The Caelestis Nobilium

The state religion of Durant, established in the days of Galamont the Greater, is that of the Church of The Caelestis Nobilium, roughly translated from Old Murotian to "heavenly nobles". Through this... conspicuously convenient... faith, the nobility is revered as being of divine heritage, the forefathers of the noble families viewed as angels walking amongst mortals. At the top of this church is Deum Inter Pulvere, or God Amongst the Dust. As one may guess, Deum Inter Pulvere is a title interchangeable with that of Archduke. This worship of the upper class has long discouraged any questioning of the social order and the significant divide between the haves and have-nots, both parties being under the impression that their position is selected by a hand far greater than their own.

In this quasi-theocracy, the religious officials and nobility are one in the same. The high clergy is simply the first tier of the nobility, empowered by inheritance and, some would argue, circumstance. So long as the Archduke is competent this is hardly a problem, for regardless of the influence of the nobility, all power truly rests in the hands of Deum Inter Pulvere. This has led to a number of... interesting regimes, to say the least. The most notable perhaps was the effort by Archduke Wilmore to produce a series of statues, composed of marble and the height of three-story buildings, depicting his favorite heroic poses. Only one was completed before he expired, allowing his replacement to promptly scrap the project.

Regarding the Deum Inter Pulvere, there is no set code of behavior or limitation imposed upon the figure in question, for it would be improper to tell a supposed god what he can and cannot do. It is therefore common for sweeping changes to take place with every new Archduke, such as the conversion of the Ducal grounds from martial facilities and parade grounds to sprawling gardens. On the subject of the Archduke's diadem from one generation to the next, each Archduke selects his successor annually, renewing this decision each year on I Primidi Vendémiaire. If both the Archduke and his chosen candidate expire within a short period of time, the Minister of Interior will assume the throne.