Kaiser von Francia
The Kaiser von Francia is the title of the head of state of the Frankish Empire. In the Constitutionem Vadum Francorum the head of state is referred to simply as Kaiser.
The first and so far the only Kaiser von Francia is His Majesty Arkadius Frederik Gustavus des Vinandy. Before he became Kaiser, Arkadius Frederik Gustavus was already King of Amokolia. He was crowned King of Amokolia on 22.VI.1672. With the transition from the Kingdom of Amokolia to the Frankish Empire, the kingship switched to emperorship. But the title "King of Amokolia" was retained.
The Kaiser is also King of Batavia and Grand Duke of Helderbourgh, creating a de facto personal union with those countries. In addition, the Kaiser is the first in line of succession for the kingship of Arcadia.
Title
With the foundation of the Frankish Empire, the title "Kaiser" was introduced. There are two reasons why this particular title was chosen, namely that the reigning King of Amokolia at that time was also "Holy Catologian Emperor". This title was granted to him by the Pope of the Holy Catologian Church. The second reason is that the Frankish Empire sees itself as the rightful successor to the Imperial Republic of Shireroth.
The wife of the Kaiser receives the title "Kaiserin Gemahlin" (Empress consort). Constitutionally, the Kaiserin Gemahlin has no function.
King of Amokolia
Because the Frankish Empire is the rightful successor to the Kingdom of Amokolia, the title "King of Amokolia" is associated with the Kaiser. This title is therefore used by him. The historical title “Prince of Amokolia” or “Princess of Amokolia” has been awarded by the Kaiser to Æsileif Haraldsdóttir, the grandmother of the Kaiser.
Prince of Mishalan
The Kaiser did not use the title of "Prince of Mishalan" for the Second Amokolian War. The Kaiser was reminded of that title during the peace negotiations.
Duke of Brandenburg
On 1.VII.1671 AN the title “Duke of Brandenburg” was granted to Arkadius Frederik Gustavus des Vinandy, as a gesture of friendship between Kaiser Ayreon IV of Shireroth and King Arkadius IV of Batavia. At the time, the marriage between Arkadius and Clara, sister-in-law of Ayreon IV, was forthcoming and the foundation of the city of Vidarstadt, named after Ayreon IV. The title “Duke of Brandenburg” is therefore a personal title of Arkadius Frederik Gustavus des Vinandy, which he has transferred to his children.
Duke of Froyalan
The historical title “Duke of Froyalan” is not used by the Kaiser himself, but has given the Kaiser to his great-grandfather Harald Freyjugjöf, High King of Stormark.
In 1674 AN rumours circulated that a "Pact of Reykjavík" would be concluded between the then Kingdom of Amokolia and the High Realm of Stormark, which would rename Amokolia to Froyalan. With the foundation of the Frankish Empire, it turned out that the name "Froyalan" would not apply to the entire country, but only to a Gau.
Function
The duties and powers of the Kaiser are laid down in the constitution. This amounts to the following overview:
- Declare war and make peace. The Kaiser is hereby obliged to inform the Reichstag;
- Leading the government, but can leave the daily management to a Kanzler (chancellor). The Kaiser appoints the Kanzler on the recommendation of the Reichstag. The Kanzler can appoint Reichministers for support;
- The signing of laws and decisions adopted from the Reichstag. The Kaiser has veto rights, after which the Reichstag must adopt the proposal in question by a two-thirds majority;
- Signing treaties, as well as appointing and receiving diplomats. Frankish diplomats represent the Kaiser abroad;
- Delivering a speech at the opening of the parliamentary year;
- Feeding the armies and fleets. Although the Tassity Mansabdar is not part of the official Frankish Army, this military unit is linked to the Kaiser;
- The Geheimdienst (secret service) is directly under the Kaiser;
- Raising the nobility and granting the knight orders. As well as recognizing foreign nobility;
- The appointment of a Regent and the members of the Council of the Kingdom, the official advisory body of the Kaiser;
- Granting grace on the advice of the Government Council;
- The right to claim the entire territory of the Imperial Republic of Shireroth, as it existed under Kaiser Ayreon IV, in order to restore the Empire and to end all lack of freedom.
To perform the tasks, the Kaiser has special freedoms at its disposal, such as:
- Majestic immunity: because all arrests are made in His Name, the Kaiser and the imperial family cannot be arrested;
- Guarding by the Kaiserlichen Garde (Imperial Guard): a special army unit to guard and protect the Kaiser and the imperial family, as well as the imperial goods;
- Exemption from taxes: the Kaiser is paid from the State budget, which causes an unnecessary circulation of money if the Kaiser has to pay taxes.
Succession
The constitution of Francia describes that succession proceeds according to an agnatic seniority primogeniture system. That therefore excludes female succession. As a result, the successor is not the Kaiser's oldest child, Elisabeth Asara des Vinandy, but the second child and eldest son, Karel Kyle des Vinandy.
This results in a special situation, since Elisabeth Asara is the successor of Arkadius Frederik Gustavus des Vinandy as head of state of Batavia. In Batavia, succession applies according to an absolute primogeniture system, so that is a form of succession where gender is irrelevant. Elisabeth Asara carries the title "Princess of Austrasia", the traditional title for the first in line of succession.
In addition to the constitutional provision for succession, the Prima Divisio des Vinandy, the house treaty of the House of Vinandy, also applies. The order of succession of the Kaiser von Francia is:
- Karel Kyle des Vinandy, eldest son of the Kaiser;
- Gustavus Nathan des Vinandy, the youngest son of the Kaiser
Coronation
When the Kaiser dies, his successor immediately becomes the new Kaiser. There are no official provisions of the coronation ceremony yet, since a throne change has not yet taken place. But a few outline lines for a procedure are known.
The coronation of the new Kaiser will follow as soon as possible after the funeral of the deceased Kaiser. If the old capital of Amokolia, Anun, were under the Frankish flag, the new Kaiser would be crowned in that city. The Kaiser is then sailed to Frankfurt-am-Oder, to be received by the Reichstag in special session. The Kaiser is then driven to Brandenburg and received there.
Regent
The Kaiser appoints a Regent who performs imperial duties in his absence or at his request. Especially when the Kaiser dies and his successor has not yet reached adulthood, the Regent acts instead of the Kaiser. Esther Fatima Gudrid was appointed Regent on 22.VI.1681 AN.
