City Charter of Belvitz

[_Bueno_ 492]

 

DUCAL CHARTER FOR THE CITY OF BELVITZ

c. 10th of the Deep Cold, 1664

 

 

Mood Music:

 

 

The City of Belvitz lies within the Whispering Crossroads upon the River Baltas. It’s fertile soils and temperate climate attracted a large number of settlers since landfall upon the Isle of Atlas. Amongst the first to arrive were elven settlers, whose names and settlement were wiped out by the Black Reiter Company. Upon the remains of the elven settlement the Castle of Vrakai was erected as the home of the mercenaries. These mercenaries in turn gave protection to human settlers who established a small farming community named Belvitz. The leaders amongst this community were of Amaury and Montfort blood though neither claimed their noble right. The city’s wealth and size grew as a trading hub, and thus did the Black Reiter Company’s tribute for the protection of the city. The Republic of Vrakai was proclaimed, though it did not last long. Due to increasing external pressure from brigands and neighboring nations trying to lay claim to the fledgling nation the Republic of Vrakai fell into a period of Anarchy. The lack of trade caused the city coffers to run dry and the Black Reiter Company stopped it’s protection of the city. The Duke Brandt, a Renatian lordling laid claim to the city and surrounding lands by right of conquest. Though the Duke Brandt also failed to tame the wild basin, leaving Belvitz destitute. An ambitious lordling, Jan Sarkozic claimed the city by right of kin from it’s Montfort proginators. Upon assembling a host of his own banners and those of the houses of Ivanovich and Vladov they marched upon the Belvitz. They found the city abandoned by the Duke Brandt and the three Carrion Princlings elected Jan Sarkozic as the Fifth Duke of Adria. And so, does the Duke of Adria claim the City of Belvitz as his right for perpetuity.

 

 

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The City of Belvitz is the domain of the elected Duke of Adria. While it is not his official seat from which he reigns, it is acknowledged as the capital of the duchy of Jan, the Fifth Duke of Adria and of his successors. Thus, the City of Belvitz and its surrounding properties cannot legally be granted to another and the title is intertwined with the Duke’s. Thus neither can the descendent of a previous Duke of Adria claim rights to the City without first claiming rights to the Duchy.

 

 

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The City of Belvitz is granted privileges under Gradic Law by the Duke of Adria which allows for stability during turbulent Ducal transitions. The Gradic rights were given to the Imperial City of Felsen during the reign of John II, Holy Orenian Emperor which allowed for greater autonomy to the city through a series of municipal rights. These rights came from a series of laws which gave privileges to the burghers, exemption from serfdom, and the ability for self-governance and self-defense.

 

The Gradic Rights, c.1557

Hitherto the populace of this town shall be referred to as any legal landholder within municipal authority.

Hitherto does the populace of this town have the right to waive feudal privilege and govern itself.

Hence the town has the right to choose a leader from amongst its own.

Hence the town has the right to produce and publish laws and rights regarding itself.

Hitherto does the populace of this town have an exemption from serfdom.

Hitherto does the populace of this town have the right to freedom of travel.

Hitherto does the populace of this town have the right to collect tax, tolls, and impose fees.

Hitherto does the populace of this town have the right to freedom of trade.

Hitherto does the populace of this town have the right to a trial by judge.

Hitherto does the populace of this town have the right to petition it’s lord.

 

 

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MAER OF THE CITY OF BELVITZ

The Maer of the City of Belvitz is elected by popular vote serving a term of four years.

 

This edict delegates to the Maer of Belvitz the following competencies of the Municipal Government of the City of Belvitz;

I. The Maer has been bestowed the responsibility to head the municipal government and delegate to relevant individuals by assigning them to a post within the government and removing any unfit individuals from their post.

II. The Maer has been given the power to propose the changing the laws of the City of Belvitz regarding common law and municipal institutions.

III. The Maer is hereby granted authority to banish any lowborn from the City of Belvitz.

IV. The Maer is hereby granted authority to evict any convicted villain from the City of Belvitz.

V. The Maer has been instructed to pay, supply the goods to, and manage building, construction, and the builders themselves in the City of Belvitz.

VI. The Maer has been instructed to pay wages, pay for supplies, and pay for the arms of the City Watch from municipal coffers.

VII. The Maer has been given the power to order construction and demolition within the City of Belvitz.

VIII. The Maer has been instructed to uphold the will of the people and the City of Charter of Belvitz.

IX. The Maer is hereby responsible for the duties of his subordinates, lest there is no one to complete them.

 

 

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CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF BELVITZ

The City Clerk of the City of Belvitz is elected by the city council with the assent of Maer. Term is indefinite unless deposed via council vote.

 

This edict delegates to the City Clerk of Belvitz the following competencies of the Municipal Government of the City of Belvitz;

I. The City Clerk has been instructed to keep record and overlook progress of construction and taxation within the City of Belvitz.

II. The City Clerk has been tasked with the maintenance and safekeeping of the municipal ledger.

III. The City Clerk has been instructed to take note of the containments of the City of Belvitz’s storage.

IV. The City Clerk has been instructed to appraise houses and set house prices and tax prices accordingly.

V. The City Clerk is hereby charged with fostering economic growth and the maintenance of the trade grounds within the City of Belvitz.

VI. The City Clerk has been instructed to distribute food supply to where is necessary in the City of Belvitz

 

 

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MAGISTRATE OF THE CITY OF BELVITZ

The Magistrate of the City of Belvitz is elected in conjunction with the Maer, to serve out the Maer’s term.

 

This edict delegates to the Magistrate of the City of Belvitz, whom also serves in the capacity as High Magistrate of the Duchy of Adria the following competencies of the Municipal Government of the City of Belvitz;

 

I. The Magistrate has been instructed to take the Duke’s place in court for cases brought to court by common citizens within the City of Belvitz.

II. The Magistrate, in his capacity of High Magistrate of the Duchy of Adria is hereby charged to oversee feudal grievances.

 

III. The Magistrate has been instructed with the enforcement of Ducal Law, in the cases of noble, common, and natural law.

IV. The Magistrate has been tasked with review of the set of Ducal Laws, derived from the Imperial Code of Laws.

V. The Magistrate has been tasked with implementing, retracting, and redrafting any law they deem fit from the set of Ducal Laws.

VI. The elected Magistrate must be certified as a lawyer within the Kingdom of Renatus.

 

 

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CAPTAIN OF THE BELVITZ WATCH

The Captain of the Belvitz Watch is appointed by the Marshal of the Duchy of Adria with the Maer’s assent.

 

This edict delegates to the Captain of the Belvitz Watch, who serves as the head of the Belvitz Town Watch the following competencies of the Municipal Government of the City of Belvitz;

 

I. The Captain has been tasked with the maintenance and operation of the Belvitz Watch and it’s entities.

II. The Captain has been instructed to recruit and drill citizens to the watch, in a bid to create a formidable force being able to protect the City of Belvtiz from brigands, vagrants, and villains.

III. The Captain has been tasked with the mustering of munitions, arms, and armor for the capacity of the watch.

IV. The Captain has been tasked with setting wages, paying them out, and awarding bonuses to individuals.

V. The Captain is hereby charged with assembling funds to be used in mustering munitions and payment of wages.

VI. The Captain is hereby charged with garrisoning fortifications, patrolling highways, and protecting smallfolk within the municipal boundaries.

 

 

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STEWARDS OF THE CITY OF BELVITZ

The Stewards of Belvitz are appointed by the Maer and do not serve with legislative nor municipal authority.

 

This edict delegates to the Stewards of the City of Belvitz the following competencies of the Municipal Government of the City of Belvitz;

 

I. The Stewards have been instructed to distribute homes to the individuals within the City of Belvitz.

II.  The Stewards have been instructed to distribute shops to merchants within the City of Belvitz.

III. The Stewards have been tasked with monitoring activity and evicting derelict homes.

IV. The Stewards have been instructed to collect taxes upon the properties within the City of Belvitz.

V. The Stewards are hereby charged with monitoring municipal property, ensuring their fluid operation.

 

 

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Signed,

His Grace, John Sarkozic, Duke of Adria

[osumanduas 1442]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

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