Patricians

The ruling class in Iridine politics is the Patriciate. Most Patrician bloodlines have existed since before the Republic was founded. The patrician class enjoys a number of rights that come only with a privledged birth; no citizen may accuse a patrician of any crime. Ultimately, the goal of most patrician youths is to become successful in the political arena via the Cursus Honorum. This usually involves military service at a young age as a Counternablis. Only the richest and most powerful patricians are eventually elevated to the Senate, the ruling body of Iridinian politics. The Iridinian Senate is composed of 300 senators who are all land owning patricians of 30 years of age and have an income of over 1 million denars yearly. It is considered inappropriate for Senators to engage in commerce and trade; this income comes solely from owned lands and holdings.

Patricians are descendants from the founders of the city of Iridine itself, and are made up of the noblest, and often the richest, families in the Republic. Their status is hereditary, and though it is possible for someone to become a patrician, it is a process that usually takes generations. While venturing into 'crude' mercantile enterprises is frowned upon by the nobility, patricians are often wealthy due to landed holdings. Patrician holdings can include large estates, farms, mines, and even forests for lumber.

Patricians hold the reigns of power within the Republic, controlling a vast system of patronage in which almost every citizen is the client of some patrician who is in turn the client to an even more powerful patrician. Only the most powerful patricians are not themselves clients of someone else. Through this system, the richest of the patricians are able to control the political process of Iridine, using their clients to gain them votes for the Senate, in exchange for other favors.

Influence

Player-RP'd patricians can use the additional power of patricians using their influence.