Lyubim

The term Lyubim (High Secote: ⰎⰣⰁⰉⰏⰟ ⰂⰎⰀⰄⰟⰉⰍⰟⰉ, Ljubimŭ Vladyky, 'most beloved of the Emperor') refers to a political office created in the Great Neritsovid period and extant in that empire and in Azophin until the Azophine Restoration of 1903. By extension it may also apply to similar offices, official and unofficial, in other Outer Joriscian nations.

In Great Neritsia

The title was first granted to Lyudodar Porovsky in 1519 by the emperor Sobiebor II, who relied heavily on Porovsky as his viceroy when he was on campaign; the two were also close friends. Although the term was used in early court documents of this period in the sense of 'right-hand-man', as the office became institutionalised the Lyubim's primary function came to be operating as the executor of the emperor, unofficially ensuring that his chosen successor became elected by the Debates. Although whilst an Emperor was alive the Lyubim had no particular authority, particularly in cases of contested or unclear succession their support was critical to any bid for their imperial office. During times of crisis, Lyubimi operated as kingmakers: the elections of Emperors Spytistan I, Borovest I and Chistibor as well as the temporary success of Borovest Neritsoborov in holding the capital were all ensured by their predecessors' respective Lyubims.

In Azophin

After the Great Imperial Restoration of 1701 and the Proclamation of Irn just two years later, the position of Lyubim was adopted by the grey eminence of the Legitimist government in Great Pestul, Agomir Pashegy and passed onto his son Andromir in 1716 before being adopted by Vladimir Inevsky in 1738 after Pashegy's fall. Despite its association with the leaders of the Legitimists, as a title it remained secondary in importance to the Marshalates, in particular the Marshalate of the North, which was the office with whose authority the Legitimist aristocrats governed. After the death of Spytidar Pashegy (1712–1763), who under the terms of the Lethpol Covenant was Lyubim of the emperor in Terophan, it was practically abandoned altogether for about three decades until Boromir Alevy resurrected it in 1793, beginning the Ostroborovid Restoration.

After Ostrobor IV was overthrown in 1815, the Lyubimi emerged as the aristocratic leaders of the new Azophin, and when the Great Peninsular War confirmed the Empty Throne, they became permanent Standard-Bearers-regent of the Azophine banner. The head of state in Azophin continued to be the Lyubim until 1903, when the Azophine Restoration transformed the last Lyubim Ratibor into an emperor in his own right. During the golden age of Lyubimist Azophin the Lyubimi were typically elected for life by the Grand Imperial Chamber, a body representing all of the major houses of the High Nobility.