COURT OF THE COMMONWEALTH

[sondher 797]

The Forest, painted c. 1885 by Casimira Antonia Halcourt

 

---

 

THE CHIEF HIERARCHY OF THE COURTS

 

Among its Old Regime, three are named chief to their organizing Circles. They are to the nobility of the Commonwealth as the Senate is to its knights; their organizing body, their theoretical leaders, and, of course, their best hosts.

 

Her Excellency the Superintendent of the Courts,

Countess Carolina Temesch et Moere

 

The Superintendent of the Courts is given, above even the particular peers or their spouses of the realm, the ability to administrate in specific its noble affairs - the affectations of its events, the hosting of assemblies and worthy upkeep of its holds. She follows a tradition similar to the Chamberlains and Governors of the once-Empire, or the Royal Legates of its faded embers; acting both as the chief host of the Courts and as its steward, the Superintendent is regarded also as the primary matchmaker between those that seek the official approval of the Commonwealth in the continuing quest for unsullied bloodlines. She is traditionally expected to take a ward.

 

The Mistress Keeper of the Privy Seals,

Lady Casimira Antonia

 

The Mistress Keeper is given the more specific duty of the promulgation of court documents, among them none so important as the genealogy of those houses yet recognized within the Commonwealth. She is the court’s chief liaison with the Bishop of Buron, as well as the determiner of morganatic marriage in the eyes of the Old Regime.

 

The Mistress of Ceremonies,

Lady Mathilde Cyprielle Pruvia

 

The principal agent of celebration in the Petran River Basin, the Mistress of Ceremonies functions as the host of first refusal for events sponsored by the Commonwealth, both amongst the Old Regime and in the broader scope of its population. They also act as the primary accorder of court titles in ceremony, and trusted with the arrangement of the extravagant knighting ceremonies Petra so honors its gentry with.

 

---

 

LESSER COURT POSITIONS OF THE COMMONWEALTH

 

While many exist in the greater Commonwealth, and even more trace lineages linked near or far to its nobility, only those that hold the positions below may call themselves true courtiers of its Old Regime, a distinction held for greater clarity among its membership.

 

Lady of Honor

The unofficial fourth member of the Chief Hierarchy, the Lady of Honor is given the important duty of nominating members of Petran society to its court systems.

 

Confessor of the Commonwealth

A position given traditionally to the Bishop of Buron, the Confessor occupies a dual role in distributing alms to the poorfolk of Petra and in acting as a personal confessor to its Old Regime.

 

Master of the Cellar

The Master of the Cellar is charged with the confirmation of wine and spirit vintages, with introducing Almaris’ various vintages to the Petran court, and with introducing Petran vints to the Confederation and beyond. Additionally, they are charged with maintaining a respectable cellar for the Commonwealth.

 

Chief Equerry

Owing to its martial and chivalric existence, the Commonwealth has an extensive need of horses and their masters - As a resource well-acknowledged as of utmost importance to the continuation of both martial tradition among its nobility and equine culture among its people over-all, the Chief Equerry is most often a trusted knight of the Regime.

 

Lady of the Chamber

Once known more generally as ‘courtier’, a Lady of the Chamber is a woman specifically granted access to the household of one of the Commonwealth’s noble families, and thereby its ‘chamber’. Although each such house is allotted up to five, in practice these positions are maintained by the Superintendent and Lady of Honor.

 

Gentleman of the Chamber

Once known more generally as ‘courtier’, a Gentleman of the Chamber is a man specifically granted access to the household of one of the Commonwealth’s noble families, and thereby its ‘chamber’. Although each such house is allotted three, in practice these positions are maintained by the Superintendent.

 

---

 

OBSERVED PRIVILEGES OF THE OLD REGIME AND GENTRY

 

Of Taster

To watch a courtier that has been appointed as a food taster test their food and drink for poison before consumption.

 

The Bearing of Blades

To wear an arm’s-length sword, sheathed in full leather, upon one’s hip whilst in Petran holdfasts and territories.

 

Courtly Orbitals

To be assigned or transferred, at the discretion of the Superintendent, subordinated courtiers such as Ladies of the Chamber.

 

Private Audience

To request of the Old Regime whilst in their holds, or at Petran court-sponsored events, a meeting in a more private space. The requester shall bring no more than their own person, while the noblesse requested is afforded two orbitals in such an exchange.

 

---

 

ETIQUETTE IN BRIEF

 

While the expectations of etiquette are to be taught and managed by the Mistress of Ceremonies, we recommend that the courtiers follow these basic rules to avoid embarrassment and ruin within the court.

 

♔ That courtiers respect their superiors within court at all times and address them by their proper titles when conversing.

 [See Titles & Addressment].

 

♔ That one maintains a respectful demeanor, particularly in relation to how one carries themselves, at court.

 

♔ That courtiers are prohibited from wearing any diadem, crown, circlet, or tiara.

 

♔ That one refrains from physical contact outside of a private setting.

 

♔ That one begins and ends a proper conversation with a curtsy or a bow of depth according to the status of the addressee.

 

---

 

RECOGNIZED HOUSES OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND THEIR TITLES

 

House Temesch et Moere

Headed by Paul Salvian,

Third Count of Temesch

 

House Novellen de Mardon

Headed by Matilda Fredericka,

First Countess of Mardon

 

House of Halcourt

Headed by Arnaud Godwin,

Seventh Baron Artois

 

House O’Rourke

Headed by Sadie Cristonia,

Seventh Baroness Halstaig

 

---

 

TITLES AND ADDRESSMENT

 

♔ Count: “The Right Honourable [title or surname]” or “Count [title or surname]” in introduction, followed by “Lord [surname]”

♔ Countess: “The Right Honourable [title or surname]” or “Countess [title or surname]” in introduction, followed by “Lady [surname]”

 

♔ Children of Counts / Countesses are to be addressed as “Lady [First name]” or “Lord [First name]”

 

♔ Viscount: “The Right Honourable [title or surname]” or “Viscount [title or name]” in introduction, followed by “Lord [surname]”

♔ Viscountess: “The Right Honourable [title or name]” or “Viscountess [title or surname]” in introduction, followed by “Lady [surname]”

 

♔ Baron: “The Honourable [title or name]” or “Baron [title or surname]” in introduction, followed by “Lord [surname]”

♔ Baroness: “The Honourable [title or name]” or “Baroness [title or surname]” in introduction, followed by or “Lady [surname]”

 

♔ Children of Barons / Baronesses, Viscounts / Viscountesses are to be addressed as “Mistress [First name]” or “Master [First name]”

 

---

 

SIGNED,

 

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, LADY Carolina Theresa Temesch et Moere

 

LADY Casimira Antonia Halcourt

 

LADY Mathilde Cyprielle Pruvia

 

[niya 180]

this is really cool !!! +1

[bickando 3967]

Paul Salvian smiles the sun's smile as he reads Carolina's new document. "How did we go so long without this?" he asked, rhetorically.