Imperium

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Imperium is a sovereign state primarily located in Central Arhet. It is a confederation nationally governed as a parliamentary monarchy and consists of 90 first-level entities: 52 republics, 32 kingdoms and 6 archipelagos. Imperium covers an area of 13,847,000 km² (5.3 million square miles), has an estimated total population of 1.1 billion and shares borders with 27 countries. The Hegemonian institutions are seated in 7 cities: Magium (the largest city), Arx Consularis, Orei, Dicaearchus, Balisipo, Merkatos and Lichas; although Magium is still considered as the nation's political hub since the executive branch, the Senate and the emperor are seated there.

Due to its strategic position in Arhet and its large extension, Imperium has been home to myriad civilizations. After thousands of years of human development in the area, the Phocaeans and the Icarians emerged as the predominant civilizations in the modern Imperium, consolidating their power through the Res Publica Phocaeensis (Phocaeans) and the poleis (Icarians). Both civilization disputed the control of the area during years, until the intervention of Magius allowed both civilizations to consolidate their territories as the Ethereal Empire, the earliest stage of the modern Imperium. The Ethereal Empire was governed by Magius itself for over 500 years, and by his direct descendants for 200 years following Magius' ascension to the Ether.

The Dominate started in 221 when Titanius III became the first emperor without a direct bloodline to Magius, and was established as an absolutist system in which the successors were direct or adopted descendants of the emperors. This system was superseded in 452 by the First Electivate, a system in which the emperor was elected by the High Council, composed of the regional, magical and religious leaders of Imperium. This system was reformed as the Second Electivate in 1072, with the creation of the state legislatures (elected by the people), who where responsible for appointing members of the Senate, a national legislative body responsible for formulating national laws and ratifying the election of the emperor by the High Council. Following significant reforms to the system, the Reformatio Rei Publici of 1720 concluded the transition to a national parliamentary monarchy.

Etymology and terminology
According to the early historian Fabius Musca, the early inhabitants referred to the nation as Imperium Aetherium, a term from the Proto-Magonian language, using the words imperium (empire, great power) and aetherius, an adjective meaning ("ethereal, celestial, heavenly"). The term symbolizes the divine origin of Magius, son of Cronus and Rhea, and twin brother of Zeus; and therefore, of all his descendants who were emperors for 200 years after Magius' ascension to Ether. Although over time the country changed its form of government, from the Dominate in 221 to the parliamentary monarchy in 1720, the word "Imperium" has remained throughout all these systems to refer to the country.

On the other hand, the use of the word "aetherius" fell into disuse after the formation of the Dominate in 221, since as of Titanius II, the emperors have no bloodline with Magius (the origin of the divinity on the throne). The Icarian word "ἡγεμονία" (hēgemonía), meaning "authority, rule, political supremacy", was progressively incorporated as an informal term to refer to the country, and eventually became official to refer to the official language, demonym, institutions and national characteristics of Imperium.

Geography
Imperium has a total area of ​​13,658,000 km² (5.2 million square miles). The vast majority of Imperium's territory and population is situated in Central Arhet, including the continental zone (which constitutes about 85% of Imperium's total area) and several islands in the Mare Mercatorium and the Icarian Sea. The rest of the national territory consists of the multiple worldwide exclaves, which are administratively part of the first-level entities of Pharos and Arces Limites.

Climate
Imperium, with its large territory and diverse topography, includes various climatic types. The southern part of the country, mostly desert (excluding southern Duronia and Palmae), has a BWh (desert or arid) and semi-arid climate. The areas around the Mare Mercatorium and its subsidiary water bodies present dry-summer climates (Csa and Csb). The west and mainly the east of the country have humid subtropical climates (Cfa and Cwa), especially around the lush woodlands.

Southern cities like Resafa and Ab Chao present high temperatures during most of the year, establishing annual averages of maximum temperature above 45°. Cities in temperate climate zones such as Topacium, Orei, Merkatos and Sanctus Augustus have annual maximum temperatures close to or below 40°. Cities in climatic transition zones like Magium and Olisipo appear as an intermediate between the previously mentioned temperatures, with maximum annual temperatures close to 45°.

Biodiversity
Imperium is one of the most important countries in Aretia for biodiversity conservation. Most due to it's size and diverse climates it has a large number of species for almost all groups of organisms.

Some famous endemic species are the Mountain Tiger, Pisonian Elephant, Thenian Horse, Gargaphian Spotted Panther, Forest Lynx, Olympian Crocodile and Lake Crocodile.

Nature conservation has long been important in the nation and there are many territories designated as natural reserves: List of nature reserves of Imperium

There are two types of natural reserves: category 1 reserves with minimal human interference, category 2 reserves which can be used for leisure activities. Environmental protection has always been important in Imperium due to belief in natural gods.

Administrative divisions
The administrative divisions of Imperium are the subnational entities within the territory of Imperium, a sovereign country primarily located in Central Arhet. The first-level entities, as provided by the Second Imperial Law, have a self-government, their own constitution and the power to determine its internal organization. According to their government type, which varies between each entity, they are grouped into 52 republics, 32 kingdoms and 6 archipelagos. The archipelagos, in the administrative context of Imperium, are groups of autonomous islands that as a whole have limited functions, but wherein the individual islands have a higher level of autonomy.

For more information: Administrative divisions of Imperium

Magic
Magic is an ubiquitous form of energy, not visible to the human eye, that is considered to be related to the energy that was required for the cosmogony. The knowledge of magic goes back to the first wielder of this power, the first emperor and founder of the empire, Magius Aeternus. Fabius Musca, the classical writer, describes that when Magius was sent to earth by his grandmother Gaia, she gifted him the abiility to access a type of energy that was previously unknown to mankind. Fabius writes "as Prometheus gave mankind fire, it was Gaia who gave mankind, through Magius, access to that part of the divine energy, emanating from the aether, which is able to permeate the material world as perceived by the human senses". Divine energy is considered to be the remnant of the energy as used by the great architect to create the universe and is what the home of the gods, the aether, consists of.

Few humans are born with an ability to tap into the divine energy and can be taught how to harness and use magic. The study of becoming a Theurgus (wizard) is difficult and not many manage to become proficient users. Wizards of higher proficiency, named Magi (sing:Magus), are extremely rare. Youngsters where the ability to use divine energy is detected are brought to Magium to study in the Grand Academy (Academia Magna) in the center of the city. The study of magic is subdivided is various categories wherein specialization is possible.

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