Fantasy Guide to Viceroys and Governors
When a kingdom or empire is vast enough, often times the monarch and government feel the need to appoint somebody to oversee it on their behalf. These people, viceroys and governors act as the de facto head of the government in those areas, answering only to the monarch themselves.
For @sin-opa who asked.
Viceroy vs Governor
There are differences between a viceroy and a governor though both officially act as an extension of the monarch's power in an area under their power.
Governor: A governor was officially appointed to oversee the administration and government of a region in the country. They have ability to make on the ground decisions (when approved by the monarch), they are responsible for keeping the peace in the area and seeing to the needs of the people living there. They can hail from the nobility or the royal family themselves but are always appointed by the monarch on advise of the government.
Viceroy: A Viceroy is similar to that of a governor only they control a territory often outside of the country of origin, usually part of an empire. They are the representative of the monarch in this place aboard, it is right in the name. Viceroys carried out official duties on behalf of the monarch in their territory, they ensured the peace, lead the government on the direction of the monarch and ensured that control remained over the colony or area. Viceroys offered a more symbolic role outside of what a governor would and were often high ranking members of the nobility and the royal family.
Who could be a Viceroy or Governor?
Both Viceroys and Governors were appointed by the monarch. Governors could be officials without a peerage but were mostly nobility, sometimes even royalty. In the Ottoman Empire, the governors of provinces were usually sons of the Sultan or close advisers he trusted. Viceroys were almost exclusively nobles and royalty, often with strong ties to the royal family. Appointing a noble to these positions is a sign of trust and honour but it is also a burden, especially if the territory is far away from their home. Often they must uproot their families and move to the area which can cause personal strife despite the luxury they will be dwelling in. A monarch would take a lot of things into account for choosing a governor or a viceroy but usually, it involves who can they trust, their loyalty, whether or not they are willing to screw over the Crown and how effective they can be in both peace and war. Often, for viceroyalties, they pick family members who aren't too powerful but have a strong ethic for work and duty, distant cousins or aunts and uncles who might pull their weight out there. If an area is trouble, they will send a military-minded figure. If the area struggles to grow, they will send somebody able to come up with dynamic solutions. But this is of course a monarch willing to do good. Sometimes, the monarch chooses somebody because money has exchanged hands or favours were called in. Perhaps a monarch choses a governor or viceroy because they want to remove a person from the board of play at home or perhaps they want to punish a member of the family for an indiscretion by sending them away. There are all sorts of reasons to bestow this honour.
Perks and Privileges
Viceroys and Governors, acting as representatives for the Crown, often lived very grand lives in their roles. Viceroys had the power to hold ceremonies often undertaken by the monarch such as investitures and military inspections. They would be provided with a grand residence along with staff and receive a stipend from the Crown to support themselves. They could award peerages on behalf of the Crown with their blessing, meet with diplomats and dignitaries. They would act as commander in chief of the military with only the monarch over them. They were at the head of the society in their territory, their spouses hosting the grandest events, setting trends and the expectations for society. The Governor had less privileges and powers but they still acted with the blessing of the monarch, acting as the administrative head of the territory. They were granted a residence by the Crown, along with servants and a household to support them. They could serve as the commander in chief for the territory but the monarch would be directly over their head. They would also lead society with the governor's wife/spouse hosting society events and the such. Viceroys and governors were expected to remain fair and impartial to the factions within their territories. However, it wasn't unheard of for both to get some kickbacks for their trouble, such as bribes or gifts for favourable decisions.
Responsibilities of a Viceroy and Governor
While both viceroys and governors acted as representatives for the monarch in these territories both at home and aboard, each of them had a set scope of power and responsibilities. I will make this clear here, while they are the representatives of the Crown, they themselves are not monarchs and can't make choices without the monarch. If they do this, they will be fired.
Viceroy: The viceroy had the highest administrative powers in the territory. They could make laws, oversee relations with other countries and appoint officials to places of power in their territory. While they are a slice of monarchy from home, the viceroy must run every choice and decision past the monarch and their government before they do anything official. They act only within regulations and limits set by the monarch and government.
Governor: The governor also saw to the administrative side of things in the region they run but would have had less scope of power since in relation to a viceroy, they controlled a smaller area. They reported to the monarch and government. Every choice was run by the monarch and government first.
Both Governors and Viceroys had to deal with issues within the territory which may make them unpopular in the territory. Often, especially if the territory resents being controlled by the Crown, especially if it is a Viceroy and they control an territory abroad, they may become targets for political assassination or rebellion. If they are incredibly unpopular, they may even lose their position if it has become untenable for the people.
Placement
These positions were not made for life. For most nobles and royals that took on the mantle of the position, it was a great honour but not one they wanted forever nor would the Crown be wise to hand that sort of authority to a single figure, they might get ideas. To ensure that the area remains stable and power remains solely with the Crown, limitations are often imposed on the placement such as a span of months or years. Once the placement is over, the Viceroy or Governor would hand power over their replacement and then return home. They would retain some respect for their previous honour but would not have any more to do with the territory.
