Selucia

Still a stub but in progress -- felixdeus

Imperium Seluciarum or just the Selucian Empire. A sound to be awestruck. A nation of proud people of true believers of the almightiness of the Empire the wish of the gods, creators of Terra. Based on three islands Selucia is rich of culture and beautiful places. Whether you want to relax on one of Selucia's beaches or to climb in the mountains. The normal period of seasons are not part of the Empire's inviroment as it is based closed to the Equator and therefore the sun is shining nearly 330 days every year. But the mountains and inner valleys offer also cool places and the clouds get catched by the mountains' tops to unload their weight, rain. The three islands offer also three different cultures but they are not as different as someone may think. It is more or less the people's behaviour how to deal with situations and how to handle the climate. The capital Auroria is the biggest city in the Empire and seat of the government and senate. It is for sure the foundation of this wonderful and mighty city was 753 before 0. Therefore the Empire is dating each year from the time of the city's foundation. Another major part of the Empire are the three major families of Selucia. Well, the modern time calls them parties but that is just for the foreign countries.All three of them are so old the Selucian people are sure they are of divine origine.

= Senatus Seluciorum = The Selucian Senate is one of the major bodies to govern the Empire. Thou the ministers of the government are on the top of the ladder important laws and treaties can only be ratified by this gremium. Heating debates and also funny little stories are always part of a discussion here. The Selucian Senate was often the place of international meetings but also to celebrate the new year with the Selucian citizens invited by the government. Famous debates between VBS and IPS were held here and the Imperator was seen to be amused while sipping one or two beers. Nethertheless the people of Majatran seem to believe this place is one of the major powers others can't deny to listen to from time to time. The foundation of SOTO began here and spread out throu the whole Majatran continenet. In the rich history of the Selucian Empire important decissions were taken here deciding over war or peace, aid or pressure and a common free trade or single economical arrogance. Its major importance for the Empire is well known in the myths and tailies of Selucia. Every 1st of Janurary the government thanks the gods for their leadeship, inspiration and their wisdom. The citizens of Selucia are sure their Senate is the place of all Selucian wisdom and truely the holder of the gods' wishes.

= Curia Provinia (provincial guildhall)= Each town and city has its own Curia where elected and appointed magistratus are dealing and handling the tasks of daily life in a town. The villages and rural districts are mostly connected with governmental structures of its neighbouring towns and cities. It is a tradition in modern Selucia to be dressed in traditional clothes during their daily work in worship of the Empire's history and culture. Beside this these clothes are pretty breezy which is a big benefit in the Selucian climate. Thou in modern times ballots can be handled electronical the Empire had to went throw several crisis with such a system. Therefore Selucia changed the methode and went back to a more easier and traditional way. Now the voters have to write their favourite candidate on a ticket which will be put into the ballot box. Two members of each party are counting the ballots then. This prevents cheating of any kind. The Selucian citizens are proud to combine modernity and traditional elements in the Empire.

= Prudentia civilis (politics) = Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem ! Remember to retain in difficult situations !

Politics in the Empire is mostly a debate between the three elder families (parties). Differences how to model the society are often the cause of heating debates and not always the involved families are able to find a consensus. From time to time some citizens form another party to take part in the senate but mostly this is just a short time decision. Since some years another family plays a bigger role in Selucia. The political spectrum wavers between center-middle up to center-right. The Empire never saw a strong left wing while some enviromental parties came and gone in the past centuries. This, of course, influenced also the other players on the political stage and today the most of them have their own stance on this topic. The case of passionate debates is more or less the taxation policy as the more industry leaning family clashes with those who try to balance the taxation between the upper hundrets and those who are daytaller or of minor income.

Imperator

 * Imperator Marko Saliyudari 2238 -
 * Imperator Jean-Marie Sawyer Morel 2234 - 2238
 * Imperator Papa Sergo Karnevardokidze 2200 - 2234 ruled for 34 years
 * '''Imperator Ashu'ara 2196 - 2200
 * Imperator Æþelred the Unready' 2192 - 2196
 * Imperator Philipp de Cloe of Assedo 2189 - 2192
 * Imperator Robert Buisson, Esq. 2185 - 2189
 * Imperator Harold H. Kumar 2178 - 2185
 * Imperator Charlie Coveliers 2175 - 2178
 * Imperator Robert Buisson, Esq. 2168 - 2175
 * Imperator Charlie Coveliers 2164 - 2168
 * Imperator Humphrey Dickinson 2159 - 2164
 * Imperator Robert Buisson, Esq. 2156 - 2159
 * Imperator Frank Vanhecke 2152 - 2156
 * Imperator Robert Buisson, Esq. 2149 - 2152
 * Imperator Frank Vanhecke 2145 - 2149
 * Imperator Robert Buisson, Esq. 2137 - 2145
 * Imperator Matthew Barnes 2129 - 2137
 * Imperator Friedrich IV. of Assedo 2121 - 2129
 * Imperator Soso V. Koba III 2113 - 2121
 * Imperator Wilhelm I. of Assedo 2099 - 2113
 * Imperator Charles I 2095 - 2099
 * Imperator Wilhelm I. of Assedo 2091 - 2095
 * Imperator Charles I 2088 - 2091
 * Imperator Nikular II ? - 2088 hereditary Head of State

Senatus
The members of the Selucian Senate are called Senatores. A single members is called Senator. Each members has to run his own election tour for his favorite familia. Therefore it is pretty normal the candidate restricts hisself on one location, mostly a city, town, village or a rural district. His most used platform is the rostrum, a traditional concession when modern communication tools weren't present. But also the todays modern tools are used to contact his voters like TV-shows, blogs, advertising, posters and homepages. An election campaign can be more or less expensive so the most candidates have a comfortable family background. But from time to time Selucian citizens come together to form a new party and are collecting money for their stance. Depending on the results of the last election campaign the Senate pays back up to 35% of the costs. But the salery to be in the Senate is strongly fixed to the double minimum income of a regular Selucian worker. The magistratus (ministers) of the government receive the quadruple of the minimum income. The only exeption is the Imperator. He receives the income of the luxury taxes. This is used to maintain the palaces and governmental ceremonies for visting foreign politcians as well as for the Cohors Praetoria.

Familiae
= Municipia, coloniae et vici (cities, towns and villages)= The Selucian Empire is rich of beautiful villages, towns and cities. Thou today the Empire has 10 major metropolis and lots of midium sized towns and small wonderful villages all its beginning started in the ancient times of Selucia. The Selucian peoples lived in small villages and worked hard on their fields or as fishers on the sea to earn their daily income around 800 before 0. But 753 before 0 something happened which should change their lifes and centuries later also their lifespan. Selucius Maximus returned from one of his daily hunting just to call the circle of the elder together. He suggested to build a town! After intensive debates and discussions Selucius was victorious with his plan and convinced the others to support him. This was the birth of the first Selucian town, Auroria. In the year 753 before 0 Auroria was build up and functioned as the main trading market for the neighbouring destricts and regions in Korgana. Her place near the sea and her port also helped her to became a key stone for the trading with the Shadar Island. Around 685 before 0 the Selucian natives were united under one roof bound together by the same religion and origin. Just 5 years later in worship of Selucius Maximus all people of the three islands began to call themself as Selucian people, till the present days. Since the foundation of Auroria the Selucian people worked hard to improve their architectural skills and they started to build up villages and small towns over the islands and connected them with roads. These skills and the improvements of infrastructure boosted the Selucian society a lot. Faster travelling and trading, better communities and step by step better laws and administrations teached them to go further and further. And now in the present times the Selucian Empire is blessed with these wonderful towns and cities. To give you, my dear reader, a first impression you will find some of our towns and cities described here.

Auroria
Caput Mundi

''Auroria, oh Auroria! My sweet heart and hope of my life. Without you I am lost and with you I am lost in eternal love. Nothing else tasts so sweet. Nothing else is holding me like you in your warm and comfortable coat of divine love. Fortunate those who ever felt your affection and miserable those who felt you anger. The pearl of all towns shining brigth golden in eternity. -- Epistula 1,20 Titus Literatus''

These words describes the feelings of the Selucian citizens best. There is no person who never wants to visit Auroria once in his life. Marble and granite, golden roofs and impressive public buildings, temples of the Selucian religion and churches of other religions, wide market places called forum (fora, pl.), wide streets and avenues, green parks and also silent places to recover, all this is Auroria, Caput Mundi, Caput Selucia. One of the main avenues is the Via Imperatoris dividing Auroria from NE to SW. This avenue has a width of 50 meters with a green strip planted with trees and a sidewalk in its middle, each 100 meters a fontain. It is also the place for parades of all kind be it after a military victory or the new year parade. Important festivities are also be held here like the three religious parades to honor the three main gods. The inhabitants are comming from all over the Empire and strong communities of foreign people form other Majatran coutries are living here too. Auroria is a multicosmos of people bound by the divine might of this city. The inhabitants, nethertheless of their origin, are saying unisonous : Civis Seluciam ego. The biggest market place is the Forum Selucium. It is a combination of religious buildings, stores and market halls as well as cafés, bars, ciggar lounges, bistros, restaurantes and of course ambessies of other nations. Here the inhabitants are living their daily life, their joy and their culture.

Argona
= Religio (religion) = The Selucian Religion has 27 main gods and lots of minor gods and spirits. The gods are pooled in groups of three each.

The first group is containing the three gods for the state: Sol Invictus, Magna Mater and Neptunus and are dealing with the sun, the earth and the water. The second group is containing the three gods for the growth, breeding and health: Ceres, Diana and Aesculapius. The third group is containing the gods of trade, luck and war: Mercurius, Fortuna and Mars Ultor. These three groups represent the first division of important gods for Selucia as they are dealing with the most important matters.

The second division is dealing with the matters of the island. Therefore it can be possible some of them are not represented on another island as much as in their main one. The fourth group is dealing with matters of the isalnd of Korgana and Kal Serathi but is also presented on the other islands. These gods handle matters of wine (and other alcoholic drinks), crops and manufacturers: Bacchus, Iuno and Minerva. The fifth group is dealing with matters of the island of Uleroth. These gods, also more or less represented in other provinces, are handling matters of love and gardens, ethics and sea ports: Venus, Vesta and Portunus. the sixth group deals with matter of Shadar but you can also find them on the other islands. Stock farming and death, Flowers and gardens as well as of the beginning and ending: Dis Pater, Flora and Ianus.

The third division contains the gods for newborn (Ops), fruits and gardens (Pomona), and for woods and mineral springs (Feronia). They are together in the seventh group. Further there are Carna for the homeostasis, Pales for the willow and herders and Consus for the harvest in the eighth groups. In the nineth group are the gods Vertumnus for the moods, Volcanus for the fire, iron and blacksmith and Apollo the patron of the herds, musicians and artists.

= Cultus Humanus (culture) = The Empire's culture is rich of festivities and arts of living. Selucian citizens know three different kinds to marriage. A more traditional and religious one, a traditional family marriage and a marriage by living together for a minimum of one year. All of these three are celebrated with a lot of friends and of course their family.

Ludi Gladiatorum
The Ludi Gladiatorum are one of the biggest games in the Empire. The first game was held 347 before 0 and till today the strict rules didn't change. It can be bloody, it can lead to death but this doesn't happen to often. People are cheering the gladiators and a successful fighter can become very rich and very well know, a real hero. Each provincial capital and also most of the bigger towns have an arena for these games. There are special gladiator schools to train the participants before one of them ever sees the arena. While in ancient times also PoWs were trained to fight in the arena today this is a voluntary issue only. It is always a fight man versus man who choosed one of the four fighter characters once they began their training. But it not easy to gain the merrits and reach the overall goal of success. The way to the Circus Maximus Imperatoris in Auroria is stony and catchy as there is a strict hierarchy to claim the top. You have to become successful, and well known to receive an invitation to the next heigher level of arena. In the normal way a gladiator starts on the regional level somewhere in the Imperial Provinces. After several successful fights and a good reputation he might get an invitation by a next higher Circus to impress the spectators there. Once if he fights in one of the provincial capitals his reputation is high enough to be able to climb the highest level, the Circus Maximus Imperatoris. With each higher level the money for an victory raise and Selucia knows former gladiators who had left the games with a private means of 2.000.000 SEN and more. The highest victory sum ever payed to a victor was during the victory games after Terra War I, 500.000 SEN !

Parks and Gardens
Selucian citizens have a fine flair for gardens and parks. Not only the upper class likes to have a garden in their backyard but also the normal people who are living in their own houses. It is pretty popular to have odoriferous and colourful flowers and shadow spending trees or bushes. Families who want to spend a bit more money often have a fontain in the middle of the garden to impress the visitors. But this is the privet sphere only. In the public the Empire is proud to have not only medium sized gardens for a short work break but also to have wide parks with arangements of trees, flowers, fontains and sculptures of Selucian poets, Imperatores and othe important Selucian members. Some parks are so big you need more then an hour to walk throu them to reach the other site. These big parks are often used for festivities and family holiday trips. One of the biggest parks is the Imperial Park. Its arrangement contains lakes, eucalyptuses, colourful flowerbeds, cypresses, marmoreal statues, the gods' pantheon and the Imperators' mausoleum where all Selucian Imperators are buried. Fontains and little resting places are also part of the arrangement. Last but not least the major families also founded some parks over the past centuries so Auroria has a NPMP-memorial-park, a VBS-park, a BSP-park and IPS-park. But these parks founded by the families are nothing in compare with those parks the families have their strongholds.

= Oeconomia / Quod gignitur e terra (economy and products) = The Selucian Empire is proud to have a strong economy and a wide spectrum of products as well as some important raw materials. This chapter will give you an overview about the Selucian economy, companies and products. The merchant fleet contains 750 ships of all size to transport those goods to our trading partners Terra wide. Thou foreign invostors are not allowed to have a majority in Selucian companies the Empire is proud to annouce an average growth of 2,8 percent every year. As founder of SOTO and the benefit to be one of its key stones lots of trading is going via the Empire to reach the northern nations. So it is quite normal foreign companies and nations founded trading posts and merchant companies in the Empire. With Selucia's permanent sea patrols to keep the sea free of piracy and smugglers all trading partners benefit from the safety the Empire provides.

Marble quarries
Argona and Nabal

Basalt and Granite
= Exercitus Seluciarum (Selucian military)= The Summum Praetorium Seluciarum is the seat of all three branches of the Selucian Military. The Academia Militaria is also include as the Academia Navalis. This body has a long tradition and is well respected. All important decisions dealing with any kind of military situations and solutions as well as aid programs for foreign coutries are worked out here. Also the civilian merchant fleet has a seat here for a better communication in times of need. With 8,000,000,000 SEN the defence budget is well filled. Because of the huge knowledge the best mappers are comming fomr this institution. One of their works you can see in the Selucian Atlas

= Lyrics = Selucia is rich of song lyrics dealing with the deep love to Selucia. Here you can read some of them to understand the soul of this lovely country.

Deep Love My love is stronger now than you’ll ever know and it won’t ever let you go My love is wider than the ocean can be and it’s deeper than the deep blue sea My love goes higher than a mountain can rise and I see it there in your eyes My love gets tougher when the going gets rough and believe me, I’ve got more than enough

Keep tryin’ Selucia, keep holding on There’s a place we belong Where things are good, where love is strong

I’m never ever gonna leave you to cry on your own Never ever gonna not go and pick up the phone I’m never ever gonna let you be chilled to the bone No, no, never No, no, never I’m never ever gonna leave when you’re lost in the storm Never ever gonna not keep you safe where it’s warm I never ever will desert you when your heart is torn No, no, never No, no, never

My love shines brighter than a twinkling star Selucia no matter where you are And my love keeps burning like an eternal flame you can feel it, when I’m calling your name

Keep tryin’ Selucia, keep holding on Lightning There’s a place we belong Where things are good, where love is strong

Terra's Iron Hand With all the clarity of dream The sky so blue, the grass so green The rank and file and the navy blue The deep and strong, the straight and true

The blue line they got the given sign The belts and boots march forward in time The wood and leather the club and shield Swept like a wave across the battlefield

Now with all the clarity of dream The blood so red, the grass so green The gleam of spur on chestnut flank The cavalry did burst upon the ranks

Oh the iron will and iron hand In Terra’s green and pleasant lands No music for the shameful scene That night they said it had even shocked the queen

Well alas we’ve seen it all before Knights in armour, days of yore The same old fears and the same old crimes Terra hasn’t changed since ancient times

= See also =
 * List of countries
 * Terra Nullis