Governance

The world in Elyria is populated with several Non-Player-Character and Player-Character governments that rule and control different portions of the land. Like real-world nations, these governments make and enforce laws, claim land and resources, engage in diplomatic and military conflicts with rival nations, and undergo internal political strife. While styles from kingdom to kingdom vary, governments in Chronicles of Elyria are designed hierarchically, with power controlled mostly by the wealthy Kings and Duchies.

Public Governance ("Government")
The system of public governance in Elyria is based on the feudo-vassalist systems known from earthly medieval Eurasia. Chronicles of Elyria distinguishes four levels of public governance. The top three are referred to as "domains", and these are governed by Elyrias Nobility.

Public Governance organizations are generally referred to as "Governments".

Ruling Classes
Elyrian Aristocracy and Nobility is responsible to lead any public governance, except for the rule of hamlets and villages. See Social Classes for more detailed information for each class.

Government Hierarchy
The three top levels in the hierarchy of responsibility and oversight in governance are managed by the various levels of Elyrian Nobility.
 * Kingdoms
 * Each of the nations in Chronicles of Elyria is a Kingdom led by a King or Queen. For each starting continent, there are six (four on OCE) kingdoms.


 * Duchies
 * Duchies are provinces within kingdoms and are governed by Dukes/Duchesses. A single Kingdom has 12 (8 on OCE) duchies.


 * Counties
 * Counties are regions within Duchies and are ruled by Counts or Countesses. There are 24 (16 on OCE) counties within a Duchy, and 288 (128 on OCE) in an entire kingdom.

The fourth and lowest level of public governance in CoE is focussed on the management of Settlements. See the section below.

Settlements
Settlements are the Hamlets, Villages, Towns and Cities of the world. Settlements are ruled in a number of different manners by varying positions and give several benefits. Military settlements are controlled by Barons appointed by a Duke/Duchess.

The smallest settlements, hamlets and villages, are ruled by councils. Larger settlements, towns and cities, are ruled by aristocrats, a Mayor or Baron, or a noble.

See Land Management for details on how parcels of land are managed within counties.

Current Governments
To find out about the kingdoms, duchies, counties, and settlements currently existing in the server worlds of Elyria see the kingdom links on the Current Governments page.

Private Governance
Private Governance, also known as Corporate Governance, is used to manage associations that aim to make a profit in any tangible way. This is valid for the "Guilds" in Chronicles of Elyria.

Nonprofit Governance
Nonprofit Governance is the governance used for semi-public or public institutes and organizations. In Chronciles of Elyria these are referred to as "Associations".