Imperial Security Gendarmes
The Imperial Security Gendarmes (Greek:Αυτοκρατορικής Ασφαλείας χωροφύλακες, Af̱tokratorikí̱s Asfaleías cho̱rofýlakes) (French: Impériale sécurité gendarmerie) abbreviated (AAC), is one of the main intelligence-gathering agencies of Diadochia. The agency is Diadochia's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its intelligence machinery. From its establishment in 1802, the AAC has served as Diadochia's secret police. The agency is authorized by the government to accomplish its mission through clandestine means.
History
The Imperial Security Gendarmes was created in 1802 by Emperor Nikolas V, following the failed Accession Revolt in 1802. Having experienced the trauma of the Accession Revolt on the very first day of his reign, Nikolas V was determined to suppress and root out "bad ideas" and to fight sedition and revolution. During the reign of Nikolas V the agency ran a huge network of spies and informers with the help of Gendarmes, giving the organization its name.
In the wake of the Accession Revolt, Emperor Nikolas V wanted above all to be aware of public opinion and to remain apprised of any growing conspiracies in order to root them out before they caused potential unrest. From its founding, the main duty of the agency was surveillance. It is widely believed that the agency in 19th century had secret agents who posed as officials inside Diadochian governmental agencies to monitor senior officials and statesmen. Anyone and everyone under the Emperor could and was watched since the agency answered to Nikolas V alone. At one point the agency's agents were even ordered to monitor every move of the Emperor's second son, The agency was reformed in 1827 after a failed assassination attempt on Emperor Basil IV. It was reformed once more in 1830, following a second assassination attempt on Basil IV.
The agency was particularly active, during the late 1830s, during the regency of George VII, the little boy Emperor who had succeeded his father Basil IV.
Duties
Many of the activities of the Imperial Security Gendarmes are secret and classified, but generally the following is believed to be its operations:
- All Imperial orders and announcements in all instances of the higher police.
- Oversee Information concerning the various sects and religious groups existing within the empire.
- Stop the the distribution of counterfeit money, stamps, documents, etc. a position it operates at the command of the Imperial Treasury.
- Maintain detailed information concerning all persons under police surveillance
- Carry out the exile and arrest of suspicious or dangerous persons.
- Supervise the administration of all places of imprisonment in which state prisoners are kept.
- Monitor all orders and instructions with regard to suspicious or dangerous foreigners living in Diadochia, traveling in the country, or leaving it.
- Oversee information concerning all public events.
- Oversee all Statistical information relating to the police.
- Act has the "moral" guardians of Diadochia.
- Inform the Emperor of the public’s opinion
- Influence the public's opinion in the Imperial regime’s favor, both in Diadochia and abroad.
- Employ Diadochians living abroad to not only keep the Agency apprised of foreign politics but also authorize said Diadochians to write stinging responses to attacks on Diadochia published in the foreign press.
Structure
- The Agency is headed by the Chief of Gendarmes, who is the operational head of the agency
- The agency includes various sections:
- Main Directorate
- Surveillance section
- Censorship section
- Propaganda section
- Colonial and Dependency Section
- Provincial Directorates
- County Directorates
- Transport Directorates
- Atlantis, Olympias, Athenais, Alexandretta, Thermá Loutrá divisions
