Empire of Syndeoneia
Overview
Formal Name: Basileia tōn Syndeoiōn or Empire of the Syndeoneians
Demonym: Syndeoi or Syndeoneian
Official Language: Euphranoroi or Euphranorian
Official Religion: Epiphanesia
Primary Ethnicity: Ipatou Syndeoi or High Syndeoneian
Capital: Antiocheia
Autokrator: Leontios VI Taronites
Basilissa: Eudokia Sarantapechaina
Diadochos: Andronikos Taronites
History
Government
Since its foundation, the Empire has always been a semi-centralized Autocracy whose governmental power relies on the skill of its Emperor, it's extensive bureaucracy and the cooperation of the Dynatoi. Even post war, this system remains unchanged, with the caveat of the CIO know being part of this system.
The Emperor or the Imperial Court appoints all officials across the Empire. Thematic Commanders/Governors are drawn from the best (or most well connected) local Dynatoi and can be replaced at any time. Officials are often trained either locally or in Antioch for their duties, but corruption is also a major problem that is rising within the Imperial Bureaucracy. While good Emperors or Emperors with strong friends are usually able to remove the issue of nepotism and corruption, the added factor of the CIO has made this hard if not impossible, as their control over the economy and local politics has undermined Imperial Authority. The Emperor often complains about this but realizes he has to make do with the system, as the CIO has the power to oust him even easier than a popular Dynatoi vying for the Crown.
One of the greatest flaws of this system beyond its overly bureaucratic nature is that the succession is not clearly defined in this system at all. With the hailing of popular army commanders as Emperor being an unfortunate result of past events (history here), it is not a shock that the Empire has had many dynasties over the years. The key to getting this system as an Emperor is to work with the local Dynatoi and the peasants, play Dynatoi off against each other and have the loyalty of the army and the city of Antioch. It can be quite the balancing act but given the cutthroat nature of the system, it is one that isn't broken nor hard for many.
Military
Army
The army has always the branch of the military and sometimes the government itself with the most power. With a long tradition, with many victories, defeats, and civil wars in it; the Syndeoneian Army has always been one of the best in Indeia. After it's defeat to the Tsukinode Empire, however, the Army was mostly disbanded according to the treaty in 1101. But with pressures from the Western Horse Pact and /vsj+/ rising in the 1120s, the Army has, under the permission of the Tsukinode Empire, been rearmed. It still isn't anywhere close to its former glory and may never reach it again; but the foundation is there for future success.
Tagmata Army
The Tagmata is the professional army of the Empire under direct command of the emperor himself in theory but often scattered into key locations in support of local Thematic forces. Its quality is never in doubt, indeed, the men of the Tagmatic Army are most likely the best soldiers in Indeia in their quality. It is the loyalty of them, like their Thematic cousins that will always be doubtful. However, the Tagmata have been largely disbanded and were not revived in the 1120s because of the threat they could pose of Tsukinode interests. Instead, they have been largely replaced by Company Soldiers and Mercenaries from the CIO in their duties, much to the anger of the Western Horse Pact.
Thémata Army
The Thémata Armies, unlike their Tagmatic cousins, are semi-professional soldiers that are raised from the Empire's themes as a means of defense in depth. Their quality often depends on their location and the history of the theme itself, as does their quantity. The border Themes will always, for example, have higher quality soldiers than their interior cousins. But the interior Themes usually provide more men than the border ones do. Thematic Armies are often organized into larger forces under the command of the Emperor, the Diadochos, or a Megas Domestikos for use against greater threats. This also has the side effect of the potential overthrow of the sitting emperor should the Megas Domestikos be popular with his men. This also does not mention that Strategoi themselves (commanders of the Themes) will often rise up in revolt to attempt to usurp the crown when the Emperor finds himself in a weak point.
Overall, the Thematic Armies are good armies. They can easily handle the duties presented to them and unlike the Tagmata, have been rearmed. Any invasion of Syndeoneia will have to deal with them.
Navy
While the Navy has always been an important in its own right, and has a long tradition of its own, it will never be on the level of the Army and the Navy accepts that. Prewar, it was one of the more powerful fleets in Indeia, rivaling that of vsj and the Retro Reich. However, the defeat of the Navy and its total annihilation by the Eastern Fleet was a national disaster that the Navy may never recover from. Still, the spirit remains, and the resources are there for it to come back in its power, should the Tsukinode approve or be ousted. As of now, the fleet is small; only having 4 Frigates and 8 Sloops. No ships of the line were permitted in the Treaty of Westphasia, as was the coastal fortifications. Navies take generations to build, and it is unlikely that the Fleet will ever reach its pre-war glory ever again like the Army; but in the right hands, some of its captains believe it can be quite the pain for the enemies of Syndeoneia.
Diplomacy
Culture
Geography
Economy
An indepth anaylsis of the Economy can be found here.