Taraskovyan Empire
| All information supplied in the present table is true de facto. De jure, the Taraskovyan Empire does not exist. | ||||||||||||||||
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| Calculators are evil. |
The term Taraskovyan Empire (Russian: Тарасковская Империя; Taraskath: Imperekh Taraskath) is used on a daily basis by the public and media to name the entirety of the Taraskovyan territorial possessions spread throughout the stars. While one of the main reason for such a use is entirely practical - to avoid confusion between the Grand Duchy and its dependencies, dominions, protectorates and colonies – there is an ever growing pride amongst Taraskovyans that they are not living in some Grand Duchy, but a true and powerful Empire.
The trend has spread beyond the Grand Duchy and its dominions and even into foreign lands. Both foreign media, people and politicians begin to consider the “Taraskovyan Nation” as a true and dangerous Empire. During a discussion with the Taraskovyan Foreign Minister Ithun Khat, Adrian Sterling, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Valinon, coined the phrase: “Taraskovya is not an ordinary Grand Duchy. It is an Empire in denial.” The phrase was immediately caught by the media and put into broad use.
Officially and legally, the Taraskovyan Empire does not exist and has never been proclaimed, there has never been any legal document passed by the Grand Ducal Parliament and accepted by the Taraskovyan people creating the Empire. And, of course, the Taraskovyan leader does not bear the title of Emperor. It is, truly, an Empire in denial.
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An Empire in Denial
Another reason is the Taraskovyan innate disgust to “following the herd”. Indeed, Taraskovyans either lead the herd or walk their own path. Joining in with the ever-growing flow of Empires is not seen by the population as the best thing to do.
However, despite the public denial, the Taraskovyan Empire is well a reality and represents an efficient ad hoc adaptation to changing realities. The current structure of the Taraskovyan Empire can be compared to the colonial empires of old where the metropoly – the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka – dictates its will to its various colonies, dominions and possessions. There is no single Imperial charter or constitution and each possession is tied to the metropoly through a particular relationship, which in turn defines its relationship with the other dominions. As such, the Kingdom of Dreamreach, which exists in a form of personal union with the Grand Duchy, has more prestige than the Sovereign Base Areas, operated by the National Defence Forces.
As mentioned earlier, the central and pivotal role of the metropoly in the Empire is played by the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka. This can be seen in the following facts:
- the Grand Duke of all Taraskovya is also the Head of State of every dependency, but for the Duchy of Zoria, of which he is the suzerain. And he is not a merely symbolic figure, but a ruler who has the power and the authority to act as and when he deems necessary. Whilst not expressing it explicitly, art. 147 par 3 of the Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka extends the Grand Duke’s right to veto any decision made by any authority to the dependencies. Moreover, the de facto Taraskovyan Emperor, serves as a symbol of unity throughout the quite heterogeneous realm, featuring multiple cultures, faiths and mentalities.
- the Grand Ducal law takes precedence over local laws, even if in some cases a certain disparity is tolerated, such as when local customs and mentality diverge greatly from the Taraskovyan ones (namely in ARIA and Tavaroth). But even then, the representatives of the Grand Ducal authorities work towards bringing the local legislation to conformity with the Grand Ducal one;
- although the Grand Ducal Parliament is deciding many issues directly concerning the fate of the dependencies, these latter are not represented in the Parliament and, as such, have no word in the legislative debates. Moreover, the population of some dependent territories does not take part in Grand Ducal referenda. Such is the case of ARIA which decided to have its own citizenship;
- the dependencies have no foreign policy per se and have to abide by that of the Grand Duchy;
- even if some of the dependencies (and even some of the Fiefdoms) maintain their own armed forces, all these are considered as auxiliary reserves for the National Defence Forces, subject to the command of the Grand Duchy and of the Grand Duke.
With all this, one has to remember that the metropoly in no way oppresses its dependencies. In fact, in some cases, such as ARIA, the local population chose itself to “not engage into any active integration with the Grand Duchy”. In some others, the people enjoy greater tax freedoms than in the Grand Duchy due to the absence of Fiefdom taxes.
Dependencies
Kingdom of Dreamreach
The Kingdom of Dreamreach is an entire star system transferred to Grand Duke Mikhail II by the United Star Empire of Valinon, in exchange for a non-aggression agreement between the United Star Empire and the Grand Duchy, which was approved by the Grand Ducal Parliament. Dreamreach proper and the Empire also became part of a free trade zone.
It is the first star system to be officially belonging fully to the Grand Duchy, even if rumours circulate about a certain “Safe Haven”, a system reportedly under control of the Taraskovyan Space Fleet.
Dreamreach was first referred to as a Dominion, until the Grand Duke decided to promote it to a Kingdom. The title of King of Dreamreach, however, is less important in honour than that of Grand Duke of all Taraskovya.
As of now Lagoon, the inhabitable planet of Dreamreach, only has a population of several thousand, mainly military and scientific personnel. The highest local authority is the Viceroy appointed by the King of Dreamreach.
Duchy of Zoria
Following the reunion of Mikhail II and his sister Vethara after years of separation, the Grand Duke decided to purchase a territory on Venus from the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar and gift it to the Archduchess. The necessary funds came from the personal fortune of the Grand Duke and the territory was acquired rapidly in what is seen by many as one of the most eccentric acts of the Grand Duke ever.
Whatever the reasons fof its purchase, today the Duchy is a personal fief of Archduchess Vethara and enjoys a great deal of autonomy. As an exception to the general rule, the Grand Duke is not the Head of State of the Duchy, but has a role of suzerain.
Autonomous Republic of the Island of Atlantic
The Autonomous Republic of the Island of Atlantic (ARIA) was formed following the purchase by the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka of the Allanean State of Atlantic Island. Today, it is a Taraskovyan dependency with extensive autonomy from the Grand Duchy, with the Grand Ducal Parliament having the right to intervene into the affairs of the Autonomous Republic through the Grand Ducal Overseer.
Despite it's official appelation of Republic, the official Head of State is the Monarch of Taraskovya. A state of affairs which sometimes causes confusion amongst some foreigners.
Omeldor-1 Territories
The Grand Duchy extends its sovereignty over a certain amount of domes on the Omeldor-1 Craftworld. These territories, due to their particular status and possible overlapping of Taraskovyan sovereignty with that of the local Sisgardian Fellowship of Nations authority, made their inclusion into the Grand Duchy problematic.
As of now, the Domes of Kshas-Loith, Novy Sad and Svetogor, fully under Taraskovyan administration, and the Dome of Gesagard, under joint administration with Taurenor and the Technocratic Republics, are placed under direct authority of the Grand Duchy.
Sovereign Base Areas
The Sovereign Base Areas of Sukhum, Pitzunda, Gagra, Gudauta and Ochamchira are five special zones in the region of Haven. Whilst they are territories initially intended for military use only, their impressive size turned them into outposts of the Grand Duchy in the region of Haven. The Sovereign Base Areas are each governed by a separate General-Governor, appointed by the Taraskovyan Ministry of Defence.
United Provinces of Tavaroth
The Taraskovyan Federation intervened into the Tavarothian Provinces following rather shady events involving a group of Taraskovyan nobles. Following the restoration of the Grand Ducal Government, the Tavarothian Provinces were declared a protectorate of the Grand Duchy. As of now, the political situation has been largely stabilised by the Taraskovyan National Defence Forces and the further fate of the territories is to be decided in the foreseeable future.
In the meantime, the collective territories are dubbed as United Provinces of Tavaroth, forming a loose federation, with each of the four constituent territories having an administration supervised by the Grand Duchy.
Cimmeria
Cimmeria is a territory on Mars, purchased from Kajal. It's population of about 150million is mainly of Kajali descent, with some Zvarinese minority. Currently, there are plans to integrate it into a new Taraskovyan Martian entity, along with three Fiefdoms: Svarog, Dajdbog and Stribog.
Joint Protectorates
The so called “joint protectorates” are nations over which the Grand Duchy has the role of Protector, yet shares it with one or more other nations. Such territories include Os Sanglants (fellow Protectors: Der Angst and Zepplin Manufacturers Industries) and North-Western Antarctica (fellow Protector: Der Angst).
Corporate Possessions
Some Taraskovyan corporate giants, namely the VerTech Conglomerate and the Independent Mining Conglomerate maintain a presence on various planetoids, asteroids and planets for their activity. It is generally considered that planets and stellar bodies claimed by Taraskovyan corporations are part of the Taraskovyan Empire.
