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Senatus Populusque Aurelia[/i]
The Senate and the People of Aurelia. After M-Day, when the world was born anew, struggle became the new existence. Struggle lead to dominance, dominance to order, and from order came the Aurelian Empire.
The people of Europe had a distinct advantage over the New World; a shared and long history to rely on and guide them into the post-M-Day world. Rome, always a seat of culture and power, took control early in the stages of struggle, ensuring their dominance of the Mediterranean region and beyond.
Founding:
The beginning of this new civilization was beset by war. Forces of the old Italian government, the Holy Roman See, and the new Aurelian Republic front all engaged in a three-way war for control of the Mediterranean - in this way, the powerhouse that was Rome had fallen. A peace accord between the Aurelian Republic and the Vatican brought the conflicts to a close, as the two joined to crush the Italian Remnants. The
Concordian Pacem, signed at the end of the Mediterranean War, established the Aurelian Empire with the Holy Roman See given an integral part in the new government.
Emperor Gaius Romulus (born Guiseppe de Leone) was the first to lead the Aurelian Empire, first as consul to the newly formed Aurelian senate, then as the first Emperor after the signing of the Concordian Pacem. Romulus was responsible for the
Magi Concilo, the Mage's Council that integrates the magic users of the Vatican and the Empire. Romulus served as Emperor until his death, twenty seven years after the Empire's founding.
Expansion:
The Aurelian Empire expanded quickly, mostly through treaty and trade, but occasionally through military conquest. The Aurelian Legions, relying on hard discipline and extensive help from the Magi Concilio, gained a fast and well earned reputation for being a powerful regional force. Occasionally just seeing the banners of some of the more feared Legions will cause an enemy to flee the field.
The goal of the Aurelian Empire has never been unchecked expansion, something that led to the eventual downfall of its predecessor. Securing resources and prosperity for the people of the Empire is the primary goal - however, at least one region is under control of the Aurelians due to military aggression and expansion. The area of the world that was once Turkey, to an extent, is now part of the Aurelian Empire in response to a Vatican led expedition into old Eastern Orthodoxy lands. An attempt to reunite Byzantium and Roman lands was met with disaster, and in response, the Aurelian Empire deployed four Legions to the area. The expansion was only stopped at the order of Emperor Marcus Leonus, Gaius Romulus's son and the second Emperor of Aurelia.
![[Image: zxPwiOQ.jpg]](https://imgur.com/zxPwiOQ.jpg)
The current borders of the Aurelian Empire
Leadership:
- The Senate: The Senate of Aurelia formed soon after M-Day, relying on old Roman cues for their organization. The very name of the new state, Aurelia, came from the last of the great Roman Emperors, Marcus Aurelius, to reflect on the people's goals: strength, wisdom, and duty. Consisting of 200 members from all across the Empire (though rarely are more than 100-150 active at one time), the Senate is the considered the Voluntus Populi, the will of the people. The senate's power comes from it's ability to levy taxes, something that neither the Emperor nor the Vatican can do, as per the Concordian Pacem. The senate meets in the Curia Aurelia, an impressively massive building in the heart of Rome, built after the end of the Mediterranean War. Inscribed in the stone front of the building is a quote of Augustus Caesar, "I built the Senate House... with the power of the state entirely in my hands by universal consent, I extinguished the flames of civil wars, and then relinquished my control, transferring the Republic back to the authority of the Senate and the Roman people."
- The Vatican: The Holy Roman See remains a seat of great power, and is for all intents and purpose a "branch" of government in the Aurelian Empire. After the explosive introduction of magic to the modern world, Pope Alexander IX called all members of the clergy to the Rome for what would become Vatican 3. Many decisions were made regarding the new world and the Church's place in it. The most important being magic was deemed a force of the will of the God, except when corrupted by the forces of evil. Dark rituals and blood magic, for example, long warned against in the Church, now had a very real and tangible face. Further doctrine was adopted as well, such as the souls of non-humans (they exist), the status of vampires, werecreatures, etc (abominations), and many other decisions regarding the new world. Also important was the decisions to expand the Vatican's sovereign territory, which led to the war against the Italian Remnants and the Aurelian Republic and directly to the Concordian Pacem. Today, the Vatican sits as the de facto capital of magic within the Aurelian Empire. Led by Pope Paul VII, the Holy Roman See is the spiritual guide for the Empire, and holds massive sway within the governing bodies.
- The Emperor. Marcus Decimus Cassius: Emperor Cassius, great-great grandson of Emperor Gaius Romulus, holds the throne of Aurelian Emperor. The Emperor is responsible for execution of the senate's (and thus the people's) will, and holds final say in matters of military, state, and policy. The Emperor has often times been at odds with the Senate (matters of taxes and senatorial powers for example) and the Vatican (it was the Emperorwho forcibly stopped the Vatican-led conquest of Byzantium), but there has never been any question as to who holds supreme power within the Empire. At 43 years of age, Cassius has ruled for nearly half his life, and by all accounts, has done so well. The Empire's coffers are full, and relations with the Kingdom of Durendal to the North are the best they have been since the Empire's founding. He has been criticized for being soft on insurrections within the old Byzantine lands, and in his youth was often chided by the Vatican for his philandering ways, but these are small complaints when compared to the prosperity of the Empire.
- The Aurelian Generals: With no organized central army to speak of, save the Emperor's Legion, the Aurelian Legions are led by a corps of experienced generals, each commanding their own Legion. The Legions recruit from all across the Empire, and ranks of Magicae Bellator are gathered from both the Vatican's magi and other, non-affiliated magic users. To keep the Legions from simply becoming private armies, each General is thoroughly vetted by the Aurelian Senate, the Emperor and the Vatican. Anyone who attempts to raise an army without first being appointed Aurelian General by the senate is swiftly crushed. In keeping with ancient tradition, no General may enter the city of Rome at the head of their army, with the sole exception being the Emperor's Legion.
Culture:
Catholic influence has been part of the Aurelian culture since it's inception, but practicing the faith, or even being in good standing with the Church, is not a requirement of citizenship. This means that, while some races such as vampires are not exactly
welcome in the Aurelian Empire, they are not actively hunted either. The Church's influence has sometimes caused people to butt heads - those strong in the faith against those who are not, even in the halls of governance. For example, a debate still occurs in the senate regarding possible expansion of the Empire into the old Holy Lands (at least the parts that are not irradiated or pockets of dangerous magic).
Service and duty is everything to an Aurelian. Serving as a Legionnaire is a source of great pride, both for the individual and the family of the soldier. Service to the Empire is a common motivator for Aurelian citizens, especially the closer one goes to Rome. The highest honor a citizen can achieve is being elected to serve as senator for their province; this also elevates them and their family to a much higher social status, the closest thing Aurelia has to an aristocracy.
Technology is not as beholden in Aurelia as it is in other parts of the world. While not exactly old fashioned, the standard of living is comparable to the pre-M-day world. While this may make for some shortcomings, it is often made up for in other ways - for example, the Legions may not have the best and newest military technology, but they are far better disciplined and often have better strategies than their better equipped foes.
Some people in the far reaches of the Empire consider the Aurelians as conquerors, occupiers of land that is not theirs. This is most obvious in the old Byzantine lands, where Turkish influence still presides. Occasionally an insurrection will flare up, but they are quickly (and brutally) put down by the Legions, and often have no popular support - while the Aurelian standard of living is not advanced, it is far better than what came before them.
Generally, the people of the Aurelian Empire are well educated, even tempered, and good natured. There is a thriving culture of philosophy and academia within the walls of Rome, and there is no denying the ancient history that lends itself to the culture, both from Rome, the Holy See, and the lands that were once Italy, Greece and beyond.
