Zusian Basilikar

The Zusian Basilikar (ᛨᚨᛏᛉᛮᛂᛡ ᛔᚨᛊᛁᛚᛁᚦᚨᛡ Tatzscher Basilikar) (transl. '') is the official title of the  and  of the Zusian Empire. Historically chosen by the Sentarch and today by an ad-hoc assembly of imperial and regional senators, the Basilikar is the most powerful elected monarch in the world. The reigning Basilikar is Raphael VIII, crowned on 29 April 1998 to succeed his uncle, Sindolph XIV.

Historically, the title "Basilikar" was first taken by Sigmar Castaldis, the adopted son of King Ragnar Kyrmir. Sigmar had seized power in the Vordic Republic and is traditionally considered the founder of the Vordic Empire. Though republican affectations were thereafter always retained, in practice the Basilikar was an inherited crown for several centuries, only transforming into an elected position during the foundation of modern Zusea in 1818. Basilikar Sibannakus the Magnificent spearheaded the creation of a genuinely elective monarchy to placate and republicans in his new realm, and to harken back to the Vordic Republic. The system is sometimes called a 'Sibannic Monarchy' for this reason.

The powers of the Basilikar have fluctuated throughout history. Though it was always theoretically a crown with limited authorities, in the early Vordic Empire the Basilikar possessed near absolute power, and was often likened to a. However, the emperor lost much of his power during the later imperial period and by the Medieval era had been reduced to a symbolic figurehead. Sibannakus von Scharbach usurped the throne and revived the institution in 1802, capitalizing on a wave of nostalgic Zusian and founding the House of Scharbach.

In the Constitution of Zusea, the modern Zusian state is declared to be "a commonwealth under the presidency of the Basilikar." Consequently, the Basilikar today acts as head of state and exercises direct authority over Zusian foreign policy, the military, and border policing. Additionally, the Basilikar appoints the Chancellor of Zusea from amongst the members of the Räichstag, who serves as and paramount domestic leader. Traditionally the emperor is expected to select the leader of the largest parliamentary faction to be Chancellor, and imperial interventions into domestic democratic politics are rare. Multiple constitutional safeguards exist to limit the Basilikar's powers, and the Guardian Court can overturn most of his decisions with a two-thirds majority vote. Traditionally the emperor serves until death, at which time a successor is elected; however, a reigning Basilikar can be removed from the throne by a unanimous vote of the Guardian Court and a two-thirds majority of the Räichstag, though such a procedure has never been invoked in modern history.

Imperial Regalia
The Vordic Imperial Regalia (ᛰᚬᛡᛑᛁᛮᚨ ᚱᚴᛁᚭᛊᚬᛡᚾᚨᛏ Vordischa Räichsornat) are the official  of the Basilikar. The most important parts are the Great Imperial Crown, the Elder Imperial Crown, the Great Imperial orb, the Imperial sceptre, the Imperial Bible, the Holy Lance, and the Imperial Sword, all of which are used to coronate the Basilikar. Today they are kept at the Imperial Treasury in the Gartenhof Palace of Vordin. The Imperial Regalia are the only completely preserved regalia from the Middle Ages. The Regalia are divided into two classes based on their origin or historic repository: either the First Imperial Forge at Mothum, or the Second Forge at Korbai.

Titles and styles
The titles and styles of the reigning Basilikar are as follows:


 * Lesser title: His Imperial and Royal Majesty Vordic Imperator Raphael Maximian, Zusian Emperor, Grand Apostolic Prince of Ossintoria, Prince of Tarmory, Doesia and Nerotysia, etc., etc.
 * Diplomatic style: , by the Grace of God and the Citizen Vordic Imperator and Zusian Emperor, Most Serene Worldly King of Kings, Grand Apostolic Prince of Ossintoria, Prince of Tarmory, Doesia and Nerotysia, etc., etc., etc.
 * Grand title: Raphael Maximian the Eighth, by the Grace of God and the Citizen Vordic Imperator and Zusian Emperor, Most Serene Worldly King of Kings, Grand Apostolic Prince of Ossintoria, Prince of Tarmory, Doesia and Nerotysia, King of Vordin, King of Zoria, Grand Duke of Epholia, Listria, Boria and Upper Carnia and Tentalia; King of the City of the Cross etc., Archduke of Upper Stursea; Prince of Phyria, Harthia and Lakaria; Prince of Nesarbia, Herkina and of Oldenheim; Prince of Transixaria; Margrave of Mycetzia; Duke of Upper and Lower Taavia, of Salmia, Falkenheim, Mondegard and Kyrmont; Princely Count of Scharbach and Drakenau, of Warmitz, Herrenhof and Brechen; Prince of Osterbai and Valhausen; Margrave of Upper and Lower Spyria and in Fennmark; Count of Walzwerkental, Ischendor, Kolossendor, Flinthaven, etc.; Lord of Batley, of Mayach, and over the Ninkisch March.