Fejedelem

Fejedelem (Lacrean: ⰗⰅⰊⰅⰄⰅⰎⰅⰏ, pronounced /ˈfɛjɛdɛlɛm/; pl. ⰗⰅⰊⰅⰄⰅⰎⰏⰅⰍ, fejedelmek), also Ellicised as 'Feydelm', is the Lacrean title of a provincial governor or the ruler of a principality. The term is attested in dialectal Old Lacrean from early in the Fourth Chotarian Empire as pej(e)delm (פֵּידֵלם), denoting a ruler or tribal chieftain, and is derived from the native Lacrean fej (Old Lacrean pej, already pronounced with initial /f/; compare Agar pạ̄), 'head', and the nominalising suffix -delem. The term's modern significance was acquired in the sweeping reforms of the early Fifth Empire, in which the earlier office of provincial governor, which had become a hereditary noble title, was abolished and replaced by fejedelmek who served at the emperor's pleasure, but were empowered as his plenipotentiary ritual representatives.

The fejedelmek came to play an increasingly important role in the Fifth Empire, and after the 760s they assumed increasingly the character of autocrats within their own provinces, governing from local temple-courts that mirrored the supreme court at Kozrat. Growing antagonism between the emperor and the parochial fejedelmek triggered provincial revolts in the 9th and 10th centuries, and the recalcitrance of the fejedelmek was resolved, in the short term, only through the establishment of the temple-censors and a requirement for relatives of the fejedelmek to remain hostages at Kozrat.

The term's usage was sustained by the rulers of some of the post-Chotarian successor states in the former imperial heartland, and continued to denote the independent rulers of principalities up to the Neritsovid era—a derived High Secote form, fjedelŭmŭ (ⰗⰋⰅⰄⰅⰎⰟⰏⰟ), was first used by the monarchs of the First and Second Kingdoms of Mirokrai. After the Chotarian Restoration of 1778, the term fejedelem was reintroduced for provincial governors in Lacre, following the perceived model of the Fifth Empire. The Marshal of Dekoral is also a fejedelem owing to Dekoral's past status as a marshalate of Lefdim—the only such title in the Terophatic Banner. The term thus remains in use to this day.