Duchy of Lorraine

[Arteh 1837]

The Duchy of Lorraine

 

 

The Duchy of Lorraine, a vast and bountiful fiefdom spanning the former Adrian holdings of Brelus and Barrowyk, is home to the noble House d’Amaury and all vestiges of its vast reach. Host to the Honor Guard of Summerhall, a prestigious and progressive banner force serving the Duke Augustus, the Duchy boasts a flourishing country free of crime and immorality - deeply zealous in their religious beliefs.

 

With the avidity and devotion long considered a hallmark of Heartlander workmanship, Lorraine was founded under the Lord Marshal Augustus d’Amaury as the fledgling nobleman’s county. Following the coronation of his Majesty King Guy de Bar, however, the lands of House d’Amaury were granted expanded borders and ducal autocracy under the new monarch.

 

Renowned for their militant culture and opulent lifestyles, the citizens of Lorraine lead purposeful and diligent lives hard at work under the watchful protection of the Lord Marshal. Subject to luxurious living conditions as a direct result to the expansive coffers of House d’Amaury, the Lorraine vassals find very little toil in their existence upon the fertile plains of the former Brelusi soil- and thanks in large part to their lieges’ vast wealth, the duchy is currently seeing a period of expansion and development.

 

Prisoners and cattle are taken during a skirmish - From the Mem Stragulam Magna (Great Tapestry)

 

 

Culture and Values

 

(Main Thread: https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/133767-culture-of-the-lorraine/)

 

“Armis pacem. (Arms keep peace.)”- Amaurian Proverb.

 

The people of Lorriane are a strange mixture of different identities and cultures, and have no typical eye or skin colour. With no physical features to denote them, they differ to other people purely in cultural ways. The feudal system is deeply ingrained in their culture as well as the ways of the church. Faith is their main uniting force; most see the values of the church as the only values one needs to follow to be a well-functioning citizen.

 

The stereotypical citizen of the duchy is thought to be chaste, ernst, and to be overly sensitive of honour, willing to fight duels even mere minor disputes. There is even a myth told by foreigners that such is the martial tradition of the realm that crossbowmen will only allow their sons to eat bread once they have hit it with their crossbow bolts, other missile troops are said to do likewise with their weapons.

 

The nobles commission music - From the Mem Stragulam Magna (Great Tapestry)

 

 

An Expansive Realm

 

The duchy is centred on the bustling agricultural settlement of Sumerhall in the County of Amaury, which is itself centred on the heavily fortified keep, where the ruling dynasty of the duchy, the d’Amaury’s, reside. The duchy is rather decentralised, but despite this, the town has a reputation as the true heart of Lorraine. No man may consider himself a true knight unless he has spoken to the Lord Marshal; no squire may consider himself a master-at-arms unless he has read the fighting manuals they prize so deeply at the keep, and no noble a true rider unless he has ridden upon a destrier or rouncey bread in the county of Amaury

 

“Virtue is the bedrock of life.”-Amaurian Proverb.

 

Knights seated on barded destriers of Amaury (left, centre) and a courser (right) approaching the city walls of an enemy in negotiation - From the Mem Stragulam magna (Great Tapestry)

 

Aside from the vast expanses of fertile agricultural land cultivated by many thousands of serfs, the other main settlement is the Barony of Darkwood, a similar territory, no doubt, and a vassal to the duke. Indeed, it is said “If it is the Lorraine you visit, then it is with Darkwood you begin.”  The inhabitants are masters of animal husbandry and owe many sergeants and dismounted knights to the duchy; indeed, their infantry is famous. This shared military reputation between the men of Amaury and Darkwood is a bane to many men across the Known World.

 

 

Government

 

“A King is only as good as his vassals.”-Adolf III, Baron von Der Ruhr.

 

The duchy is very loyal to the crown and usually supports the king is most disputes. However, the rights of the vassals and the duke’s own right as a vassal of the king under the Feudal Law of Oren is forever and deeply respected. Never will a king abuse the rights of the vassals; he will face repercussions despite the seemingly undying loyalty of the people. Low crown authority and high power among the senior nobles is mostly considered always to the good by the inhabitants of Lorraine.

 

A ducal council is forming made from the most enterprising people in the realm, including a ducal council, chancellor, marshal and steward. As the proverb goes “Gold in peace, steel in war” so each member of the council is equally respected.