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| enemies        = [[Iuz]], [[Pomarj]]
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The '''Directing Oligarchy''' of the [[Free City of Greyhawk]], sometimes called the ''' Directorship'''{{csb|CoG|32|Folk, Feuds, and Factions}}, '''Directorate'''{{csb|Night Watch}}, or simply '''the Oligarchy'''{{csb|CoG|9|Folk, Feuds, and Factions}} is the chief governing body of Greyhawk City. The Directing Oligarchy is also responsible for governing the Domain of Greyhawk, though its authority and reach is somewhat more limited in that respect. Members of the Directing Oligarchy are called "'''Directors'''," or sometimes, "'''Oligarchs'''".
The '''Directing Oligarchy''' of the [[Free City of Greyhawk]], sometimes called the ''' Directorship'''{{csb|CoG|32|Folk, Feuds, and Factions}}, '''Directorate'''{{csb|Night Watch}}, or simply '''the Oligarchy'''{{csb|CoG|9|Folk, Feuds, and Factions}} is the chief governing body of Greyhawk City. The Directing Oligarchy is also responsible for governing the Domain of Greyhawk, though its authority and reach is somewhat more limited in that respect. Members of the Directing Oligarchy are called "'''Directors'''," or sometimes, "'''Oligarchs'''".  


==Structure==
==History==
The Directing Oligarchy numbers twelve to eighteen individuals,{{csb|CoG|6|Folks, Feuds, and Factions}} representing the city's major professional guilds and the military. In some cases, the Oligarchy may include important wizards and/or clerics.  
The Directing Oligarchy traces its roots back to the early [[third century CY]], when Greyhawk was still subject to the [[Great Kingdom]]. In [[209 CY]], Greyhawk's garrison commander, [[Ponjes the Bull]], was appointed [[Landgraf]] of the [[Selintan]] by [[Overking]] [[Jiranen]], after the assassination of Landgraf [[Lucien Nial]]. Attempting to avoid Nial's fate, Ponjes restructured the local government, dubbing himself Greyhawk's first Lord Mayor, and creating an executive council to share power, composed of military, civic, and religious leaders—the Directing Oligarchy.


A Director's term is indefinite, though a director may leave office through retirement, being removed from office, or death.{{csb|CoG|6|Folks, Feuds, and Factions}} A Director may also resign from office.<ref name=oligarchy />,  Current council members elect new Directors when a vacancy is to be filled,{{csb|Grumbler3|1}} though they're "not always obliged to replace an Oligarch."{{csb|CoG|6|Folks, Feuds, and Factions}} To do so, or for the Directorate to act in any event, they must have a quorum (two-thirds of members present and voting),{{csb|Grumbler3|1}} which for the Oligarchy in [[598 CY]], is at least 11 of 16 then-current members of the council{{csb|Grumbler3|1}}— though quorum changes depending on the number of sitting Directors on the Oligarchy at any given time.
The Free City was without a Lord Mayor and full Oligarchy for at least four months in [[598 CY]], when six members of the Oligarchy die and/or are murdered. However, at the time, Director [[Dernan Nathane]] (Guildmaster of the Merchants' and Traders' Union) planned to sway popular opinion and use the [[Public Council]] of Greyhawk to "ratify ''his appointment'' of a new Oligarch to restore a quorum"{{csb|Grumbler3|1}} after which he would attempt to have the other Oligarchs make his role as unofficial acting Lord Mayor {{csb|Grumbler3|1}} made permanent.  His plan focuses on needing 11 of 16 Oligarchs for a quorum vote, and with only ten remaining after the disastrous events following Greyhawk’s Centennial Celebrations, the narrative was that the Directorate was unable to vote or act, at all.  However, quorum is counted from the official number of sitting Directors, and there were enough Directors for a vote to appoint new members of the Directing Oligarchy, and Nathane seems to have been attempting to not follow that.  The outcome afterward isn't known, so it is possible the normal procedure for appointing new Directors (a quorum vote, instead of appointment by the Public Council) followed later in the year (after [[Calendar|Goodmonth]]).  


Directors elect one of their number to serve as Lord Mayor. The Lord Mayor serves for life, acting as head of state for the City and Domain of Greyhawk, while also heading both the Directing Oligarchy and the [[Council of Mayors and Manorial Lords]]. The Lord Mayor also officially acts as commander-in-chief of Greyhawk's military, though actual command is most often left to the Captain General of the Watch.
==Members==
The Directing Oligarchy usually numbers twelve to eighteen individuals,{{csb|WoG|25|Guide}}{{csb|CoG|6|Folks, Feuds, and Factions}}{{csb|TAB|62}} representing the city's major professional guilds and the military.  Certain positions on the Directorate are set.  Among these are "Captain-General of the Watch, the Constable, the Guildmaster of Thieves, and the Guildmaster of Assassins."  Other seats on the council are filled variously by "representatives of the [[Society of Magi]], the Merchants and Traders Union, Artisans League, and Clerical leaders."{{csb|WoG|25|Guide}}


==History==
A Director's term is indefinite, though a director may leave office through retirement, being removed from office, or death.{{csb|CoG|6|Folks, Feuds, and Factions}}  A Director may also resign from office.<ref name=oligarchy />  Sitting council members elect new Directors when a vacancy is to be filled,{{csb|Grumbler3|1}} though they are "not always obliged to replace an Oligarch."{{csb|CoG|6|Folks, Feuds, and Factions}} and "it is not required for a Director who retires or dies to be replaced."{{csb|TAB|62}}  To do so, or for the Directorate to act in any event, they must have a quorum (two-thirds of members must be present and voting){{csb|Grumbler3|1}}—though quorum changes depending on the number of sitting Directors on the Oligarchy at any given time.
The Directing Oligarchy traces its roots back to the early [[third century CY]], when Greyhawk was still subject to the [[Great Kingdom]]. In [[209 CY]], Greyhawk's garrison commander, [[Ponjes the Bull]], was appointed [[Landgraf]] of the [[Selintan]] by [[Overking]] [[Jiranen]], after the assassination of Landgraf [[Lucien Nial]]. Attempting to avoid Nial's fate, Ponjes restructured the local government, dubbing himself Greyhawk's first Lord Mayor, and creating an executive council to share power, composed of military, civic, and religious leaders—the Directing Oligarchy.


The Free City was without a Lord Mayor and full Oligarchy for at least four months in [[598 CY]], when six members of the Oligarchy die and/or are murdered.  However, at the time, Director [[Dernan Nathane]] (Guildmaster of the Merchants' and Traders' Union) planned to sway popular opinion and use the [[Public Council]] of Greyhawk to "ratify ''his appointment'' of a new Oligarch to restore a quorum"{{csb|Grumbler3|1}} after which he would attempt to have them make his role as unofficial acting Lord Mayor {{csb|Grumbler3|1}} made permanent.  His plan focuses on needing 11 of 16 Oligarchs for a quorum vote, and with only 10 left after the disastrous events following Greyhawk’s Centennial Celebrations, the narrative was that the Directorate was unable to vote or act, at all.
Directors elect one of their number to serve as Lord Mayor. The Lord Mayor serves for life, acting as head of state for the [[Free City|City]] and [[Domain of Greyhawk]], while also heading both the Directing Oligarchy and the [[Council of Mayors and Manorial Lords]]. The Lord Mayor also officially acts as commander-in-chief of Greyhawk's military, though actual command is most often left to the Captain General of the Watch.


However, the quorum is counted from the official number of sitting Directors (requiring 6 of 10), or possibly the minimum number of Oligarchs (requiring 9 of 12).  In either case, there were enough Directors for a vote to appoint new members of the Directing Oligarchy, and Nathane was making an attempt to not follow that.  The outcome afterward isn't known, so it is possible the normal procedure for appointing new Directors (a quorum vote, instead of appointment by the Public Council) followed later in the year (after [[Calendar|Goodmonth]]). 
==Members==
===Recent Directors===
===Recent Directors===
In [[Calendar|Planting]] [[598 CY]], the Directing Oligarchy numbered sixteen.  It was reduced to ten with the deaths and murders of five Oligarchs during the Centennial Celebrations in [[Calendar|Goodmonth]], and the absconding of [[Turin Deathstalker]].<br> The Oligarchy consists of the following members:<ref name=oligarchy>[http://web.archive.org/web/20161031210109/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=lg/lgpg/20080418a ''The Directing Oligarchs of Greyhawk'']. (April 2008)</ref>
In [[Calendar|Planting]] [[598 CY]], the Directing Oligarchy numbered sixteen.  It was reduced to ten with the deaths and murders of five Oligarchs during the Centennial Celebrations in [[Calendar|Goodmonth]], and the absconding of [[Turin Deathstalker]].<br> The Oligarchy consists of the following members:<ref name=oligarchy>[http://web.archive.org/web/20161031210109/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=lg/lgpg/20080418a ''The Directing Oligarchs of Greyhawk'']. (April 2008)</ref>
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* [[Etin Derecs]]—retired Chief Constable (male human fighter 13, LE). Replaced Derider Fanshen in [[591 CY]], serving until [[596 CY|596]], when he was forced to "retire" for health reasons. Replaced as Director and Chief Constable by Sir [[Gavin Ambus]].
* [[Etin Derecs]]—retired Chief Constable (male human fighter 13, LE). Replaced Derider Fanshen in [[591 CY]], serving until [[596 CY|596]], when he was forced to "retire" for health reasons. Replaced as Director and Chief Constable by Sir [[Gavin Ambus]].
* [[Jerome Kasinkaia]]—priest of [[Rao]] (male human cleric 20, LG). Former [[Rao|Patriarch of Rao]] in Greyhawk. Retired to [[Mitrik]] in [[596 CY]].
* [[Jerome Kasinkaia]]—priest of [[Rao]] (male human cleric 20, LG). Former [[Rao|Patriarch of Rao]] in Greyhawk. Retired to [[Mitrik]] in [[596 CY]].
* Sir [[Anton Palmirian]]&dagger;—former Chief Judge of Greyhawk and Guildmaster of the [[Lawyers’, Scribes’, and Accountants’ Guild]] (male human expert 12, LE). Sir Anton died in [[597 CY]].<ref name=oligarchy />
* Sir [[Anton Palmirian]]&dagger;—former Chief Judge of Greyhawk and Guildmaster of the [[Lawyers’, Scribes’, and Accountants’ Guild]] (male human expert 12, LE). Sir Anton died in [[597 CY]].<ref name=oligarchy /> Was not replaced after his death.
* [[Eritai Kaan-Ipzirel]]—Matriarch of [[Saint Cuthbert]] (female cleric 14, LN). Served as an Oligarch from [[584 CY]] until her resignation in Planting of [[598 CY]]. Replaced on the Directing Oligarchy by [[Silas Steamgem]].
* [[Eritai Kaan-Ipzirel]]—Matriarch of [[Saint Cuthbert]] (female cleric 14, LN). Served as an Oligarch from [[584 CY]] until her resignation in Planting of [[598 CY]]. Replaced on the Directing Oligarchy by [[Silas Steamgem]].


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* [[Jason Bulmahn|Bulmahn, Jason]], [[James Jacobs]], and [[Erik Mona]]. ''[[Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007.
* [[Jason Bulmahn|Bulmahn, Jason]], [[James Jacobs]], and [[Erik Mona]]. ''[[Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007.
* [[Cook, David]]. "History of the Greyhawk Wars." ''[[Greyhawk Wars (boxed set)|Wars]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991. Available Online: [http://www.nyrond.org/turbine/page/university/greyhawkwars.html]
* [[Cook, David]]. "History of the Greyhawk Wars." ''[[Greyhawk Wars (boxed set)|Wars]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991. Available Online: [http://www.nyrond.org/turbine/page/university/greyhawkwars.html]
* [[Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
* [[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983. Item code TSR1015.
* [[Gary Holian|Holian, Gary]], [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean K. Reynolds]], and [[Frederick Weining]]. ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
* [[Gary Holian|Holian, Gary]], [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean K. Reynolds]], and [[Frederick Weining]]. ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
* {{cite web |author=Menge, Eric |authorlink=ERic Menge |title=The Greyhawk Gumbler #1 |url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=lg/lggt/20080223a |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090603044902/https://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=lg/lggt/20080223a |archivedate=3 June 2009 |work=Wizards.com |publisher=[[WotC]] |date=23 February 2008 |accessdate=20 January 2023 |}}
* {{cite web |author=Menge, Eric |authorlink=ERic Menge |title=The Greyhawk Gumbler #1 |url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=lg/lggt/20080223a |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090603044902/https://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=lg/lggt/20080223a |archivedate=3 June 2009 |work=Wizards.com |publisher=[[WotC]] |date=23 February 2008 |accessdate=20 January 2023 |}}

Revision as of 11:29, 27 November 2023

Greyhawk Organization
Directing Oligarchy
Other names:Directorate, Directorship, Oligarachy
Type:Government
Founded:209 CY
Leader:Lord Mayor Nerof Gasgal
Members:Greyhawk citizens
Headquarters:Free City of Greyhawk
Enemies:Iuz, Pomarj

The Directing Oligarchy of the Free City of Greyhawk, sometimes called the Directorship[1], Directorate[2], or simply the Oligarchy[3] is the chief governing body of Greyhawk City. The Directing Oligarchy is also responsible for governing the Domain of Greyhawk, though its authority and reach is somewhat more limited in that respect. Members of the Directing Oligarchy are called "Directors," or sometimes, "Oligarchs".

History

The Directing Oligarchy traces its roots back to the early third century CY, when Greyhawk was still subject to the Great Kingdom. In 209 CY, Greyhawk's garrison commander, Ponjes the Bull, was appointed Landgraf of the Selintan by Overking Jiranen, after the assassination of Landgraf Lucien Nial. Attempting to avoid Nial's fate, Ponjes restructured the local government, dubbing himself Greyhawk's first Lord Mayor, and creating an executive council to share power, composed of military, civic, and religious leaders—the Directing Oligarchy.

The Free City was without a Lord Mayor and full Oligarchy for at least four months in 598 CY, when six members of the Oligarchy die and/or are murdered. However, at the time, Director Dernan Nathane (Guildmaster of the Merchants' and Traders' Union) planned to sway popular opinion and use the Public Council of Greyhawk to "ratify his appointment of a new Oligarch to restore a quorum"[4] after which he would attempt to have the other Oligarchs make his role as unofficial acting Lord Mayor [4] made permanent. His plan focuses on needing 11 of 16 Oligarchs for a quorum vote, and with only ten remaining after the disastrous events following Greyhawk’s Centennial Celebrations, the narrative was that the Directorate was unable to vote or act, at all. However, quorum is counted from the official number of sitting Directors, and there were enough Directors for a vote to appoint new members of the Directing Oligarchy, and Nathane seems to have been attempting to not follow that. The outcome afterward isn't known, so it is possible the normal procedure for appointing new Directors (a quorum vote, instead of appointment by the Public Council) followed later in the year (after Goodmonth).

Members

The Directing Oligarchy usually numbers twelve to eighteen individuals,[5][6][7] representing the city's major professional guilds and the military. Certain positions on the Directorate are set. Among these are "Captain-General of the Watch, the Constable, the Guildmaster of Thieves, and the Guildmaster of Assassins." Other seats on the council are filled variously by "representatives of the Society of Magi, the Merchants and Traders Union, Artisans League, and Clerical leaders."[5]

A Director's term is indefinite, though a director may leave office through retirement, being removed from office, or death.[6] A Director may also resign from office.[8] Sitting council members elect new Directors when a vacancy is to be filled,[4] though they are "not always obliged to replace an Oligarch."[6] and "it is not required for a Director who retires or dies to be replaced."[7] To do so, or for the Directorate to act in any event, they must have a quorum (two-thirds of members must be present and voting)[4]—though quorum changes depending on the number of sitting Directors on the Oligarchy at any given time.

Directors elect one of their number to serve as Lord Mayor. The Lord Mayor serves for life, acting as head of state for the City and Domain of Greyhawk, while also heading both the Directing Oligarchy and the Council of Mayors and Manorial Lords. The Lord Mayor also officially acts as commander-in-chief of Greyhawk's military, though actual command is most often left to the Captain General of the Watch.

Recent Directors

In Planting 598 CY, the Directing Oligarchy numbered sixteen. It was reduced to ten with the deaths and murders of five Oligarchs during the Centennial Celebrations in Goodmonth, and the absconding of Turin Deathstalker.
The Oligarchy consists of the following members:[8]

Former Directors

The following Directors are listed in the order in which they left the Directing Oligarchy:

Later members

In Night Watch, Robin Wayne Bailey names the current Lord Mayor and other Directors. Though no specific date is given, the book is set in either an alternate "present" or a potential "future" of Greyhawk where "no one... had heard from the Circle of Eight in over fifty years, and Mordenkainen himself had not been seen for more than that,"[11]. For it to be a potential future timeline, Nerof Gasgal would have to live to be near 110 years old and Lord Mayor for 80 years before being murdered. (He is murdered in both Night Watch and other officially published material.) For it to be an alternate present, the Oligarchy would have to have different members.

There were seventeen Directing Oligarchs in Night Watch.[12] Among them are:

References

Notes

† — denotes a character deceased by 598 CY.
††—denotes a character who died (or was assassinated) during the Centennial Celebrations in 598 CY.[4]

Citations

  1. The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.32, Folk, Feuds, and Factions.
  2. Night Watch (1990).
  3. The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.9, Folk, Feuds, and Factions.
  4. a b c d e f Greyhawk Grumbler #3, Goodmonth 598 (2008), p.1.
  5. a b World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.25, Guide.
  6. a b c The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.6, Folks, Feuds, and Factions.
  7. a b The Adventure Begins (1998), p.62.
  8. a b c The Directing Oligarchs of Greyhawk. (April 2008)
  9. The Adventure Begins (1998), p.63.
  10. From the Ashes (1992), p.8, Campaign Book.
  11. Night Watch (1990), p.170.
  12. a b c d e f g Night Watch (1990), p.103.
  13. a b c Night Watch (1990), p.229.
  14. Night Watch (1990), p.270.
  15. Night Watch (1990), p.307.
  16. Night Watch (1990), p.92.

Bibliography

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic Type Description Product Page/Card/Image

Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards 5, 22
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions 4, 6-16, 19, 25, 27-42, 54, 61, 65, 66, 75, 77, 78
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess 22, 32, 56, 58, 83
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, City of Hawks 38, 39, 133, 213, 394
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Dragon magazine #009 6
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Dragon magazine #262 39
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Dragon magazine #268 70
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Dragon magazine #301 88, 90
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Dragon magazine #344 48, 50, 51, 55
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Dragon magazine #359 76
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Dragon magazine #AN3 104
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Dungeon magazine #041 48
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, From the Ashes: Campaign Book 4-12, 25, 33, 62-66, 71, 82, 85
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Greyhawk Adventures 36, 37, 40
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Living Greyhawk Gazetteer 41, 51, 52
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Living Greyhawk Journal #0 6
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Living Greyhawk Journal #1 26, 27
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Living Greyhawk Journal #2 7, 8, 9, 10, 29
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Living Greyhawk Journal #3 27
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Living Greyhawk Journal #4 29, 30
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Living Greyhawk Journal #5 4, 5, 9
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Night Arrant 276, 277, 301, 346, 351, 356, 384, 387-392, 396
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Oerth Journal #03 7
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Oerth Journal #04 4
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Oerth Journal #06 20
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Oerth Journal #07 17
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Oerth Journal #10 22,75,76
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Oerth Journal #17 16
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Oerth Journal #28 7
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Oerth Journal #31 28
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Player's Guide to Greyhawk 23, 29
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Restless Nights, D&D 3.5e Web Article Web
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Slavers, AD&D 2e 6, 32, 109
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Saga of Old City 45, 65
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, The Adventure Begins 7, 33, 40-43, 45, 47, 54, 58-60, 62-67, 70-72, 74, 76, 78, 83-88, 91, 92, 94-97, 101, 102, 110-112, 114-119, 121, 123, 124, 126
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, LT3 The Doomgrinder 22, 23, 27
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, WGA4 Vecna Lives! 21, 86
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) 11
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, WGR4 The Marklands 9
Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) 25
Directing Oligarchy {Directorate} (City of Greyhawk) People Group Council, Night Watch (1990) 11, 24, 31,