House Ezharian
Geography
The ancestral home planet of House Ezharian, Enif IV, is a wonderful winter
paradise. A beautifully mountainous terrain, combined with narrow tropical ocean
climate near the equatorial latitudes has made Enif IV a playground for the
affluent in the Imperium, at one time even attracting a young Shaddam IV to
its resorts before his ascention to the throne. Towering mountains and snow
covered valleys about all of the planet almost mandated the revival of the ancient
pastimes of skiing and snow sports, which are the planet's primary attraction.
Of course these same mountains and alpine like forests make Enif IV a dangerous
world to assault, and the Enifians have over many centuries become very efficient
in fighting through the heavy tundra and alpine forest terrain, making many
think twice before assaulting the world.
Enif III, which orbits just inside the larger Enif IV, is a searing and hostile
globe which was colonized mostly for its rich ore content and mining prospects.
Some 100,000,000 subjects of House Ezharian live about either pole, where the
climate is tolerable, if not comfortable. Those who live here have adapted to
the desert heat, the rich mines giving little incentive to move to the center
latitudes. Because Enif III requires the constant use of atmospheric controls
within buildings and mines, the bulk of industry has been located here, keeping
Enif IV one of the cleanest and most pollution free planets in the Imperium.
Until the mining operations pan out, House Ezharian is unlikely to pursue weather
control of the planet.
Government
Both Enif IV and Enif III are ruled in a two tiered feudal monarchy, three tiers
when Imperial authority is counted, and rule has traditionally been passed along
the male line. The former Siridar, Hans- Adam Mannerfelt, has ruled the planets
with a benevolent hand, conducting affairs mostly in secret, maintaining a fairly
strict neutrality, and mostly concerned with the welfare of his people. In some
ways he has allowed the feudal system to exist locally only in so far as the
ruling houses minor have preserved his own standards of human rights, and economic
policy- one of a strict laissez-faire economy and extremely low local taxes.
In past, most governmental functions have been handled below the first minister,
Hans-Adam issuing only the occasional decree, and rarely sweeping edicts.
Economy
House Ezharian enjoys a strong economy by virtue of its low taxes and fluid
economy. Because of its liberal restrictions the tourist trade on Enif IV accounts
for an amazing 1/3 of total revenue; gambling, entertainment (from the normal
to the bizarre, to the shocking), and financial services being the primary mainstays.
Planetary wide festivals, like the Siridar's birthday, have often prompted House
Ezharian to subsidize up to 1/4 of the guild rate of transport for qualified
tourist visitors, the payoff in gambling and economic influx often more than
making up the investment.
Little is known about the true nature of House Ezharian's off world economy,
mostly because the liberal economic regime has promoted a gaggle of business
concerns to locate within the jurisdiction of House Ezharian's rule. The intermingling
of off world economies so fully in the economy of Enif IV makes it very difficult
to pin down which funds belong to the indigenous economy, and which are funneled
out of Ezharian, to the off world controlling entities of local Enifian concerns.
Complicating the situation for auditors, is the complete banking secrecy law
in the Ezharian sphere of influence. So strong is this secrecy scheme, that
it often brings House Ezharian at odds with CHOAM, the Guild and even the Emperor
himself. Oddly, the Siridar himself has been known to compensate businesses
who have been assessed fines, or tax deficiencies because of a violation of
the secrecy law by a Ezharian Citizen. One such payment in recent memory is
rumored to have exceeded 80,000 solairs. Off world business incorporation in
the years after this rumored payment nearly doubled, for obvious reasons. Between
the powerful stability of the political structure, the dire prospects for any
force invading Enif, the lack of economic controls, and the strict neutrality
of the House, it is not surprising that the Ezharian worlds have been labeled
"Tax Havens" on occasion.
Politics
As one might expect, Hans-Adam carefully cultivated a position of neutrality
within the political sphere of the Imperium, conducting commerce with either
side of a conflict, turning no business away, except under the rarest circumstances.
He has also been known to employ a balance of power approach, siding with the
weak side of a political battle when it appeared a loss might result in a major
shift of power which might allow one faction to gain too much influence and
endanger political stability in the sphere of the Imperium. At times his political
posture has angered other Siridars, especially those not politically astute
enough to recognize the policy as quite separated from personal feelings on
the part of Hans-Adam, and as part of a larger policy demanding consistency.
Distant History
Earliest record of House Ezharian stretches back to several generations before
the Butlerian Jihad (201 B.G.), over 85 generations have since passed. House
Ezharian is chiefly remembered for its shelter of political dissidents on both
sides within its borders, and for smuggling these dissidents beyond the reach
of the persecution, and even, according to rumor, Arranging transport to Tupile
or one of the other shelter planets. One history, often attacked, attributes
the existence of Richese and Ix, and the relaxed restrictions on their cultures
by the Jihad, to the intervention and protection of Ezharian. Ezharian is also
remembered for sheltering diplomats of both sides during the battle of Corrin
in 88 B.G., and for helping remove the affluent during the panic and evacuation
of Sigma Draconis prior to the conflict. Ezharian has been much enriched for
its shelter of artists and political dissidents, and the House's culture is
quite uniquely intellectual as a result. Though strictly neutral in most fashions,
it eventually came to light that Ezharian had supported the Corrinos in the
succession battle, and the then Siridar Joseph Wenceslas I so obtained his title
of Viscount in the Imperium.
13 Successions: The Last 13, and Current Siridars
Adam-Andrew
Josef Wenceslas II (Reigned Twice)
Anto Florian
Josef Johan Adam
Nepomuk Charles
Francis Josef I
Aloysius I
Johan I
Aloysius II
Johan II
Francis I
Francis Josef II
Hans-Adam II
Josephine I
Recent History
Ezharian's beloved Siridar, Hans-Adam Mannerfelt was most tragically killed
in a hunting accident on his own lands about the ancestral estate of Enif IV.
Foul play is not suspected. In a bizarre twist, Hans-Adam's first minister was
not named as a long term regent and instead, following his wishes as expressed
in his sealed last will and testament, his 28 year old daughter and only child,
Josephine Constance Mannerfelt Ezharian will ascended to the throne. Little
is known about the new Siridar, her presence having been largely overlooked
by royal observers because of House Ezharian's propensity for male succession,
and her unmarried status. She is rumored, however, to be somewhat fiery and
immature. Indeed some might even go so far as to say, 'spoiled.' Doubtless it
is only the citizen's great love of Hans-Adam that will permit a female Siridar
to be coronated, so contrary to tradition.
Josephine I, daughter of Hans-Adam II, will be coronated to the thone of Enif
and House Ezharian in a private ceremony on Enif IV, to which Siridars of the
Imperium are invited to attend. After the coronation a planetwide celebration
and open court will be conducted. Petitioners will be introduced to the Siridar
on a first come-first serve basis. Following open court, the Siridar will address
the citizens publicly. Siridar Josephine is then expected to consult with her
first minister and advisors while traveling to the Imperial Seat, Kaitain, where
she will present herself to His Sublime Majesty, the Padishah Emperor Shaddam
IV and confer with the Houses Major of the Imperium and their advisors.