Castadillaan Emperor
| Supreme Head of the Nation | |
|---|---|
| Nationis Summus Princeps Jefe Supremo de la Nación Kasike Nitainau des Kasikasgau | |
Imperial | |
 | |
| Incumbent | |
.jpg) | |
| Maximilian I since 21 May 1976 | |
| Details | |
| Style |
|
| Heir apparent | King in Vallos |
| First monarch | Maximilian I |
| Formation | 21 May 1976 |
| Residence | El Escorial de Gama |
| Appointer | Grand Election |
The Castadillaan Emperor (Latin: Imperator Castraedilice; Pelaxian: Emperador Castadillano; Reform Tainean: Empeirataur Kastetien), also styled as the Supreme Head of the Nation (Latin: Nationis Summus Princeps; Pelaxian: Jefe Supremo de la Nación; Reform Tainean: Kasike Nitainau des Kasikasgau), is the head of state of Castadilla. The emperor is defined by the Constitution of Castadilla as the symbol of the Castadillaan nations and the unity of its people, his position deriving from "...the will of the people with whom resides sovereign power." The Constitution also governs the succession laws and the electoral process in electing the Emperor. Pursuant to his constitutional role as a national symbol, and in accordance with rulings by the Supreme Court of Castadilla, the emperor is personally immune from prosecution.
The role of the emperor is relegated to that of a ceremonial head of state without even nominal political powers, with executive power being split between the Commander-in-Chief, the chief executive, and the Prime Minister, the head of government, thus making Castadilla a sort of "crowned" Julian republic. The supreme head of the nation is also the holder of the title Viceroy of Los Rumas, two foreign ducal titles, and grand master of the Knights of St. Brendan and of the Legion of Honour of Castadilla.
The current supreme head of the nation is Maximilian I, who was officially elected as emperor on 21 May 1976 after the Pact of Eighteen. He is one the few heads of state who hold even a nominally imperial title, other extant imperial titles being the semi-defunct and ceremonial Emperor of the Levantines (permanently belonging to the Apostolic King of Urcea since 1920), the largely republican Caphiric Imperator, the Metzettan Emperor, the Kiravian Marble Emperor, the Tierradorian Woqali, and the Alpachnee Emperor.
History
The current monarchy of Castadilla wasn't the first attempt at a unified monarchy over the former Viceroyalty of Los Rumas, nor was it the only instance of monarchical rule in modern Castadilla. For many years, the eastern half of the subcontinent of Vallos has had many realms under the rule of various petty monarchs, many of which were swept away by either the piratocracies in the northeast or by Pelaxia in the mid-east, the latter of which establishing the Los Rumas viceroyalty. When the Pelaxian monarchy was abolished for good in the 1850s, many of the nobles and officials who were still loyal to the Girojón monarchy fled to Los Rumas where they established a Pelaxian government-in-exile under a dual monarchy system. This attempt collapsed within three months, with almost all of the Delepasian states opting for a republican form of government, save for Bahia and Rios Gemelos.
The monarchist cause was revived in the 1970s alongside renewed interest in a unified Delepasian realm. This soon culminated in the Pact of Eighteen which formed the Delepasian Commonwealth. The constitution relegated the emperor to a ceremonial role, with all executive power concentrated between the prime minister and the head of the armed forces, who at the time was Fernando Pascual. However, with the advent of the Velvet Revolution and the drafting of the new constitution the emperor was given a more predominant role in the nation's politics as a token of gratitude from the moderate socialist faction of the revolutionaries who won in the subsequent power struggle, and thus the Emperor currently holds the title of commander-in-chief.
Election
The position of emperor is entrusted to members of the imperial family, that being the House de Bruce. Laws surrounding the electoral system have made it so that the imperial election will not happen until after the emperor either passes on or abdicates. While the emperor may train a specific member of the imperial family for the eventual role as future emperor, the emperor may not name a successor nor may he be involved in the election process should he abdicate.
The election of the emperor is entrusted to a committee of forty-one, chosen by eleven persons, who in turn were chosen by lot from a group of forty-five people chosen by nine persons chosen from a committee of twenty-five, who in turn were chosen by a group of twelve selected from a group of forty that were elected by a group of nine; that group being chosen from amongst a group of thirty members chosen by lot from amongst the membership of the Congress of the Peerage. This complex electoral machinery is intended to prevent foreign interference in imperial elections as well as to ensure a consistently orderly election. The quorum for each election is as follows: twenty-five out of forty-one, nine out of twelve, or seven out of nine. The one selected to become emperor becomes King in Vallos until his coronation.
During the coronation, the King in Vallos is presented to the people in attendance with the words: "Sirs and Dames, I hereby present unto you Emperor/Empress (name), undoubtedly your Emperor/Empress if it please you: wherefore all of you who are here on this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?" This ceremonial gesture signifies the assent of the people of Castadilla.