Within the Imperium of the known universe, there are three major powers: Padishah Emperor and the Imperial Court: - The Emperor is the feudal overlord of the known universe. The title is, by default, hereditary, but can be changed. - The Emperor has the power to make any decision he wants, but the Landsraad and the Guild prevent him from doing much. He is much more like the Kings of England during the Stewart era. - The Emperor has access to a special troop called "Sardaukar Legions". More on that in the battle thread. - The Emperor can try and pull fiefs from the Houses of the Imperium, but this is highly looked down upon, and the Landsraad will most likely prevent you. The Landsraad: - The Landsraad is an assembly of all the noble houses of the Imperium. It serves like a parliament house or like the Reichstag of the HRE. The Emperor is not part of it, but is often called to their hearings. - A High Council within the Landsraad consists of the the major leaders of the Landsraad, often being some of the most powerful families. - The Landsraad, with the intent to balance power among its constituent families, can pull secondary fiefs from families (not primary fiefs) and grant them to other families. Of course, a House could reject their decision to pull their lands, but that would probably spark conflict. - The Landsraad can revoke colonized planets and give it to someone else. They can do so with relative ease, causing no unrest as they might with other planets. - The Landsraad is first and foremost, a voting system. No one man can lead the Landsraad completely. The Spacing Guild: [WIP]
Updated.
