Head of State: Emperor.
Form of Government: Imperial, weak nobility.
State of the Nation in 1393 AUC: Ranimia, also known as the New Selentine Empire, is one of the most powerful Human kingdoms. However, it has a long western border with the Khanates that is difficult to defend, and much of the empire's resources are devoted to holding off raiders and warbands from the west. Two of the eight pontificates are within its borders: Alabanda and Beria.
Races: mostly Humans, many Centaurs, some Dwarves and Kattar.
Religion: Berian True Faith.
Description and History: Ranimia is one of the direct heirs of the Selentine Empire. Its cities, countryside, and political culture are direct continuations of Selentine practices: a land of olive groves, villas, and straight paved roads.
When the Empire collapsed, Lecapenus Galericus, provincial Duke at Tamor (then on the border of civilisation) declared himself Emperor. Although Ranimia grew slowly, it gradually became the largest of the successor states, pushing westwards to the mountains and shielding Asmuly and the Emphidian kingdoms from the Khanates. Ranimia reached its current borders slightly under two hundred years ago. The Orbilian dynasty then sought to expand Ranimia's influence eastwards, adopting the by then almost-forgotten Berian True Faith and attempting to influence Kevish and Peronnian politics. However, increasing pressure on the western border about fifty years ago brought about a change of dynasty to the Appasia family and a renewed focus against the resurgent Khanates.
Lecapenus Galericus, reigned 980-1009 AUC
Lecapenus declares himself emperor in 980 AUC.
Heraclea I Galericus, reigned 1009-1019 AUC
Pupienus Galericus, reigned 1019-1046 AUC
Heraclea II Galericus, reigned 1046-1077 AUC
Gordian I Galericus, reigned 1077-1088 AUC
Celia III Athanades, reigned 1088-1118 AUC
Macrinus I Athanades, reigned 1118-1151 AUC
Heraclea III Athanades, reigned 1151-1180 AUC
The modern western border of Ranimia is established.
Carus Athanades, reigned 1180-1192 AUC
Maximinus Licinixes, reigned 1192-1193 AUC
Didius Julianus, reigned 1193 AUC
Arcadia I Orbilius, reigned 1193-1211 AUC
Arcadia establishes the Berian True Faith as the state religion of Ranimia and conquers Valaria. The modern eastern border of Ranimia is established.
Verena I Orbilius, reigned 1211-1227 AUC
Geta Orbilius, reigned 1227-1238 AUC
Carina Orbilius, reigned 1238-1242 AUC
Valevius I Orbilius, reigned 1242-1265 AUC
Ranimia intervenes on behalf of Jerome Murall, a claimant for the throne of Kevland. Teran intervenes on behalf of the other claimant, Gratian Fultofaude, starting the Kevish Civil War (1251 to 1360 AUC).
Verena II Orbilius, reigned 1265-1278 AUC
Gordian II Orbilius, reigned 1278-1284 AUC
Macrinus II Orbilius, reigned 1284-1299 AUC
Florian Orbilius, reigned 1299-1305 AUC
Decius Orbilius, reigned 1304-1324 AUC
Gordian III Orbilius, reigned 1324 AUC
Arcadia II Orbilius, reigned 1324-1341 AUC
Arcadia III Orbilius, reigned 1341-1345 AUC
Glycerius Orbilius, reigned 1345-1355 AUC
Zenon Appasia, reigned 1355-1358 AUC
Zenon withdraws Ranimia from the Kevish Civil War to concentrate on the increasing pressure on Ranimia's western border.
Heraclea IV Appasia, reigned 1358-1379 AUC
Heraclea reintroduces the Selentine tradition of appointing a co-emperor.
Valevius II Appasia, reigned co-emperor 1372-1379, emperor
1379 to present
Gordian IV Appasia, reigned co-emperor 1393 to present
Verena IV Appasia, reigned co-emperor 1395 to present
There are three distinct groups of high officials in the imperial administration: the Ministers, the Privy Councillors, and the Exarchs. The Ministers are responsible for key aspects of administration and bureaucracy, the Privy Council is a pool of military, diplomatic and administrative talent, and the Exarchs are the (military) governors of large provinces within the empire. At present, there are six Ministers, eight Privy Councillors, and six Exarchs.
The six Ministers have been unchanged for over a century. They are, in order of precedence: Chancellor, Prime Minister, Treasurer, Minister for War, Minister for Taxation, and Minister for Justice. The three "greater" Ministers are often friends or allies of the Emperor.
The Privy Council is by tradition a group of eight people chosen by the emperor as they see fit. Formal meetings between the Emperor and the Privy Council always include the six Ministers as well. Privy Councillors are usually experienced generals, diplomats, and potential Ministers: it is common for talented youths to be made Privy Councillors for a few years before being promoted to a Ministry. Councillors rank below the Ministers in precedence.
Exarchs rank above Councillors in their Exarchate, and below them outside it. There are six Exarchates at present: Valaria, Alabanda, Cibyna, Aezani, Sinigaglia and Beria. While Ranimia was involved in the Kevish Civil War, there was an Exarch for Kevland. Although Exarchs are technically equal in precedence, the eastern three are seen as more prestigious than the western three. The office of Exarch combines military command with civil responsibilities, and it is common for subordinate military officials to be directly appointed by the Emperor.