The Empire

The Empire (Magonian: Imperium [imperium]; Icarian: ἡγεμονῐ́ᾱ [hēgemonia]) is a country consisting of a continental part, several islands around the Mare Mercatorium and the Icarian Sea, and many overseas territories around the world. Imperium is mostly located in Central Arhet. A federal parliamentary monarchy with Magium as its capital, the country covers a total area of 12,904,490 km2 (4,982,450 sq mi) and shares land borders in Continental Imperium with The Unified Twenty Empires, Patrie, Arpitania, Palmas, Mandagora, Hircania, Garbia, Itano, Amezcoas, Tirandia, Escia and the enclaved microstate of Sanace Sanitimi. With around 1.1 billion inhabitants, The Empire is the most populated country in the world.

Due to its strategic geographic location in Arhet and the inmense size of its territory, The Empire has historically been home to myriad peoples and cultures. In addition to the various ancient peoples dispersed throughout what is the modern-day Imperium, the most predominant being the Phocaean and Icarian peoples who expanded their culture for most of the Empire. The Phocaeans established the Res Publica Phocaeensis, while the Icarians established many poleis. The most relevant peoples before the Phocaeo-Icarian period were the Isopan, Hespedian, Skyran, Caerulean and Viridian. Following the end of the First Phocaeo-Icarian War, the Phocaean and Icarian unified their territories, under the leadership of Magius, to form the Ethereal Empire, which is considered to be the origin of the current Imperium. The empire was led by Magius for more than 500 years, and by his descendants for 200 years.

The Dominate began with Titanius III, who was the first emperor to have no blood connection with Magius. This absolutist system prevailed for about 225 years until the rise of the High Council: an institution composed of religious leaders, regional leaders and magicians, who from the First Electivate had the power to choose the right person to be the emperor and lead the empire with him until its death. The system was reformed to Second Electivate in which it began to gradually incorporate democracy in the government of the Empire. This was done by establishing the Senate: an institution whose members are democratically elected and would have the power to confirm the High Council's election for emperor. Due to the popular clamor for a greater democratization of government, the current system of government began in 1720: the Constitutional monarchy. In this system, the executive branch is made up of the Epistalma and two Consuls Plebeius, who are elected by the Senate. State autonomy was also granted to all provinces of the Empire, and the emperor began to have a ceremonial role, but now he would be chosen from among the members of the Bassus-Cotta Family.

Today, Imperium is considered the world's most culturally, militarily and economically advanced country. Its system of government (Magonian system) is considered one of the most transparent and efficient in the world, especially for state autonomy, separation of powers and regulation of authority. The Empire is a country with great cultural wealth: almost all its cities have preserved their historic areas, which are attractive to tourists from all over the world. Imperium is also the cradle of philosophy, the social sciences and the exact sciences, as well as housing the most important educational centers in the world.

Etymology and terminology
According to the early historian Fabius Musca, the inhabitants of the central imperial zone referred to the primitive empire as Imperium Aetherium, a term from the Proto-Magonian language, using the words imperium (empire) and aetherius, an adjective meaning ("ethereal, celestial, heavenly"). This name gives reference to the first emperor, Magius, who descended from the heavens and therefore his direct descendants were considered "deities of the Ether".From the south often visitors came to the emperors to honor their alliance to the rulers of Magium after the end of the Second Phocaeo-Icarian War. They often referred to the empire as the Imperios Magnos ("great empire" in Proto-Magonian), gradually this term came into usage in the 2nd century.

After the death of Levitatus II, his adoptive son Titanius II ascended the throne, becoming the first emperor who did not descend directly from Magius. The fact of not being a blood descendant of Magius made him considered "an terrestial diety", for this reason the priests considered it offensive towards the gods of the Ether to continue calling the empire as Imperium Aetherium. The decision was made to officially start using the name Imperium Magnum, a modern version of "Imperios Magnos", as originally used by visitors from the south. Some nearby civilizations called the region where Magium was founded Magonia, a word that literally means "land of Magius". This term is mostly used for the territory around and to the west of Magium these days and for the language that originally derives from this area and is currently spoken all over the Empire.

Prehistory and early history
 There are a large number of archaeological sites indicating signs of human settlement since the Stone Age. One of the oldest sites was found south of Colonia Arida, in the Caverna Consa, where a group of paleontologists discovered the skull of Homus Consus, a pre-hominid considered a predecessor of modern humans, confirming the existence of human beings in Imperium for more than 2.3 million years. According to archaeological studies by Antonius Scrofa in the beginning of the 20th century, modern humans lived in near Ialysus, in the republic of Phlegethon approximately 40.000 years ago. Some archaeological sites that evidence the presence of hominids in the Paleolithic-era are found throughout the empire, but the most important are near Aphrodisia in the Greek region. Imperium, due to the large size of its territory, is home to the first advanced civilizations in Arhet, begging with the Magnisianic civilization, the oldest on record, appeared on the Sporades around 3200 BC, the Skyran civilization in Phlegethon (2400 - 1200 BC), the Miletan civilization in Herakleia (2500 - 1700 BC) and then the Hespedian civilization in the mainland, at the west of Egeia (1800 - 1100 BC). These civilizations developed the first forms of Proto-Icarian writing, sculpture and painting, which were the basis for the language and culture of the Icarian civilization. The Hespedian gradually absorbed the Miletan, while the Skyran civilization continued to develop to the point of becoming a rival to the Hespedians, which slowly caused their demise near 1150 BC. However, while these civilizations declined in influence, the unexpected miscegenation between the two gave rise to the contemporary Icarian civilization, considered key in the development of the culture and history of Imperium.

In the western part, important civilizations developed that were the basis for the Phocaean culture, beggining with the Viridian civilization in Virides (2700 - 1500 BC), the Caerulean civilization in the northern part of Caerulea (2000 - 700 BC), the Isopan civilization, an important civilization that developed in the upper reaches of the Osis river, in Osis Superior (3100 - 600 BC) and the Calmean civilization in Phocaea (2500 - 1700 BC). The Caerulean gradually absorbed the Calmean and, after many years of constant conflicts, they finally conquered the Viridian territories. The Caerulean ruled a vast territory that, as the years passed, spread out and led to the rise of other important groups. The instability of the societies that were once part of the Caerulean territory and the little military preparation they had, allowed the rapid rise of the Phocaean civilization, which managed to lead a large territory under a republican system and enough military power to definitively defeat the Isopan in 607 BC, allowing them to obtain great resources offered by the Osis river. During the following years, the Icarian and Phocaean civilizations continued their expansion, conquering most of the coast of Mare Mercatorium.

Phocaeo-Icarian period
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Following the end of the Dark Ages (the period of decline of the Hespedian and Skyran), several Icarian kingdoms and city-states emerged, stretching from the Phlegethon to the Akarnis river, that came to establish port and agricultural colonies to the north and some to the south, of which the most distant is Alkmaeon (founded in 586 BC). These states and their colonies reached great levels of prosperity that resulted in an unprecedented cultural boom, expressed in architecture, theater, science, mathematics and philosophy. These city-states, of which the most prominent are Orei, Herakleia, Ephthera, Sarpedon and Aphrodision, were administered under a democratic system in which the rulers were elected by the citizens. In 774 BC, Democratos instituted the first democratic system of government in Orei, and this system spread rapidly to most of the Icarian region before 550 BC. The Phocaeans successfully invaded Isopu, the capital of the Isopan Empire, in 607 BC and defeated the reigning dynasty. This victory allowed them to control a large territory (even larger than the Caerulean Empire) and to have access to important natural resources that allowed them to have a strong and practically invincible army. The territory of the Phocaeans was administered under a monarchical system for 212 years until 574 BC, when the general Spurius Nautius expelled the last king, Horatius Maximus from the capital, Tosa, and they began to use a republican system as a form of government, where the figure of the Phocaean Senate was created, an institution of a legislative nature that had a fundamental role in the administration of the Res Publica Phocaeensis. The example of this institution was important in the creation of the High Council, and later the Senate. The Phocaeans conquered the central area of ​​the current Imperium, where Magium, the capital, is located. Around 535 BC, under the leadership of the dictator Traianus, the Phocaeans were planning to take over the entire coast of the current Mare Mercatorium. The king of Herakleia, Gregorius Icarianus, was warned by a group of Phocaean deserters of this great plan of conquest of Traianus, which caused the formation of a military alliance, commanded by Gregorius, to defeat the Phocaeans and preserve the integrity of the region, whose southern limit was the Strymus river. In 528 BC, in the midst of an internal civil war, the Phocaeans began a dangerous campaign to conquer Masa, the most important Icarian colony south of the Phlegethon. The Phocaeans were finally defeated by Gregorius Icarianus and a troop of more than 10,000 men in the current city of Crusina, costing the life of General Aurelius Bruttius, an important ally of Traianus in the civil war. The death of Aurelius caused the defeat and subsequent assassination of Traianus in 524 BC, leaving a republic devastated, unstable and vulnerable to foreign military attacks.

Gregorius Icarianus took advantage of the instability of the Phocaeans, now led by Claudius Cittinus, who was focused on rebuilding the Res Publica Phocaeensis and launched a successful 7-year campaign that allowed him to conquer Almura in 516 BC, at a short distance from Oesus, an important Phocaean military and commercial center (south of the current historic center of Magium). After initiating the invasion, he was surprised by a massive group of Phocaean soldiers who defeated and assassinated him in the Battle of Pavotis around January 15, 515 BC. The death of Gregorius saw a massive mobilization of Icarian troops against the Phocaean, unleashing a violent war of more than 12 years that almost caused the destruction of both civilizations. The violent and catastrophic situation caused the goddess Terra (by instruction of Gaia), to send Magius, son of the titans Cronus and Rhea, who had remained hidden from humanity, to fulfill his life goal and prevent the extinction of humanity. The goddess Terra helped Magius to reach Decius Vibulanus, the commander of the army and possibly the succesor of Claudius Cittinus, in October 30, 512 BC. Magius managed to convince him to establish a peace agreement with Gregorius Tosus, son of the murdered Gregorius Icarianus and leader of the Icarian side, with the promise of giving Vopiscus Decius an important position in the great empire that they could found with peace (which he very much desired, as he had plans to overthrow Claudius). In the same way, Magius came to Gregorius Tosus (using the form of the god Hermes) on November 12, 512 BC, telling him that the gods were ordering him to make peace with Decius west of Oesus, so that a divine envoy (Magius) led both civilizations, which would be the fulfillment of a prophecy that he knew. After accepting the peace proposal, both met in the current city of Pax Decii without any soldier, where they ended a war that almost destroyed both civilizations by peaceful means. After having sealed the pact, Magius descended from heaven, from the top of a cloud surrounded by the Greek and Roman gods together, accompanied by the golden eagle (symbol of the military might of the Phocaeans) that wrapped him in a Greek robe (symbol of Icarian culture), and landed in front of them, and they (after seeing such a divine act) made the decision to unite and create a great empire and name him, Magius, as their first emperor.

Ethereal Empire


Magium was built, in honor of Magius, to become the capital of the Ethereal Empire between the Minois and Taburis rivers a few days after the formation of the Empire. The city was initially concentrated around the Altopolis, which was completely fortified to contain inside the palace of Magius and the main buildings. The city developed throughout the existence of the Ethereal Empire, and the city center was moved by Magius to its current location around 100 BC.

Second Phocaeo-Icarian War
Claudius Cittinus was completely against handing over power to Magius and began a violent military campaign to regain power, complete his plan to conquer the Icarian territories and assassinate Decius Vibulanus (whom he described as "the greatest traitor in history") and the "usurper", Magius. The conflict, known as the Second Phocaeo-Icarian War, began with the Battle of Specula which caused many casualties for both sides, including the death of Decius Vibulanus. The stories of the historian Fabius Musca are the main sources of this conflict and of the early years of the Ethereal Empire; although there are also sources written by Epidius Rufus, presenting historical evidence on the side of Cittinus' loyalists. Following the Battle of Specula, Magius appointed Gaius Castus as his new royal advisor and ordered him to destroy Tosa, the capital of Res Publica Phocaeensis. To prevent this mission from being carried out, the Cittinist General Hilarius Quiriacus infiltrated Magium and kidnapped Magius, locking him in Sigma (in current Decia). Following the kidnapping of Magius, Gregorius Tosus ordered all Icarian troops to immediately destroy all Phocaean colonies and invade Tosa. The result of this order was a massive attack that weakened the Cittinists commercially and militarily. Faced with such vulnerability and with Fosa about to be invaded, Claudius Cittinus fled to Tebara, a small agricultural colony in the current Caerulea in May 4, 509 BC. A few days later, on May 9, a Phocaean legion finds Hilarius dead, inside the tent where Magius was supposed to be. After this discovery, a strong storm formed over the entire area and flooded all the agricultural crops of the Phocaean; this storm lasted 12 days and, according to current studies, it could have been a Category 5 hurricane. The storm engulfed the legion accompanying Cittinus in Teia on May 12, 509 BC, causing all soldiers to die except him.

Cittinus was badly injured and fell into the river, drowning. His body was found in Rovera on May 22 of the same year, with the seal of Magius marked on his chest. The day after the body was found, May 23, 509 BC, Tosa was destroyed by Icarian troops.

Ethereal Ages
Following the end of the Second Phocaeo-Icarian War and the defeat of Claudius Cittinus, Magius consolidated his power as the "emperor of the Phocaean and the Icarian" developing an absolutist system of government in which he would be the sole leader of the Empire. In addition to that, he strengthened the defense system of Magium and the main cities of the empire, building walls and increasing the number of troops. After strengthening the imperial defense system, Magius organized a formal ceremony for the founding of Magium (originally located around the Altopolis), which took place on October 12, 486 BC.

Geography
 

Geology, topography and hydrography
 Due to its large size and the layout of its territory around the Mare Mercatorium and in almost the entire central area of ​​Arhet, the Empire has a very diverse topography.

Climate


The climate of Imperium is mostly influenced by the Icarian and Meratorian seas. The enormous size of the country and the remoteness of many areas from these seas results in a large variety of climates. Mountains in the east and west limit the flow of air masses leading to predominance of winds from the north and south. The areas around the Icarian and Meratorian seas have a subtropical climate with mostly rainy seasons in summer.

Administrative divisions


The Empire is divided into 51 republics, 32 kingdoms (governed mostly in a constitutional monarchy system, including Magonia) and 6 archipelagos (Aquilini, Dodecaerides, Pegasi, Pharos, Sporades and Virides) that are typically voting districts which bundle a lot of autonomous islands, but in themselves have limited functions.

Government
The Empire has a parliamentary government based on the Magonian system whose current structure was defined by the Promulgatio Popularis in 1072. The Parliament of the Empire has two houses: an elected Senate and an appointed High Council. The Senate of the Empire - the lower house of the Parliament - is composed of 828 members elected through direct elections which date is defined by the state regulations. The High Council of the Empire - the upper house of the Parliament - is composed of 267 members appointed by the Concilium Principum, Concilium Theurgarum and Concilium Hierophantarum following different selection processes. Each council sends 1 representative for each province-level entity

Due to its supremacy over the other branches of the imperial government, the Parliament has the responsibility to elect the leaders of the Empire. The head of state of the Empire is the emperor, who has a completely honorary and ceremonial function, without executive control over the government; he is elected by the Senate and the High Council from among suitable candidates of the Bassus-Cotta Family to occupy the position for life, with no opportunity to inherit it directly to his descendants (life peer). In the Empire there are two heads of government, both named Consul Plebeius: the Consul Plebeius Primus and Consul Plebeius Segundus, elected by the Senate. Consuls are elected on a three-round election system, where the two most voted candidates are chosen for the position. Both consuls serve for 1 year and they cannot be reelected for three years after their term ends. The Parliament of the Empire has the responsibility of proposing, discussing and passing laws at the imperial level; but given the autonomous nature of each of the country's province-level entities, the legislation process is done in different ways. The Senate is the chamber responsible for proposing laws and measures for approval at the national level, with the prior consent of state legislatures. If the proposal is supported by less than 2/4 (45) of the province-level entities represented in Parliament, the proposal is discussed in the Senate until a consensus is reached for approval. On the contrary, if the proposal has the support of 2/4 of the representative entities, it is sent directly to the High Council for its approval.

The High Council has the power to propose amendments to the laws that reach the chamber (either directly or after consensus), and delays their approval until an evaluation of their amendments is made. If a modification is presented by the High Council, the Senate has the responsibility to discuss them to decide whether they are taken into account or not. Once the modifications are discussed, the law is sent again for approval by the High Council. If no section of the law needs to be changed for common reasons or violations of the Constitution, the High Council generally approves immediately by an absolute majority. Each province-level entity of the Empire has its own state government. Although there are notable differences between each of them, they all have a state senate which generally performs state duties for a state in the same way that the Parliament of the Empire (Senate and High Council) performs national duties at the national level. State legislatures have the responsibility to legislate on matters of state interest, such as the health system, education, labor regulations, electrical transmission, transportation, internal security, transportation, and environmental protection. They also maintain constant communication with the senators in the Senate of the Empire from their entity to present or give their opinion on bills in the Senate of state interest; as well as with other state legislatures to reach consensus with other senators to discuss proposals at the imperial level.

The Magonian system was designed from the Promulgatio Popularis in 1072 and the Promulgatio Democratiae of 1720 with the aim of creating a correct separation of powers that allows state autonomy, the limitation of powers and the representation of the interests of the people in all branches of government. This system has been fundamental in the unity of the Empire for more than 2,000 years, and its roots come from the government fundamentals of the Res Publica Phocaeensis and Icarian Poleis.

Magic


Magic is considered to be a sort of divine energy, emanating fromt the Ether, which is able to permeate the material world as perceived by the human senses. It is considered that the founder of the Empire, Magius, was himself a user of this divine energy.

The usage of magic is bound by certain rules as set by Magius himself, these rules are controlled by the Normatorium in Magium.

Users of magic are generally called Theurgi [Sing: Theurgus] and wizards of higher proficiency are called Magi [Sing: Magus].

The art of magic is studied in various universities around the Empire, the most prominent among these being the Academia Magna (great academy) in the heart of Magium.

Culture
 The Empire has a very rich culture that have spread throughout its 2000 years of existence throughout the world, and long before thanks to the Icarian and Phocaean civilizations (and the ancient civilizations that contributed to its development).

The government of the Empire, from the reign of Magius to the present, has considered culture as an intrinsic element of the Empire that must be preserved to maintain imperial unity. The culture of the Empire has been expressed mainly in the architecture, art and philosophy throughout history. The greatest exponents of these branches of culture worldwide come from the Empire, and their works constitute the most valuable elements of world culture. The paintings "Magnificent Magius" (painted by Dorotheus Arellius) and "Foundation of Magius" (painted by Eupompius) are considered invaluable works of imperial history, and constitute one of the greatest examples of the evolution of global art.

In addition to its important contributions to philosophy, the Empire stands out for its large number of National Heritage Sites and sacred places throughout its territory that make the country the most visited place by tourists in the world. The oldest and most important cities of the Empire (such as Magium, Orei, Balisipo, Pax Decii, Sanctus Augustus and Masa) contain hundreds of important examples of the material culture of the Empire, and were the cradle of many aspects of the national and global immaterial culture.

Philosophy
The philosophical origins of the Empire find their origin in the philosophical traditions that began in the Icarian Poleis in the 7 and 6th century BC. Icarian philosophy was largely influenced by prior knowledge in cosmology and theology and arose from the Icarian Enlightenment, which was a set of advances in scientific thought, explanations on nature, and inquiry into the natural and rational causes behind observable phenomena, that took place in the areas to the east of the Icarian sea.

It is widely believed that basis of the Icarian enlightenment is to be found in the political philosophy of Democratos and his disciples (Polycrates and Protogenes). They created the democratic basis which allowed free thought and enquiry in the later Icarian Poleis.

Democratos (8th century BC) presented the difference between self-sufficiency and "elpekos" (when self-sufficiency becomes harmful to the individual as well as to the people around him/her), as well as his democratic model, presented in the Domini Politiae, which states that a nation can only be ruled by its citizens. In 774 BC, Democratos instituted the first democratic system of government in Orei, putting his ideas to practice.

His disciple Polycrates (8th century BC) considered civil service in government "the highest honor of any citizen" and that it is not remunerative. The ideas of both philosophers were fundamental for the widely-used democratic model and civil service, as well as the role of citizens in government. Protogenes argued that the best constitution is one controlled by a numerous middle class which stands between the rich and the poor. For those who possess the goods of fortune in moderation find it easiest to obey the rule of reason. He also considered moderation one of the greatest goods.

The main philosophers prior to the descent of Magius (500 BC) present a discourse concerned with key areas of philosophical inquiry such as being, the primary fabric of the universe, the structure and function of the human soul and body, and the underlying principles governing perceptible phenomena, human knowledge, and morality.

Pylades (6th century BC) proposed that each individual is self-sufficient, and that it cannot blame anyone but itself for its decisions; in the same way, he proposed that existence itself is a divine design, but that the lifetime is defined by our decisions. After the arrival of Magius a new movement of philosophical ideas started inspired by the ideas of Timanthes and Eumachius in ethics and supported by Magius, who ordered to register all the teachings and store them for posterity, as well as to provide financial support for educational institutions. Timanthes and Eumachius later founded the Umbraculum, the most important historical school of philosophy in Orei. Eumachius is famous for quotes such as: "fly the middle course", "moderation is best", "nothing in excess", referring to that we must moderate our actions and always be careful to not take to the extremes. Timanthes argued that we should never treat others in a way that we do not want to be treated ourselves. This maxim is still referred to as the rule of Timanthes.

Later philosophers such as Nicomachius and Antiphilus focused on the role of humans in society, building the basis for later sociology.

Antiphilus claimed that anyone can learn, but that each person learns at their own pace. He also stipulated the importance of justice and what justice should mean in society. Nicomachius proposed that no human can live outside a society, and if he/she did, he would face serious mental problems due to the lack of human contact.

Other important philosophers in the history of the Empire are Polygnotus, Erichthonius, Timomachus, Kottalos, Nikias, Chalybes, Zeuxis, Pheidias and Neakes had a focus on logic, ethics, knowledge and aesthetics. All their works are kept in the library of the School of Philosophy in the Academia Dignoscentiae of Magium.

During the constitutional monarchy, after 1720, the center of gravity of philosophical thought shifted to the capital Magium. The main philosophers of the contemporary period are Numerianus Vocula, Nereus Opis, Pacuvius and Pyreicus. Ancient philosophers remain important even in modern times.

Sport
The Empire is the birthplace and the place where the Ephtheran Games are held, first recorded in Ephthera, Egeia in 760 BC, and that now takes place in different cities throughout the Empire every 8 years. This competition was initially held as a symbol of peace and friendship between the Icarian Poleis, and there were competitions of athletics, horse racing, boxing, wrestling and pentathlon.

Currently, the Committee of the Ephtheran Games (Ludi Ephtheraci) includes 16 branches in the competition: archery, athletics, boxing, chariot racing, cycling, equestrian jumping, fencing, gladiatorial martial arts, horse racing, pentathlon, swimming, rowing, tennis, triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling.

The most popular sports in Imperium that don't feature on the Ephtheran Games are football, golf, baseball and basketball. It is estimated that 88% of the population actively practices a sport or engages in constant physical activity.