question of theological and philosophical ramifications outside the remit of this piece. The Emperor does not require the complexities of administration as the sinews of their power, as the bureaucrats do. Authority must be, and was vested in a singular temporal being which by virtue of succession is immortal. Such a being can exercise power unrivalled, and can epitomise the nation to its fullest, such a being can fulfil the Valrean tradition. The Solen Mandate instead prioritises a mystical political philosophy around homeland, people, culture and then of course unitary government; this of course has its benefits and there are ideas here I will not deny are beneficial to Valreach. Yet, I still must protest them when it comes to authority. By emphasising the importance of homeland as a value or institution in and of itself, the authority of the nation is further limited. Valreach becomes bound by this ideal of a border rather than allowing the homeland to be the extent of the Emperor's power and control. Where the Emperor has authority there exists Valreach, and to do otherwise runs the risk of creating an over-complex stratified society of those from areas considered homeland and not.

From a sword? From respect? From fear? How does this single being maintain power? This point was addressed before, it is beyond the remit of this piece; however I want to assert another failure of the mandate.