Chief Protectorate

A chief protectorate was the precursor to the Principalities of the Empire of Aria, which existed during the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Ages of the Third Era of Aria where the Alder himself took ceremonial responsibility for the protection and preservation of a particular city, town, village, or region in Aria, usually Alderia. These protectorates, early on and later only nominally, had total autonomy from the Alder, but could send representatives, later called senators, to the Alder's Court. Before the foundation of the Empire of Aria, there were twenty-seven protectorates which served as regional points of governance by the Alders of the time. Gradually, power was centralized in these protectorates and served as political, economic, and cultural centers for the lands in which they exist, for example, Liándas would become the capital of L'har and was granted the title of chief protectorate late into the Fourth Age of the Third Era due to its stronger presence in L'har compared to the only other chief protectorate in the region, Lorhên, which was also the first chief protectorate named by Alder Salathas in 2 2A 3E.

Every chief protectorate was consolidated into what were referred to has greater protectorates but ended up becoming Imperial Principalities upon the ascension of Emperor Kelius the Great in 1 6A 3E.

All of the following were chief protectorates by the time of the Sixth Age and the formation of the imperial principality:
 * Achaea
 * Africa
 * Asia
 * Bithynia et Pontus
 * Creta et Cyrenaica
 * Cyprus
 * Gallia Narbonensis
 * Hispania Baetica
 * Macedonia (Macedonia & Thessalia)
 * Sicilia