Camarilla (VTM)

In Vampire: The Masquerade, the 'Camarilla is a loose organization which ostensibly represents and protects all Kindred by enforcing and promulgating the Masquerade.

History
The Camarilla was officially founded in 1493 in the city of Thorns, however the origins of the organization can be traced back to the Inquisition.

With the end of the Dark Ages, the Inquisition had become a progressively more effective vampire-hunting organization, in reaction to this elders began treating their childer as (even more) cannon fodder. As the death rates rose, the childer rebelled, and with Tyler's diablerie of Hardestadt the Elder in 1381 precipitated the Anarch Revolt.

As the revolt spreads, the loose society of the Kindred is strained - several Anarchs diablerize Antediluvians themselves, while the Giovanni eliminate their Cappadocian progenitors and the Assamites take advantage of the chaos to slake their own blood-thirsts. The chaos even extends to the control-freak clan Tremere leading eventually to a revolt by the Gargoyles.

By the late 15th century, Kindred society is approaching extinction, even if the Anarchs don't realize that. To prevent their own deaths (and incidentally those of all Vampires), seven elders meet at Thorns to outline a protection strategy:


 * Hardestadt the Younger: Progeny (and now imitator) of the late Ventrue elder.
 * Rafael De Corazon: Poseur of clan Toreador and idealist.
 * Mistress Fanchon: Representative of clan Tremere
 * Camilla Baines: Of the Malkavians
 * Josef Van Bauren: Representing clan Nosferatu
 * Adana de Sforza: of the Brujah
 * Milov Petrenkov: representing the Gangrel

These seven elders organize the meeting at Thorns, negotiating with the Anarchs and eventually creating the first form of the Camarilla. This initial organization consists of at least two pillars of the modern Camarilla: the Justicars (in the form of the seven Founders) and the Masquerade, De Corazon's brainchild.

However, the Camarilla is also a status quo organization, enforcing the Traditions, the institute of the Prince, and the rule of the Elders. Thus, while the Camarilla offers protection for all vampires, many Anarchs refuse to join and instead form the Sabbat. In addition, the Independent Clans maintain their independence.

The nascent Camarilla is however buoyed both by size (seven clans to two), and potency, by virtue of the elders who naturally gravitate towards it. Over the next century, the Camarilla not so much conquers the other clans as defines relationships with them. The Assamites submit to a blood curse from the Tremere in 1496, ending a war of mutual destruction with the Treaty of Tyre. In 1528, clan Giovanni agrees to a mutual non-interference pact with the Camarilla. The Followers of Set and the Ravnos do not reach separate agreements, but they are also not considered as much of a threat.

Organization
The Camarilla is ultimately a global structure on top of a collection of feudal domains. The most fundamental institutions of vampire society, as outlined by the Traditions, are maintained by the Camarilla - consequently, Camarilla cities have a Prince, Primogen, Elysium and all the other accoutrements of vampiric existence. On top of this structure, however, is a global organization, largely enforced through the Justicars and their assitants, the Archons. This global structure is largely focused on eliminating threats to all clans and the Masquerade.