Some more fiddling with the Traveller setting

[gridlore]

(from an email to the Traveller Mailing List)

I've been doing a lot of reading on Italian history, mostly medieval and Renaissance stuff. and it's given me some ideas on how to remake the Imperium to make it a more interesting place.

Let's be honest, Strephon may wear the crown and have the big floaty palace, but the power is in the subsectors. Those leaders are the ones with the ability to react in a timely manner. Due to the limitations of jump speed, the higher you go, the more out of the loop the leadership. So those local dukes are going to be the real rulers of the Imperium. And each one is going to have an agenda. Sector Dukes and Archdukes are going to be the same, each playing a game to get more power for their houses, while keeping the Throne happy.

Next thing I'm going to do is decimate the nobility. Forget them. In my view, most titles are honor titles. They come with a nice estate and income, but no real power. This both cuts the Moot down to a reasonable size, and opens up all sorts of fun. Also, "Duke" is a relative term. The controlling noble of Jewell Subsector is more likely to be an Count/Earl, given the small population of stars he actually controls. Considering the plethora of possible titles, local honors, and possible confusion, I'm suggesting that the real senior noble of a recognized imperial state be titled "Elector." This refers to the noble's power to confirm the heir to the throne. So the ruler of Jewel might be titled as "Lord Sir Bernard VI hault-Wandschutz, OEG, Margrave-Elector of Jewell"

Those administering extremely small areas might be denied their electorship. This can be a good basis for a campaign. The House of Mansakept desires a return to greatness!

Next, I'm getting rid of those pesky planetary barons. In my view, the Imperial role in regards to the planetary governments is both as an embassy and as a representative of both the local noble and the Iridium Throne. The best example I can use is the current office of Governor-General as used in the British Commonwealth. This is not an office you want to entrust to any moron who just happened to be born first! No, the Imperial bureaucracy produces plenty of people who've spent their lives mediating disputes, acting as go-betweens, and working in Imperial Consulates on dozens of worlds.

The title and authority would vary based on population:

• Pop 9+ : Lord Consul. There more to handle interstellar affairs and facilitate trade. Able to veto governmental actions, although this is risky.
  
Pop 5-8 : Lord Governor-General.  Far more involved, the Governor-General is expected to be a vocal advocate for the system. Is usually consulted on any governmental decision that might encroach on Imperial prerogatives. Strong voice and their ability to veto is unquestioned.

Pop 4- : Colonial Legate. No matter what the local government, these officers tend to enjoy considerable influence over the small population. Or they're just ignored. Legates tend to wear several hats, and usually develop several sources of income. A Legate might also be the Starport Director, Customs Officer, and own the local hotel and bar.

All of these positions are taken at the "pleasure of the Emperor", meaning they can be revoked at any time. Some Dukes prefer set terms of office, moving people around frequently to both encourage upward mobility and discourage empire-building. Others, through design of indifference, leave people in place until they die or get caught in a scandal to big to ignore. Governors-General and Consuls can expect at least a knighthood when appointed. Being assigned to an important world will usually come with a Baronage.

As always, feedback is invited.

Comments

[freetrav]

When you get this into a shape you like, please write it up as an alternate setting document and mail it to editor-at-freelancetraveller-dot-com, and I'll happily print it as an "Other Roads".

[nodrog]

The word you want to look up is “nomarch.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomarch

But that article only hints at the complications involved.  As with feudal Europe, a nomarch who built a serious fortification supposedly to defend the realm, could just as easily defy the Pharaoh from it, particularly if the army was out campaigning in foreign lands at the time!  Yet that fortification just might BE needed as advertised, particularly then!

The Pharaoh's solution was to enlist the temples and make rebellion against him a sin against the Gods.  Even if the nomarch didn't buy that his troops would.  Problem was, this put the Pharaoh at the mercy of the temples, who knew they had him by the short hairs.  So back and forth it all went…