Hierarchy of Palaven
From FABT
  The Turian Hierarchy at its greatest extent in 826 CE. As per the Palaven-Irune Union, the Vol Protectorate, while still an independent state, became a client state of the Turian Hierarchy, with all volus considered to be citizens of the Empire. The Hierarchy (red) and the Vol Protectorate (pink).
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| Political information | |
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Type of government: |
Semi-elective imperial autocratic meritocracy |
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Founding document: |
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Constitution: |
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Head of State: |
Primarch Mameruns Posion (first) |
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Head of government: |
Hierarch Superior Icitana Elvonian (first) |
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Commander-in-chief: |
Primarch Mameruns Posion (first) |
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Executive: |
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Legislative: |
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Judicial: |
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Military: |
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| Societal information | |
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Capital: |
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Official language: |
High Zelos (official) |
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Currency: |
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Official religion: |
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Holidays: |
Unification of Palaven |
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Anthem: |
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| Historical information | |
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Formed from: |
Turian Empire |
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Dates: |
16 May 341 BCE - 10 November 2215 CE
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Preceded by: |
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Succeeded by: |
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- "Today. Tomorrow. Forever."
- — Motto of the Turian Hierarchy.
The Hierarchy of Palaven, simply known as the Hierarchy, also known as the Turian Hierarchy and as the Second Turian Empire, was the representative body of Palaven, its provinces and turian colonies from 341 BCE to 2215 CE. Prior to the Hierarchy's founding, the Great Imperial Anarchy had eroded Palaven's control over the other turian colonies, with a series of wars and uprisings gradually chipping away at the Turian Empire until all that was left under its direct control was its home systems and Palaven itself, with the other turian colonies having long since formed their own empires, which then began to squabble and war amongst each other, which continued for centuries. Finally, in 349 BCE, the Primarch of Palaven, Mameruns Posion, declared his intention to reform the empire and subsequently launched an extensive military campaign of reconquest that became known to history as the Unification War: it lasted eight years, but ended with Posion reconquering all of the turian colonies, forcing them to sign the Treaty of Cipritine, ending the war but also dissolving the original Turian Empire, which Posion deemed to be too weak to effectively govern any further, and establishing in its place the Turian Hierarchy, a new government where the Hierarchs would command more power within the empire, granting the colonies the representation they coveted, and establishing the turian institution of meritocracy. The capital of the Turian Hierarchy was centered at Palaven itself, namely in the megapolis of Cipritine, making it the center of imperial power. With the Great Imperial Anarchy over, the Turian Hierarchy spent much of the next few centuries building up its power once more, and it eventually reached heights that surpassed even that of its predecessor state, although anti-Palaven colonial sentiment remained prevalent throughout the rest of its history, with many attempts made to break away from the Hierarchy, but with all of them failing. Loyalty to the state was replaced with loyalty to one's people, with the Hierarchy's famous meritocracy encouraging self-betterment, selflessness and discipline over selfishness and ambition, and military service was mandatory for every turian, regardless of gender, at the age of 15, effectively giving the Hierarchy an unlimited recruitment pool during wartime. This mandatory conscription, combined with turian militarism, allowed the Hierarchy to build one of the most powerful militaries in the galaxy, turning it into a superpower that was almost without equal.
In 749 CE, the Turian Hierarchy joined the galactic community at the very apex of the Krogan Rebellions. The Hierarchy made contact with the asari four years prior, and had been observing the war for a decade before that, choosing not to get involved until they knew who they were dealing with. The asari kept their diplomatic talks with the turians a secret until the time was right, and eventually the turians chose to join on the side of the Citadel Council, adding their considerable military might to that of the weakened Council, who were on the verge of defeat. With the aid of the Hierarchy, the war was brought to an end in just over a decade, and in thanks for the turians helping to save the galaxy from the krogan menace and in acknowledgement of their already powerful armies and fleets, the Council granted the Hierarchy nearly immediate membership in the Council, making them the third Council race and the first to be admitted since the original Asari-Salarian Pact over a millenia before. The Turian Hierarchy effectively became the backbone of the Council military from then on, making up three quarters of all Council military forces and maintaining the most command positions, and this later evolved into them becoming the Council's peacekeeping forces, a role originally maintained by the asari: the Hierarchy would, for centuries, would maintain its status as the most powerful and disciplined military force in the Milky Way Galaxy almost without effort. In 826 CE, the Turian Hierarchy successfully negotiated protectorate status with the Vol Protectorate, expanding their power to its absolute apex, with the turian granting the promise of military protection and armament to the volus in exchange for their significant financial brilliance and affinity for managing money.
When the Reaper War broke out in 2186 CE, the Turian Hierarchy was hit by the Reapers almost immediately following the devastating Reaper Day that had virtually obliterated the Batarian Hegemony and brought the Systems Alliance to its knees. Despite the Reapers overpowering the turians at every turn, the Hierarchy was the only galactic nation capable of holding out for the entirety of the war, with Palaven never officially falling to the Reapers and with one of the largest and most significant victories against them being won there. This did however leave the Hierarchy badly depleted after the war, forcing it to share much of its peacekeeping duties with humanity. The Turian Hierarchy never fully recovered, but it still managed to put up a massive struggle during the Post-Apocalyptic War, and came close to winning many times. In the end however, the Hierarchy suffered total military defeat at the Fall of Palaven, where it was finally beaten and dissolved in one of the bloodiest battles in the Dominion's short history. In the Hierarchy's place, a Coalition puppet government was installed, and while turian independence would eventually be restored, the Hierarchy would never rise again.