Emperor

Originally, the title of the emperor was inherited according to the laws of primogeniture as did any other noble title. However, after numerous succession crises and emperors of dubious character the system was changed to the current one. The emperor or empress chooses an heir from among their children, regardless of the birth order or gender or age. However, if there are no adult children the emperor may instead choose an heir from among their extended family.   However, an appointment as heir and ascension to the throne can both be declined by the chosen candidate. Now, why would anyone turn down such an offer? Believe me, you would if someone put a knife to your throat and gave a choice between being a living imperial prince or a dead emperor. This way, the wishes of a departed emperor are often circumvented by people of power. Even heir appointments rarely go smoothly, with imperial court constantly divided into factions based on their supported candidate.

In theory, the emperor is all-powerful. In practice, there are three pillars of the Ardenian Empire: the emperor, the nobility and the Church of Three Prophets. Each group has wide authority over their area of interests, and dislikes other two groups meddling with their affairs. Which is inevitable, given the many situations which affected two or all three of them at once.   In fact, there used to be the fourth pillar. The army. For centuries the imperial court was dominated by Hummish generals, but things changed after the Imperial Restoration which brought most of the army under the emperor's direct control. This encouraged the emperors to act increasingly bold with each generation, and the empire's rapidly rising influence in the New World has shifted the balance of power to the emperor. More and more laws are being introduced which limit the nobility's authority, and even try to instruct the church in how to conduct the holy ceremonies.

It is expected of the emperor not to linger and hold onto power when that is no longer in the interest of the nation. If one's age starts to show or their heir appears to be a more skilled ruler than the emperor himself, he is expected to step aside and vacate the throne. A noble act, really. Or it would be if it was not used by just about everyone to force out an unconvenient emperor in favour of someone else. And it is not often that an emperor would recognise their child as more capable than himself.