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Knightly Orders of Hanseti-Ruska


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KNIGHTLY ORDERS OF

HANSETI-RUSKA

 

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KRUZAE ZWY KONGZEM

 

Throughout the steeped history of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, the title of Knight has always served as a badge of unquestionable honour, loyalty, strength of arms, and prestige. Those dubbed by the Crown represent the very best of what the Haeseni people are, from valour on the battlefield to contributions to the greatness and advancement of this Kingdom. It is the will of King Josef Sigismund that the duties of the Knightly Orders within the Kingdom be reaffirmed, alongside the process by which a worthy individual shall be dubbed a Knight, and thus the Aulic Council sees fit to publish this declaration. 

 

CODE OF CHIVALRY

All Knights of the realm, be they newly-dubbed squires or grizzled veterans, are expected to comport themselves as paragons of virtue in adherence with the Haeseni Code of Chivalry:

 

I: To serve your King, and God, in both valour and faith;

II: To protect, and serve, the weak and defenceless from the evils of this world;

III: To hold yourself in the light of God, and live by honour and for glory;

IV: To guard the honour of your King, God, liege lord, and fellow Knights;

V: To never refuse a challenge from an equal, and to not turn back upon a foe;

VI: To prove one’s self through discipline, loyalty, and respect;

VII: To respect the laws of the land you ride upon, and those placed in authority;

VIII: To remain true to your blood, and to the land you’ve grown upon;

IX: To be strong, true, and sworn to King Barbanov.

 

THE KNIGHT PARAMOUNT

The Knight Paramount shall be the chief Knight of the Kingdom, in charge of maintaining the Knights beneath him.

 

The Knight Paramount, selected by the Crown of Hanseti-Ruska, is responsible for ensuring the protection of the Crown, the activity of the Knights, overseeing the training of squires, assessing candidates for knighthood through the Knightly Trials and advising the Crown on all matters related to knighthood. The Knight Paramount may also advise the Crown to revoke knighthood from an individual if they comport themselves with dishonour unbecoming of their prestigious station.

 

THE KNIGHT’S TABLE

The Knight’s Table shall be an official meeting of the Kingdom’s military Knights - the Crow Knights and Marian Knights - which shall be held at least every two Saint’s weeks. The Knight Paramount shall chair the meeting, in which Knights shall give updates on the training of their squires, squires ready to undertake the Knightly Trial, any discipline necessary, and to discuss any events or threats in the Kingdom that the Knights can undertake as Quests. Those deemed as active Knights of the Kingdom, who are charged with the consistent fulfillment of their duties, shall be deemed to be Seated Knights.

 

Knights who, whether due to age, injury or other reasons, are no longer in active service are considered retired Unseated Knights, who may bear the title of Ser as honorary.


 

ORDER OF THE

CROW

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Championing the spirit of traditional knighthood and chivalry are the Crow Knights, chosen from the strongest, most loyal and honourable warriors of the Haense Royal Army to bear the mantle of Knight in defense of Hanseti-Ruska, her peoples, and her ideals.

 

The Order of the Crow’s ideals and spirit originate as far back as Axios in the 16th Century, where King Andrik II first founded the Order of the Golden Gryphon in the city of St. Karlsburg, which was later reformed by King Otto II in Alban and eventually moulded into the first rendition of the Order of the Crow by King Andrik III. Today, the modern Order of the Crow, built upon this rich history of knighthood in the Kingdom, is composed of devout soldiers who are not only adept at arms, but also champion the spirit and ideals of the Haeseni people as men and women who always comport themselves with honour and excellence through their military service and dedication to the Crown and Kingdom.

 

STRUCTURE

The Order of the Crow is composed by no more than ten individuals who bear the title of ‘Ser’ or ‘Crow Knight’ in recognition of their strength of arms, honour and loyalty throughout their service in the Haense Royal Army. Once knighted, Crow Knights shall remain with their standard military unit and adhere to standard hierarchy, while charged with the duties of a Crow Knight. Once knighted, a Crow Knight shall be so until death, even once retired from active military service. Seated Crow Knights shall wear the below uniform as a badge of their prestigious station:

 

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/709950685524918834/738817060317954168/Meyster_Knight.png

 

DUTIES

While Crow Knights are bound by the Haeseni Code of Chivalry that governs the conduct of all Knights, there exists duties and honours bestowed upon Crow Knights outside of their standard military service, which generally include:

  • To comport oneself with honour and patience, and act as a role model for all Haeseni citizens;
  • To undertake quests to ensure the Kingdom’s safety, such as slaying dangerous beasts within the land; 
  • To take on squires and to train and educate them as the Kingdom’s future generation of Knights;
  • To guard and escort those in need;
  • To champion and defend those unable to do so themselves, and ensure the weak are not exploited;
  • To participate in tournaments across the land for the prestige of Hanseti-Ruska;
  • To be the Kingdom’s finest warriors;

 

BECOMING A CROW KNIGHT

Soldiers of the Haense Royal Army may be recognized as aspirants for the Order of the Crow through squiring - mentorship under an existing Crow Knight - which can be done through two ways:

  • Squiring by Birth: An existing Crow Knight may take on a squire, or be assigned one by the Knight Paramount - another soldier who is of noble and generally between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one. A Crow Knight shall be responsible for mentoring their squire in the ways of chivalry, culture and arms. After a minimum of two years of reputable service in the Haense Royal Army and squirehood, a Crow Knight may petition the Knight Paramount to have their squire assessed for knighthood.
  • Squiring by Heroism: A soldier of the Haense Royal Army of common blood may be assigned to a Crow Knight as a squire in recognition of a heroic deed that distinguishes them as exceptionally skilled and honourable.

 

Once a squire is deemed suitable for knighthood, they shall be subject to the Knightly Trials:

  • Trial of Chivalry: A Knight must be a warrior of unquestionable honourable, and thus a squire must undertake the Trial of Chivalry. A squire shall undertake their Trial of Chivalry by travelling across the Descendant lands and visiting five cities, in each of which they must complete an act of chivalry for the populace, and obtain a signature from a leader of the city as testament.

 

  • Trial of the Scholar: A Knight must be wise in the ways of Haeseni culture and history, and thus a squire must undertake the Trial of the Scholar. To complete this trial, the Knight Paramount shall question a squire on customs and history in Haense to assess their knowledge. Knights must also be assessed on how to address nobles and leaders not only within Haense, but across the land, and proper court and national etiquette, alongside language, so as always to represent the respect and honour of Haense.

 

  • Trial of the Sword: A Knight must be skilled in arms to defend the Kingdom, and thus a squire must undertake the Trial of the Sword. In this Trial, a squire shall be required to duel several Knights to demonstrate their ability in arms.

 

  • The Knight’s Quest: Once a squire has proven themselves in the Trial of Chivalry, the Scholar and the Sword, they shall progress to their final challenge - the Knight’s Quest. This Quest shall be assigned by the Crown or the Knight Paramount and consist of the squire being sent on a journey on their own to put their abilities to the test. The Knight’s Quest can be anything, but will often include tasks such as slaying a great beast, retrieving a fabled treasure, or travelling to an uncharted land. The squire must return to Haense with a trophy of their exploits as their final test.

 

Once a squire has completed the Knight’s Quest and the Trials, they shall be deemed eligible for knighthood, and dubbed as a Crow Knight by the Crown of Hanseti-Ruska before the citizenry. 

 

DUBBING

Upon completion of a Knight’s Quest, the aspirant shall be called before the Crown during a sitting of the Royal Court to recite the Vow of the Crow Knight before the Crown:

 

“Do you, [Name] swear now upon the blade of Gaius Marius, the first Hochmeister of our earliest order, that all you say now is true, and that you have come to receive your knighthood?”

Response: It is.

“The truth is the burden of all knights, one that only the diligent can bear.  Will you be true in all things, even if it may lead to your demise?”

Response: I will.

“To bear this burden, a knight must be strong.  Will you be strong of spirit, and resilient to all forms of temptation?”

Response: I will.

“In order to be strong, a knight must be brave.  Will you be courageous against your enemies, and to defend the helpless, even if it may cost your life?”

Response: I will.

“In order to be brave, a knight must have honor and loyalty, lest he fall to sinful ways.  The knight must be above reproach, his honor and allegiance unquestioned. Will you be honorable and loyal to your king, your people, and above all else, to God?”

Response: I will.

“When you take this oath, you will no longer be a man.  You will be a knight, invested with holy responsibility by God himself.  Do you accept this burden that God has placed upon you?”

Response: I do.

“Do you swear to be brave, strong, and true, as all knights must be?”

Response: I so swear.

“Do you swear to be honorable and loyal, to never forsake your vows nor your allegiance?”

Response: I so swear.

“Finally, do you swear to uphold all which is holy and good, and to honor God in all your actions?”

Response: I so swear.

“Then I seal you to your oath, if you should part with it, may you part with your life. I name you Ser <Name> <Moniker> of the <Knight Order>.  May God keep you and uphold you. Rise, now, as a Knight of Hanseti-Ruska.”

 


 

THE

MARIAN RETINUE

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Founded under King Marius II, the Marian Retinue forms the personal protectors of the Crown of Hanseti-Ruska.

 

The Marian Knights, numbering between three and five, are personally selected by the Crown as their personal protectors, and as such, their strengths lie in mastery of arms but also unquestionable discretion and loyalty to the Crown. They are charged with their lives to protect the Crown at all costs, whether on the field of battle or within the confines of the royal palace.

 

The Marian Knights are selected personally by the Crown in recognition of an individual’s mastery of arms, valour, loyalty and a bond of trust between the Crown and the individual in question. The Marian Retinue shall be composed of the Knight Paramount and at least two other Marian Knights. Marian Knights may be chosen at the discretion of the Crown, though if a non-Knight is selected, they must undergo the Knightly Trials before they can be appointed to the position as a Knight of the Marian Retinue.

 

Knights of the Marian Retinue shall don the below armour as a badge to mark their station:

 

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/709950685524918834/738816781715505234/Commandant_Knight.png


 

THE ORDER OF

QUEEN MAYA AND THE LILY

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Created by King Sigismund II in the city of New Reza, the Order of Queen Maya and the Lily was founded in honour of Queen Maya of Muldav, who sponsored knowledge and learning throughout her life. The Knights of the Lily are non-militant, and honoured for their contributions to the Kingdom through sciences, politics, theology, academics and art. Those accepted into the Order of Queen Maya and the Lily shall be known as Knights of the Lily, or Kossar - or Hauchkossar for those of particular honour. Knights of the Lily shall not take the title of ‘Ser’, though they may take the moniker ‘of the Lily’. 

 

Knights of the Lily are selected by the Crown in recognition of their extraordinary service and contributions to society in non-militant ways, such as renowned politicians and administrators, academics, explorers, artists, scientists, inventors and any other citizen of remark who has made a significant contribution to society through non-military means.

 

Knights of the Lily are not charged with militant duties akin to those of the Crow Knights and Marian Retinue, but are expected to conduct themselves with the dignity and honour that their prestigious title demands, and represent the best of what the non-militant Haeseni population. 

 

DUBBING

Knights of the Lily are dubbed by the Crown in an official Ceremony of the Lily, wherein Knights recite the following oath:

 

“I, [First and Surname], hereby swear my service to the Monarch and State of Haense, in obedience to law and the dignity of the nation, as well as to the benefit of the Haeseni people. I swear to protect Jeremic Rights of Life, Liberty, Bearing Arms, Privacy, and Property through righteous action and pious defense, holding true in life and in deed the sanctity of my person and the state. With Godan as my witness, I do swear.”

 

Edited by Kingdom of Haense
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