Little Kourosh guided his thoughts toward one of the most important pillars of his thousand-year empire: "The Principles of Persian Governance." He was well aware that an eternal edifice requires a steadfast foundation. This foundation was not built solely on military power and material wealth, but was rooted in a deep philosophy that he called the "Politics of Iranshahr"; a philosophy based on a sacred covenant between the king and his people. The king, by virtue of his Divine Glory (Farrah-e Izadi), was obligated to establish justice (dād) and prosperity, and in return, the people offered him their loyalty. This mutual pact was the core essence of the government Kourosh envisioned; a government that differed from the autocracy of European empires or the sole focus on bureaucracy in Chinese dynasties.
He did not want his empire to suffer the fate of autocratic regimes that, with the death of their founder, descend into a whirlpool of civil wars and corruption. Therefore, inspired by his twenty-first-century historical knowledge, he studied the governmental structures of great civilizations. He admired the complex and efficient bureaucracy of the Chinese emperors of the Han and Tang dynasties; a system that had maintained stability for centuries through the selection of competent officials. Kourosh intended to blend this bureaucratic efficiency with the justice-centered spirit of the Politics of Iranshahr. This art of balance, this delicate dance of power among different institutions, was what Kourosh sought to establish in the heart of the Persian Empire. The book "The Principles of Persian Governance" was meant to turn this grand dream into a codified, lasting, and executable structure.
Kourosh founded the civil structure of the empire on three main and independent pillars, each with a specific duty, while also overseeing each other's work to ensure no single institution held absolute power and that corruption could not take root. These three pillars were the main columns of a government that would spread justice throughout the land and bring peace to the people. This system was not only efficient for administering a vast empire but also assured the people that their rights would not be violated and their voices would be heard. This balance was the guarantor of the empire's stability and prosperity, distinguishing it from past civilizations built on oppression and injustice.
The first pillar was the "Supreme Imperial Council," which held the critical responsibility of legislation and overseeing the nation's grand budget. This council was the beating heart of Kourosh's limited and wise democracy; a place where the voices of all peoples and classes were heard and had a role in decision-making. Its members were chosen from among the elected representatives of the satrapies (provinces), the leaders of the Persian and Median tribes, and the elders and scholars who had proven their merit in science and practice. This selection was based on wisdom and ability, not merely lineage or wealth, so that the best would serve the nation. The council would periodically convene in the capital to draft new laws, amend old ones, and review and approve the budget proposed by the court. Any law passed by this council was presented to the emperor for final approval, but the main power of drafting and debating the laws was in the hands of the people's representatives and the elites, though the emperor also had the right of veto. This structure ensured that the laws reflected the needs and desires of all the peoples and regions of the empire and brought justice to all, while at the same time, the emperor's power was not undermined.
The second pillar was the "Imperial Court," which, as the executive branch, bore the responsibility of administering the daily affairs of the country and implementing the laws passed by the council. This court was not a center for corruption and luxury, but an efficient bureaucratic apparatus composed of specialized ministries. Kourosh, understanding the needs of an advanced and complex civilization, designed ministries that each had specific duties and operated in a specialized manner to cover all aspects of people's lives. These ministries were the executive arms of the empire, covering everything from financial and agricultural management to education and health, and their main goal was efficiency, transparency, and service to the people, to ensure that justice was also observed in execution.
The third pillar was the "Imperial Judiciary," a completely independent institution responsible for judgment and establishing justice. Kourosh knew that without justice, no government would be stable, and no nation would prosper. The judges of this institution, called "Dadvaran" (Adjudicators), were chosen from among the wisest and most just jurists after passing difficult exams and proving their impartiality and knowledge. They were immune from any interference from the court or the Supreme Council and judged solely based on the codified laws and their own conscience. This independence guaranteed impartiality and the correct implementation of justice.
The courts at various levels, from local courts in villages for handling small and daily disputes to the Supreme Imperial Court in the capital for large and important cases, dealt with civil and criminal lawsuits. Their verdicts were binding on everyone except the emperor himself, and no one was above the law. This judicial structure not only helped to establish order and security but also gained the people's trust in the government and assured them that their rights would be protected under all circumstances. This comprehensive justice was the main pillar of the nation's loyalty to the empire.
Alongside these three civil institutions, there were also two powerful and special arms that operated directly under the emperor and maintained the balance of power at the highest level. These two arms ensured that no institution, not even the civil ones, deviated from the path of justice and service to the nation. To the right of the emperor's throne stood the commander of the "General Staff of the Imperial Armed Forces," a symbol that the emperor always held the sword in his right hand to defend the nation. This military institution, which was accountable only to the person of the emperor, was in command of all armed forces and was completely independent of the civil apparatus, so that it would never become a tool for internal suppression or the political ambitions of a specific minister or group, and would only serve to protect the empire and its ideals.
To the left of the emperor's throne was the head of the "Emperor's Watchmen" organization, a symbol of the ever-watchful and vigilant eye of the sovereign. This intelligence agency, designed with inspiration from the secret network being established by Fariborz, was responsible for espionage in enemy lands and counter-espionage within the borders. The Watchmen, by gathering precise intelligence on external threats and internal seditions, presented their reports directly to the emperor so that he could make strategic decisions with full awareness. This institution, by monitoring the performance of all parts of the government, including the army itself, acted as a counterweight to military power, prevented any conspiracy against the empire, and ensured transparency at all levels of government.