Regarding Knighthood in Lotharingia

[Archduchy of Lorraine 287]

Regarding Knighthood in Lotharingia

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

By the official decree of His Majesty, King Hughes I Pierre d’Amaury, King of Lotharingia, and the Knights of the Circle, the state of knighthood and those eligible to title themselves as Ser is redefined herein. Their powers and responsibilities, the codes that they must adhere to and the obligations which they owe to the state of Lotharingia are thus named.

 

ARTICLE I

Knighthood and Elevation

 

There exists only one route for a man to take in order to be granted knighthood and all the respect that the title of Ser entails; this being:

 

• Being granted the office of Ser by the King of Lotharingia and the Knights of the Circle for an act of exemplary valour or courage, befitting of the title.

 

The previous form(s) of being granted knighthood are formally revoked and seen as an illegitimate means of being able to receive the title of Ser:

 

• Serving an existing Ser or Lord of the Kingdom as a squire for enough years to learn the tenets of knighthood.

• Being knighted by the King or any of his Lords without the consent of the Knights of the Circle.

 

In order for one to be named as a knight by His Majesty, the King, and the Knights of the Circle the following must occur:

 

• The hopeful Ser must show their honour and bravery through a valorous action and in doing such prove themselves worthy of the title - demonstrating to the Heartlander Crown both their dedication and understanding of chivalry.

• A man may be recommended by the Prince or any vassals beneath His Majesty, having previously demonstrated the aforementioned qualities, and placed before the Crown and the Knights of the Circle for consideration.

• The hopeful Ser must also swear oaths of fealty to His Majesty, the King, regardless of their title.

 

Any hopeful Ser must fit the following criteria to be considered:

 

• The hopeful must be a male, and of Human origin - no dwarven, orcish or other bastardisation of blood shall be allowed the title Ser.

• Noble blood, whilst oft desired, is not necessary; the candidate for Knighthood may be common, burgher or noble.

 

For a Knighthood to be considered valid, the ceremony with which a hopeful is made a Ser must follow certain steps:

 

• Both His Majesty, the King of Lotharingia, and a member of the Knights of the Circle, whoever should hold the position, must be present for the ceremony to occur.

• For the ceremony to be considered fully valid, both the aforementioned figures should be present as well as at least pair of other witnesses.

 

ARTICLE II

Gentry and Laws

 

Every Knight and his family are members of the gentry class, but only the knight himself holds the lowest rank of nobility within the Kingdom. No longer shall second sons or any proceeding receive privileges before acquiring both Knighthood and an Education. Defined herein are the tenets of such class, along with their styling:

 

• The title of Ser is not hereditary, nor subject to the laws of inheritance. Should a Knight die, no son of his shall take up his title.

• Knights are to be styled as the Ser [First Name] ‘The [Knightly Moniker], addressed in missive or conversation as the Ser [First Name].

 

We put our nobility to a standard higher than that of the realms abroad; all heirs are expected to squire and study until the completion of their training and studies. All titles will be held and managed by Both the King and his Seven until said heir has secured at least an Errant Knight’s status, and Bachelor’s education.

 

In order to uphold the honour of the gentry class and all knights, they are expected to uphold the following expectations*:

 

• Knights are expected to uphold the tenure of their fealty to His Majesty and His Majesty alone. They must adhere to laws, pay tax, and answer any call to battle.

• They must protect the commoners of the Kingdom, regardless of what Lord’s standard they serve beneath.

• All Knights are expected to act as an exemplar of justice and piety to all that live within the Kingdom.

 

*Adherence to these expectations is not bound by law, as later ones are, yet to disregard such shall bring shame onto a Ser and all of his kin.

 

The following crimes are worthy of death, unless otherwise pardoned by His Majesty, the King:

 

• Should a man claim to hold the title of Knight, or be of the gentry and noble classes, he shall be punished for breaking the King’s law.

• Impersonation of another Knight of the Realm, attempting to take on their name and garments, shall be punished just as strictly.

 

In order for the gentry and nobility to remain without stain, Knighthoods may be revoked:

 

• The right to revoke lies with His Majesty and the Circle, and extends across all Knighthoods. Such a punishment may be levied should the Knight break an oath, violate the chivalric code, or break the laws of the realm.

• The actions of a Knight that lead to his revocation shall be brought before His Highness and , who holds the right to charge the revoked Knight if said actions break the Laws of Lotharingia.

 

 

ARTICLE III

Regarding Knight Erranthood

 

Before attaining Knighthood, and ascending to join the Circle, one must first attain Knight Erranthood, articles of qualification are thus:

 

• Before a noble son and heir can hope to attain his Knight Erranthood, let alone any further titles, he must first have completed his tenure of study of history, reading and writing at the Royal Academy of Metz.

• Upon completing their tuition, one noble son must come to either one of the Circle or the King himself and request to become a Knight Errant.

 

A Knight Errant is expected to uphold the same expectations as a fully fledged knight.

 

ARTICLE IV

The Circle

 

The Circle exists as an Order for Knights:

 

• Every knight enrolled within the Kingdom of Lotharingia is a part of the Knights of the Circle and subservient to His Majesty.

• There shall only be several knights at any given time within the Kingdom of Lotharingia, no knight is above or below the station of another and are all equal within the circle.

• The Knights of the Circle are tasked with the direct mission of guarding His Majesty’s person and properties as if they were his own. Their oaths to him defeat all others and they must be available to serve him at any time when he desires it.

• Upon the death of a Knight of the Circle another shall be selected as his replacement through the means mentioned prior. A knight, before his death, may suggest a replacement but that does not assure the individual the title Ser upon the knight’s death.

 

 

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His Royal Majesty, HUGHES I PIERRE D'AMAURY, King of Lotharingia, Prince of Savoy and Metz, Archduke of Lorraine, Margrave of Kaedrin, Count of Amaury, Lord of the Goldfields, Defender of the Heartlanders and Warden of the South

 

Ser ADRIAN ROTHESAY the PROUD, Knight of the Circle

 

Ser ROSENCRANTZ DE FALSTAFF the HANGMAN, Knight of the Circle

 

Ser BORS TREVILLE the YOUNGER, Knight of the Circle

 

Ser SIEGFRIED D’VAWDRÉ the MAD DOG, Knight of the Circle

 

Ser BRYANT ALLARD the FERVENT, Knight of the Circle

 

Ser JONATHAN THEODORE VIMMARK the GREY, Knight of the Circle

 

Ser BERTHOLDT the BEAR, Knight of the Circle