Hogloh vy Aanua
Hogloh vy Aanua /hɑg'lə vi aɪ'nɔɪ/ (Order of the House) is a system of ranks that originated in the State of Asdoh in the middle of the 16th CFR. It has generally persisted over the ages and is continued to be used today, although a number of significant power balancing changes have been introduced in Toor and later in Mantareia. Assemblic monarchy has shifted away from many of the household-oriented titles, instead expanding the administrative ranks and effectively elevating the Uron court to the Assembly.
Hogloh vy Aanua is believed to have either originated or been heavily inspired by a similar system in Dantria. Settlers of the Dawn have exported a similar system to Yammoe, although that system has experienced a more turbulent evolution.
During the Mōroh period, toors frequently used simplified systems of ranks, but ones that were invariably based on the Hogloh of Aanua. Some ranks, especially those of Murdon and the Murdon Circle system, have found its way into states outside of Tarnaria.
Ranks
Gole
Gole /gɑ'lɛ/ (pl. Golen) is a monarch. In the absence of gole-vy-gole (king of kings), gole is the highest royal title of the land.
The title is used for both males and females. The gole's spouse 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.
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.
Mōrtoh
See: Mōrtoh
Mōrtoh is an institution that represents the line of succession. Literal meaning of the word in Bukk is "rope", in the sense of "lineage". Mōrtoh is one of central concepts in a traditional Tarnarian family, but is of special importance in a royal dynasty.
From a strictly bureaucratic standpoint, Mōrtoh is a list of successors. The first in line is always the spouse of the monarch, the Mel-Gole. The next is Mel-Mel-Gole, the eldest child. The rest of the offspring are part of Hrondeer vy Aanua - Children of the House. The Office of Elders is not in line of succession, but is part of Mōrtoh as advisors.
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 - 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 still was no successor to the throne. The Mōrtoh elders then made the decision to conceal the death of the gole.
Murdoh
Main article: Murdoh
Murdoh is the title of governor, designated to a non-elected public official with the power to run a non-sovereign level of government, typically a city or a region of a state. Appointed by the head of state, it is usually the second-powerful rank in the country. Murdon have their own court that has the same structure as that of a Gole, including having their own Goler Poton (the Royal Guard).
Oora
Oora /'ʊrɑː/ (pl. Ooron, Uron), spelled as Uroh before the second revolution and usually translated to "Lord", is a member of a ruler's court and/or trusted circle in a broader sense. Most courtiers of a monarch are Ooran.
An Oora can be appointed to virtually any position. For instance, although a Jeenor is a position usually attained through an army career, any Oora can temporarily or permanently replace Jeenor on the order of a King or a Murdoh. Ooron get appointed to the Assembly in assemblic monarchies. They are the ones chosen as negotiators in a toor.
Oora of land
Oora of land is the oldest Oora rank that dates back to the first revolution and the State of Asdoh, with possible links to Western Dantria. It effectively gives its holder total control of a piece of land, coupled with complete obedience to the Gole. The latter means that a perceived betrayal gives the Gole the power to revoke the title and any control of a piece of land that comes with it.
Interestingly enough, however, the Gole cannot cancel the title itself. This has to do with the Gole Assent, which is the three promises that formalize the justification of Gole's power to his nobles:
- The Promise of Justice
- The Promise of Stability
- The Promise of the True Path
Gole Assent's literal phrasing is that these promises "explain gole's power".
