The Knights of Keintania

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The Knights of Keintania

 

 

History

Founded on the 5th of the Grand Harvest, 1628, The Knights of Keintania was formed by Lord Thomas Tarsington-Keint, Baron of Keintania. The Order is run and managed by a Grandmaster, a man who upholds all his values and oaths of their Knighthood. The Knights of Keintania is also a military organization, helping the Guard of Keintania along with the Santegia Military in defending Santegia from their enemies and protecting the citizens whilst preserving the peace.

 

 

On Becoming a Knight

 

 

There are two main ways one can become a Knight. The first way someone can achieve Knighthood is by accomplishing a great deed of valor or courage, enough to gain enough recognition to be noticed by the Grandmaster, or to prove his loyalty to the Baron of Keintania enough where they receive the honour of Knighthood.

 

 

The other way someone can achieve Knighthood by proving their skills and loyalty as a Knight is by becoming a Squire. The Squire would start off as Page around the age of five to ten years old where they would be taught the basics of a Knight's skill set. This would include: basic combat training, learning the Code of Chivalry, proper etiquette, reading, writing, riding, dressing his Lord and maintaining their armour, weapons and horses.

 

Once the boy reaches the age of fifteen, or even older if the lord they are squiring thinks they are unready, they will start to undergo a more advanced stage of training, where they will learn: how to properly speak and write in court, further combat training, assisting his lord in battle as well as anything else if for some reason a lord squired someone beyond the age of ten but before the age of 18.

 

Once the boy finishes his training he is deemed fit and ready for Knighthood by the Knight or Lord, he would then be knighted by either the Baron or Grandmaster where they would then be given a unique title.

 

 

The Knighting Ceremony

 

After the decision that someone should be Knighted, the night before the ceremony the Knight to be would undergo a Vigil. First, the Knight would cleanse his body in a ritual bath, showing purification. After their purification, the man would put on his armour before kneeling in front of an altar, praying in silence until the morning comes. The sword the upcoming knight owns would be placed on the altar, but the man would be prohibited to touch the blade.

 

A Knight going through his Vigil.

 

 

 

After the man is ready to be Knighted, the Baron would stand in his hall in front of the man. At the point of this the man would be told to kneel in front of him and speak the Oath of Knighthood, followed by the Oath of Fealty to the Baron of Keintania. After the man did his Oath the Baron would repeat the oath and strike the man in the face, so the man would remember his Oaths. After being struck the Baron would unsheathe his blade and dub the man on the shoulder three times. After being dubbed the Baron would tell the man to rise a knight, with his unique title.

 

A man being dubbed a Knight.

 

Privileges of a Knight

As a person a knight they acquire certain privileges that some people do not have. The first right the Knight has is to hold the title of ‘Ser’, as well as a one of a kind title given to him by the Baron. The Knight also has a right to take up a Squire, who would be his servant until the boy was ready enough to be knighted himself in the future. Along with that the deeds of the knight would be written down into the Book of Keintanian Knights where they will be remembered for an eternity. Along with this the Knight would be apart of the gentry class, one of the lowest noble ranks there is, unless the knight already belongs to a noble family, which therefore means they can use a personal heraldic achievement.

 

Upon death of the Knight the lands, if received, and titles the Knight obtained would be handed back to the Baron. The titles of Knight are not hereditary unless the Knight's son becomes a Knight himself and the King grants him his father’s lands.

 

t should be noted however that a Knight in no ways means above the law. If such laws are broken by a Knight a quick trial would be held despite his rank. Any such behaviour where a Knight leads to breaking a law can lead to punishment. If a Knight breaks their Oath which they swore to remember can lead to severe punishment, from losing their title or to even being executed for their crime.

 

 

A Knight's Oath

 

Valor in adversity,

Truth in speech,

Loyalty in service,

Humanity in bearing,

Charity in compassion,

Prowess in action,

Defence in need,

Justice in judgement,

Honour above all.

 

The Oath of Fealty

 

 

 

I, [Name] of [Place], upon my life and honor, do hereby swear my Oath of Fealty to you, Baron [Name], of Keintania. In war I shall bring you victory when you assemble your armies. In peace I shall protect your lands and fight injustice. In life, I shall enforce your will and satisfy your demands. In death, I shall give my life for you and die honourably in the hopes my sacrifice was not in vain. My life and sword are your own until you release me, or death takes me.

 

 

 

Squire Application

 

Mc Name:

 

RP Name:

Age:

Place of Origin:

Intended Liege Lord: