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United Cities: Difference between revisions
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The United Cities was ruled by the Council of Cities, a collection of the wealthiest and most influential men of each city. Only the richest ten citizens from each city were allowed to take part in the council. The choosing was not through election but by a tallying of the monetary worth of the aspirant, usually carried out by Traders Guild accountants. Every ten years a member of the council would be elected by simple majority to serve as Grand Secretary of the United Cities. The Grand Secretary had powers to represent the UC in foreign matters and trade negotiations. For the United Cities entire three hundred year existence the position was typically rotated, with no one city ever holding on to the position for consecutive terms. | The United Cities was ruled by the Council of Cities, a collection of the wealthiest and most influential men of each city. Only the richest ten citizens from each city were allowed to take part in the council. The choosing was not through election but by a tallying of the monetary worth of the aspirant, usually carried out by Traders Guild accountants. Every ten years a member of the council would be elected by simple majority to serve as Grand Secretary of the United Cities. The Grand Secretary had powers to represent the UC in foreign matters and trade negotiations. For the United Cities entire three hundred year existence the position was typically rotated, with no one city ever holding on to the position for consecutive terms. | ||
=== Military === | === Military === | ||
The United Cities kept a unified standing army known as the Iron Legion, composed of twenty thousand men in lamellar armor, divided into footmen, cavalry and artillery corps. It was augmented by city self-defense forces and private militias composed of slaves as needed. | The United Cities kept a unified standing army known as the Iron Legion, composed of twenty thousand men in lamellar armor, divided into footmen, cavalry and artillery corps. It was augmented by city self-defense forces and private militias composed of slaves as needed. The Iron Legion was able to repel the numerically superior armies of the Zhong for many years until funding cutbacks, corruption and the intake of slaves into its ranks drastically reduced its combat effectiveness. | ||
=== Foreign Relations === | === Foreign Relations === | ||
=== Economy === | === Economy === | ||