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Master of Tongues: Difference between revisions
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The Master of Tongues began as a posting that operated in very austere conditions, the foreign background of the title holders put them at a disadvantage at court. Attar al-Badri reputedly was assigned a small, dinky cell with a straw bed and was given five candles per month, one for each week and an extra. His grandson Munir al-Badri leveraged his good standing with the Grand Secretary to be moved to more spacious accommodations, he also began to demand a fifth of the salary of every interpreter under him and later charged a bribe for appointments. During the Qian dynasty the Master of Tongues was a position exempt of taxes after fifteen years of service, they were allowed to wear ornate robes of many colors and hats of office, they were assigned a palanquin of their own and could also keep slaves as part of their personal property. The official annual salary of the Master of Tongues was 30,000 imperial lire but that figure ballooned due to all the bribes and other shady incomes it could extract. | The Master of Tongues began as a posting that operated in very austere conditions, the foreign background of the title holders put them at a disadvantage at court. Attar al-Badri reputedly was assigned a small, dinky cell with a straw bed and was given five candles per month, one for each week and an extra. His grandson Munir al-Badri leveraged his good standing with the Grand Secretary to be moved to more spacious accommodations, he also began to demand a fifth of the salary of every interpreter under him and later charged a bribe for appointments. During the Qian dynasty the Master of Tongues was a position exempt of taxes after fifteen years of service, they were allowed to wear ornate robes of many colors and hats of office, they were assigned a palanquin of their own and could also keep slaves as part of their personal property. The official annual salary of the Master of Tongues was 30,000 imperial lire but that figure ballooned due to all the bribes and other shady incomes it could extract. | ||
Beginning in the 17th century it became customary for a retiring Master of Tongues to be appointed to rule over one of the vassal taifas in [[Rusana]]. Ethnic Daxian overlords had fared poorly with the natives in the past, once again the outsider status of a former Master of Tongues was perceived as useful in interactions with the Muslim population. The position of [[Imperial Viceroy (Daxia)|Imperial Viceroy]] was a significant upgrade in material conditions and prestige. Viceroys had their own palaces and security retinues and much larger yearly salaries, according to records the Imperial Viceroy of Ghanim was paid 85,000 imperial lire per year. | Beginning in the 17th century it became customary for a retiring Master of Tongues to be appointed to rule over one of the vassal taifas in [[Rusana]]. Ethnic Daxian overlords had fared poorly with the natives in the past, once again the outsider status of a former Master of Tongues was perceived as useful in interactions with the Muslim population. The position of [[Imperial Viceroy (Daxia)|Imperial Viceroy]] was a significant upgrade in material conditions and prestige. Viceroys had their own palaces and security retinues and much larger yearly salaries, according to records the Imperial Viceroy of Ghanim was paid 85,000 imperial lire per year. Imperial Viceroys were also customarily ennobled after the end of their time in office, a powerful incentive to rule their domain well and keep its productivity up. | ||
==Famous Master of Tongues== | ==Famous Master of Tongues== | ||