Himesa succession

In Riyatic culture and law, himesa succession concerns how himesa is passed on from one individual to another. Each region of Riyata has its own traditions and customs associated with himesa, but there are unifying elements that they all share. The dominant tradition is the Grana-Niqana system, which is recognized by federal law and forms the basis of Riyatic legal himesa. The most common feature across all systems of himesa succession is the concept of "waning himesa," where the legitimacy of himesa deteriorates as it is passed on from one generation to the next. In most jurisdictions, legal himesa is lost after three generations or less.

History
In ancient times, himesa was not legally defined and the status of having inherited himesa or not was largely based on the public opinion of one's community. Starting in the 4th century BCE, legal himesa developed in the western Taxic colonies, providing a codified tradition of himesa succession. Two powerful cities, Grana and Niqana, developed similar but separate customs. Legal himesa spread to mainland Taxata during the Wars for Eqohira, during which Niqana and her allied cities established a hegemony over the region. From Taxata, legal himesa spread to the other colonies, quickly becoming a keystone of Classical Taxic culture. The emergence of himesa as a legal status and its association with the emerging tolen aristocracy necessitated a formal system of inheritance, which developed differently in different regions. The various original systems of himesa succession expanded across modern-day Riyata when large numbers of Taxics migrated west during the Late Taxic Invasions, after which they splintered further. Generally, himesa was used as a tool of assimilation in the multiethnic west, while the Taxic tolen used it to maintain their hold on political and economic power. As a result, eastern traditions usually developed permanence, where himesa did not disappear for many generations. In the west, and especially in southern cities, himesa was used to "Riyaticize" locals and was much more institutionalized, possessing strict requirements on when and for how long it could be passed on.

Federal himesa law
Riyatic himesa law is based around the Grana-Niqana system, which is prevalent across southern states. In this system, himesa is conferred one-step by association (to siblings and parents), and three steps by heritage (to children and grandchildren, including adopted children). Unlike in some other systems, himesa does not degrade over time, meaning first-generation and third-generation tolen are legally identical. However, himesa does not pass on from the third to fourth generation.

Imperial Himesa
The Monarch of Riyata derives their authority from possessing Imperial Himesa, which has its own system of succession. The method through which Imperial Himesa is inherited is outlined in the Table of the Ciqatic Empire and is reinforced by both the Constitution of Riyata and by Riyatic law. Only one person may possess Imperial Himesa at a time, making them the Riyatic monarch. It does not expire and is not hereditary, though a new monarch's immediate family including children and grandchildren do acquire standard legal himesa through the Grana-Niqana system. Imperial Himesa itself is inherited based on direct appointment by the previous bearer, where the monarch is empowered to seek the individual best suited to next rule the nation. By convention, the monarch's direct family is usually excluded from consideration, though grandchildren have historically been a relatively common appointment. Generally, monarchs have bequeathed Imperial Himesa exclusively to first-generation tolen. In cases where the monarch dies before designating a successor, the Electoral College decides its succession.

Other systems
Each state and province has different laws concerning himesa succession, but the federal law takes precedence. As a result, it is possible for individuals to possess himesa according to state laws but not in the eyes of the federal government. In practice, most states have abolished their state himesa laws to avoid conflict with other states or the federal government, but there are some states that still maintain their own forms of legal himesa.

Taxic succession
Taxic succession is practiced in Taxata, Harmata, Eqohira, Saqata, and Inqasa. It is similar to the Grana-Niqana succession, except the duration of himesa is five generations instead of three and does not spread upwards (to parents). Himesa also cannot be voluntarily relinquished.

Hiqua succession
Hiqua succession is only practiced in North Hiqua and Asaye, where himesa is permanently passed down through absolute primogeniture while only lasting a temporary amount of generations (one in North Hiqua and three in Asaye) for other children. The system originally developed in the northeast but saw the most widespread use in central Riyata, where it created an entrenched aristocracy that lasted from the early medieval period until the early-20th century. Most Hiqua system states rebelled during the Riyatic Civil War and lost their statehood and associated himesa laws after the Centralist victory.