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The title is used for both males and females. The gole's partner does not hold the title, but is the first in the line of succession to the throne. In some cases, when the spouse takes the throne, due to gole's untimely death, for example, the regent might be referred to as Mel-Gole - "lesser monarch". This is not to lessen the standing of the regent, but to stress the status of the one passed away.
The title is used for both males and females. The gole's partner does not hold the title, but is the first in the line of succession to the throne. In some cases, when the spouse takes the throne, due to gole's untimely death, for example, the regent might be referred to as Mel-Gole - "lesser monarch". This is not to lessen the standing of the regent, but to stress the status of the one passed away.
Not all partners of the gole hold the title of a Mel-Gole, even if the relationship is official: golen do not marry. Instead, a gole would choose a single partner who is to be the Mel-Gole, but that choice is quite rigid and cannot be reversed, unless the Mel-Gole dies.
Not all partners of the gole hold the title of a Mel-Gole, even if the relationship is official: golen do not always marry. Instead, a gole would choose a single partner who is to be the Mel-Gole. That choice is then sealed with an investiture, a formal ceremony that installs the gole's partner as a Mel-Gole. This choice is, thus, quite rigid and cannot be reversed, unless the Mel-Gole dies.
'''Gole Jeenor''' (King General) is a title frequently used by warlords. It is also sometimes used if the ruler has no descendants or if the ruler does not wish for their descendants to inherit the title, or if the system of government does not permit the title to be hereditary for one reason or another. In most cases gole jeenor is the same as gole and carries a cultural note, but in some cases gole jeenor would be considered of a slightly lesser status than a proper gole.
'''Gole Jeenor''' (King General) is a title frequently used by warlords. It is also sometimes used if the ruler has no descendants or if the ruler does not wish for their descendants to inherit the title, or if the system of government does not permit the title to be hereditary for one reason or another. In most cases gole jeenor is the same as gole and carries a cultural note, but in some cases gole jeenor would be considered of a slightly lesser status than a proper gole.
'''Gole-vy-gole''' (king of kings) is an imperial rank used by rulers who preside over several territories and peoples. Some monarchs have used the title to signal an ambition to build an empire and to proclaim their status to be higher than that of other monarchs. In some cases, the usage of the title would provoke a conflict.
'''Gole-vy-golen''' (king of kings) is an imperial rank used by rulers who preside over several territories and peoples. Some monarchs have used the title to signal an ambition to build an empire and to proclaim their status to be higher than that of other monarchs. In some cases, the usage of the title would provoke a conflict.
=== Mōrtoh ===
=== Mōrtoh ===
Members of Mōrtoh hold a special position in the hierarchy in that their authority is considered to be same as that of the gole. To the subjects of the gole, an order from any Mōrtoh is as authoritative as a direct order from the gole themselves. Due to that state of affairs, the Office of Elders is a key element to keeping Mōrtoh in line with the will of the gole. Because of that, it is not uncommon for Mōrtoh elders to wield enormous power and not be afraid to use it, in the name of the future of the royal house.
Members of Mōrtoh hold a special position in the hierarchy in that their authority is considered to be same as that of the gole. To the subjects of the gole, an order from any Mōrtoh is as authoritative as a direct order from the gole themselves. Due to that state of affairs, the Office of Elders is a key element to keeping Mōrtoh in line with the will of the gole. Because of that, it is not uncommon for Mōrtoh elders to wield enormous power and not be afraid to use it, in the name of the future of the royal house.
The spouse and offspring of the gole frequently find themselves living extremely regimented lives, in service of the gole and the image of the royal family.
The role of Mōrtoh has varied between dynasties, eras and countries, and there are many historical examples where Mōrtoh haven't been as powerful. There are also examples when the power of Mōrtoh played against the royal family. A classic example is the court of [[Gole Tōrmoh]], where courtiers were too afraid to confront the Mōrtoh regarding the successor, and when the elderly Gole died, there was still no successor to the throne. The Mōrtoh elders then made the decision to conceal the death of the Gole.
The role of Mōrtoh has varied between dynasties, eras and countries, and there are many historical examples where Mōrtoh haven't been as powerful. There are also examples when the power of Mōrtoh played against the royal family. A classic example is the court of [[Gole Tōrmoh]], where courtiers were too afraid to confront the Mōrtoh regarding the successor, and when the elderly Gole died, there was still no successor to the throne. The Mōrtoh elders then made the decision to conceal the death of the Gole.
A person responsible for running the Offices of Excellency will hold the rank of a Prime, which is a high noble title. Only an oora can hold the title of Prime, and if a gole wishes to promote a commoner to the position, they must first give them an oora title, most commonly an honorary title such as broga.
A person responsible for running the Offices of Excellency will hold the rank of a Prime, which is a high noble title. Only an oora can hold the title of Prime, and if a gole wishes to promote a commoner to the position, they must first give them an oora title, most commonly an honorary title such as broga.
The title of a Grand Prime is given to a senior courtier who runs a whole tier of Offices of Excellency, for instance the Grand Prime of the Cup will have the Primes of the Kitchen, Buttery, Pantry and Cellar report in to him.
The title of a Grand Prime is given to a senior courtier who runs a whole tier of Offices of Excellency, for instance the Grand Prime of the Cup will have the Primes of the Kitchen, Buttery, Pantry and Cellar report in to him/her.
Being close to the gole, primes are some of the most powerful and influential people in the realm and frequently live like golen themselves, having their own mini version of a royal court.
Being close to the gole, primes are some of the most powerful and influential people in the realm and frequently live like golen themselves, having their own mini version of a royal court.
On paper, a Prime is a lifelong, but not a hereditary position. In practice, the position tends to be passed down from one generation to the next. A new gole will sometimes replace several courtiers with those from his Mōrtoh's Office of Elders, although this is usually frowned upon. This was a more common practice in the court of the [[Dolysoh dynasty]], where each new gole tended to replace a lot of the court with new people.
On paper, a Prime is a lifelong, but not a hereditary position. In practice, the position tends to be passed down from one generation to the next. A new gole will sometimes replace several courtiers with those from his Mōrtoh's Office of Elders, although this is usually frowned upon. This was a more common practice in the court of the [[Dolysoh dynasty]], where each new gole tended to replace a lot of the court with new people, which created power struggles and scheming between the court and Mōrtoh elders. In some cases this even resulted in [[Gorōntoh_Kōtele#As_Forod.27s_aide|assassinations]].
When the Prime is dismissed, they are usually given a reward from the gole for their services. Former Primes have a good chance of landing a Grand Veraa title in the Court of Ooron.
When the Prime is dismissed, they are usually provided with a hefty pension for their services. Former Primes have a good chance of landing a Grand Veraa title in the Court of Ooron.
=== Murdoh ===
=== Murdoh ===
The Chamber of Law deals with judicial matters.
The Chamber of Law deals with judicial matters.
The Chamber of Honor is dedicated to foreign affairs, religion and moral laws of the land. In states, developed enough to have the Court of Ooron, negotiators become part of the Chamber of Honor.
The Chamber of Honor is dedicated to foreign affairs, religion and moral laws of the land. In states, developed enough to have the Court of Ooron, [[Hlohnoh|negotiators]] become part of the Chamber of Honor.
== Social mobility ==
== Social mobility ==
* It is the only system of ranks in the history of the [[Continent]] that does not exhibit a gender preference
* It is the only system of ranks in the history of the [[Continent]] that does not exhibit a gender preference
* It introduces a number of independent institutions that are meant to balance each other's power and reduce the incentives to overthrow the monarch
* It introduces a number of independent institutions that are meant to balance each other's power and reduce the incentives to overthrow the monarch
* It provides mechanisms for power succession that allow to at least partially alleviate the uncertainty of who should be the next monarch; it even has a provision of when the ruling family can be challenged
Nevertheless, quite a number of mechanisms in the Hogloh vy Aanua are used to actively reduce social mobility. Specifically, temporary-hereditary titles are a way to reward commoners for services rendered to the monarch, but not induct their family into nobility forever. In fact, ennoblement of commoners requires a "nod" from the Court of Ooron, which is a formal approval from the nobles of the land. The nod is basically always given, but the way it is done may signal the degree to which the Court approves the ennoblement.
Nevertheless, quite a number of mechanisms in the Hogloh vy Aanua are used to actively reduce social mobility. Specifically, temporary-hereditary titles are a way to reward commoners for services rendered to the monarch, but not induct their family into nobility forever. In fact, ennoblement of commoners requires a "nod" from the Court of Ooron, which is a formal approval from the nobles of the land. The nod is basically always given, but the way it is done may signal the degree to which the Court approves the ennoblement.
Typically, a commoner being ennobled into a low ranking noble position like a broga may receive a generous several-generation temporary-hereditary title. But if a commoner attains a high noble position, like that of a prime, the Court would expect the gole to limit the reward to a single-generation title, like broga I.
Typically, a commoner being ennobled into a low ranking noble position like a broga may receive a generous several-generation temporary-hereditary title. But if a commoner attains a high noble position, like that of a prime, the Court would expect the gole to limit the reward to a single-generation title, like broga I.
== Succession ==
Hogloh vy Aanua postulates a hereditary monarchy, but with a twist: there seems to be some recognition of the value of the "state", so in cases when succession by members of the royal family is impossible or too difficult, it deems it preferable to depose the royal family and replace it with another one.
There are two basic concepts that relate to the succession of power: Mōrtoh-noh and Emmoh-noh. Mōrtoh-noh speaks to the continuity of the dynasty's rule: the royal family's rule should not have gaps, just like a rope (Bukk: mōrtoh) should not have gaps. Emmoh-noh is the pool of all potentially eligible for succession.
=== Mōrtoh-noh ===
The continuity is preserved if the successor makes a claim to the throne within 12 hours after the previous monarch's death. This also holds true in cases when the monarch steps down from the throne for other reasons.
The claim is made in front of the previous monarch's court and the elders of Mōrtoh. In the vast majority of cases being first is enough. Very rarely a conflict might happen between several Mōrtohs, for example if gole had a sibling and their Mōrtoh happened to make the claim first. Typically, this claim is discarded if there are no valid reasons as to why gole's own Mōrtoh should not be preferred. However, the claim will stand if no representative of gole's Mortoh is available at the time. An example of this is the ascension of [[Beejetoh Dolysoh]] who was secretly called in to [[Gaskal]] and when her brother was killed in a contest immediately made the claim to the throne. As Mosk-Sopoh had no spouse at the time and his daughter was not there, Beejetoh's claim was judged to be valid.
Any conflicts within a Mōrtoh are to be decided internally and Hogloh vy Aanua provides no procedures for this.
If, however, a successor cannot be produced within the first 12 hours, some of the ooron (lords, nobility) will make the claim. These ooron are specifically chosen by the gole to be in the Emmoh and cannot hold any office in the royal house. They are typically called Friends of the Gole, although this is more of a tranditional name and Hogloh vy Aanua doesn't call them that.
=== Emmoh-noh ===
Emmoh is the pool of successors. It consists of any of the Mōrtoh of the members of the royal house, as well as Friends to the Gole, who are nobles from families especially close to the gole.