The Morsgrad Slavery Act

[Narthok 10416]

The Morsgrad Slavery Act

Issued Winter 1738

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Preamble

It is the fundamental belief of this duchy that all men are not created equal. There is a hierarchy of mortal beings laid upon us by the divine. That the exercise of one’s faculties rendered from divine and by the circumstances of their environment shall determine the play of this hierarchy upon the earth. To that end, let it be known that the practice of slavery has gone unregulated in our realm for quite some time. Its legislation having been rendered necessary by recent action. Let us attend to it promptly. 

 

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The Articles of Slavery

I. Concerning The treatment of Non Citizens

II. On the Status of Slaves within the Demesne

III. Prohibitions upon Slavery

 

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Section I. Concerning the Treatment of Non Citizens

 

Subsection I. Herein we do formally reaffirm the Nordlaw ethic that all Non Citizens within the Holy State of Morsgrad are afforded no legal protections or privileges. To that end a citizen operating within the confines of Morsgrad cannot commit a ‘crime’ against a non-citizen. Furthermore we do affirm the privilege of our citizens to extend guest right to their guests.

 

Exception I. Any harm commissioned against a guest of a citizen shall be held not as a crime against the alien but rather as a crime against the citizen proper.

 

Exception II. Guest right cannot be challenged by another citizen. Guest right is, and remains as long as it is extended by the citizen in question. 

 

Exception III. Guest right may not be extended to demonic races such as Kharajyr, Hou-zi, Orcs or various Fae, Demons, Sentient Beasts, Magical creatures and of course citizens of hostile states.

 

Subsection II. The Ducal Throne does formally exercise Guest right over the citizen of every allied nation so long as they are within the confines of the Holy State and conducting themselves in an appropriate manner to attack them will be to attack the Duke. 

 

Exception I. In the event that the foreigner brings meaningful harm to any citizen of the Holy State their Guest Right is immediately suspended and they are to be treated accordingly. To that end we shall defend meaningful harm as any circumstances of theft, physical assault, exercise of Wytchcraft, abuse to the Ducal Throne, or damage to Ducal or Private properties within Morsgrad.

 

Subsection II. The Ducal Throne does furthermore extend guest right to all neutral parties within the confines of Morsgrad. Any hindrance of visitors to the city will be met with the ire of the Ducal Throne. 

 

Exception I. The aforementioned Guest Right shall not extend to the following parties who are permanently banned from Holy State on pain of the relevant punishment.

I. A Curonite of any description (to be shaved of hair both of head and of face then removed from the realm)

II. A Sutican of any description (to be immediately put to death for collaboration or implicit endorsement of the trade of narcotic substance by virtue of their citizenship)

III. Any Magic user (to be immediately put to death by burning at the stake should the Teutonic Asylum lack the space to accommodate them)

IV.  Any of the Demonic races, namely Kharajyr, Hou-zi, Fae, and Orkin (to be immediately put to death by burning at the stake should the Asylum lack space. Orks are the exception and are to be escorted to the border of Morsgrad)

 

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Section II. On the Status of Slaves within the Demesne

 

Subsection I. Within the confines of Morsgrad slaves are to be held as livestock utterly without privilege. They are through and through property. Should a slave be captured from beyond the state borders then the Slaver is to report the slave to the Minister of Trade for registration, branding and the issuing of receipt. This receipt of ownership is to be passed between owners upon sale. The holder of the receipt will be assumed to be the owner of the slave and will be held responsible for all actions of the slave. Including but not limited to:

I. Abuse against the Ducal Throne

II. Damages to Ducal or Private properties

III. Bodily harm to Citizens

IV. Blasphemy against the Father

 

Subsection II. An owner who cannot produce to receipt of ownership will be found in violation of Ducal Writ at which point the slave shall be freed from their illegitimate bondage.  

 

Exception I. In recognition of the current state of affairs all Slave owners shall have until the end of 1739 to have their slaves branded and registered by the Ministry of Trade.

 

Subsection III. As to ensure the efficient administration of Montburgh proper public slave auction shall only occur once a year during spring (Friday). Private sale of exchange of slaves may occur at any time providing an agent of the Ministry of Trade is present to formally witness the transaction.

 

 

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Section III. Prohibitions upon Slavery

 

Subsection I.  Let it be known that the Norlandic practice of Slavery is a privelege for every citizen of Morsgrad, but is to be regulated upon practice. Yet we cannot ignore divine realities. To that end, the supreme race of this earth. Humanity. Shall not be unduly bound to slavery. No Human, of any heritage or distinction, is to be enslaved under any circumstances.

 

Exception I. Those humans taken in the ultimate competition of warfare have been taken as spoils of just and righteous conquest. To that end they have been afforded their proper respect as humans and been allowed the opportunity to struggle, to resist fate. Therefore any human holding allegiance to a state existing in a state of war or hostility with Morsgrad may be taken as a slave and owned indefinitely. 

 

Subsection II. Herein we do officially declare, that the practice of slavery is only to be commited towards certain peoples. These people are defined by their affiliation with the Ducal State of Morsgrad. These affiliations dictate that no man, woman or child is to be enslaved if they are found citizens of an ally to Morsgrad or if the realm to which they belong is neutral to the Ducal State of Morsgrad.

 

Subsection III. Let it be known that slaves are not to be captured within the bounds of the Ducal State of Morsgrad. 

 

Exception I. This applied universally unless the conflict occurring stems from an attack from an enemy. Only then, can the captured attackers be enslaved by defenders of Morsgrad.

 

Subsection IV In order to ensure slaves remain in line and can be tracked, slavers reserve the privilege to brand any slave with an image of a crown of thorns surrounded by fire. This image is to be branded on the back of the slaves non-dominant hand.

 

 

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Partially Writ By

Septimus Romanus I

 

En Namen De

Godric of Morsgrad