Maliqate of Zalja

One of the three pillars of government in Tsen Ikha, meant to support the Holy Khan. The Maliqate is composed of landowners, typically those descended from great families that once bore long and glorious military histories. There are ninety members of the Maliqate (called maliqs nowadays), representing the nine prefectures of Zalja. Exactly how many maliqs are called from each prefecture differs, however, with the exact composition figured every ten years to reflect the relative populations of each prefecture. The Maliqate rules primarily on matters of the military, international policy, and public safety. Many members of the military can be found in the Maliqate, though established vissiers sometimes make their presence known as well. Maliqs are elected every year, though it is extremely rare for a sitting maliq to be unseated by anyone. Most maliqs are only in danger of losing their position every ten years, when populations are refigured and attention again turns toward them, or when a new Khan is enthroned. They are elected by regional vote of landowners, where their own influence is greatest, meaning most maliqs end up serving for life.

HIERARCHY OF GOVERNANCE