THE ALBAN CODE

[Mattiii 1663]

 

Issued by the Duchy of Alba

On the 12th of Tobias' Bounty, 2009

 

The Law. . .

The Peers of Alba convene in Morvelyn by Mary Aldersberg, 2007

 

y the grace of God, and with the counsel of the Lords and the loyalty of the free men of Alba, the Duke and Duchess of Alba, do ordain and establish this Code. Let it be a solemn covenant between the Crown and people, securing our realm's peace, prosperity, and liberty. We, mindful of our duty to uphold justice and order, promise Ourselves and Our heirs to honor and preserve these laws so that all who dwell in Alba may live under the protection of right and reason.

 

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ARTICLE. I. On Rights and Duties

Section. I. 

Let it be known that all who sojourn within these lands are endowed with the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and just treatment under the laws of the realm.

No man shall be deprived of their freedoms or possessions but through the due processes of law.

The freedoms of thought, speech, and assembly shall be upheld, provided always they do not imperil the peace, honor, or sanctity of Our realm.

Section. II. 

It is the solemn charge of every man within Our realm to preserve its peace and welfare.

Each subject shall render tribute unto the Crown and, when summoned, bear arms or provide service in its defense.

Loyalty to the Sovereign and adherence to the laws of the realm are the duties of all who claim this land as their home.

Section. III.

The Canonist Faith shall be the guiding light of Our realm, upheld by all who dwell within its borders.

Those who walk paths beyond the Canonist Faith must render tribute in acknowledgment of GOD’s boundless grace, the measure and manner of which shall be determined by the Exchequer of Our realm.

Any who sow discord through heretical teachings or defy the Canonist Faith shall be brought before the High Court of the Church, whose judgments shall be final and unassailable.
 

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ARTICLE. II. On Governance and Authority

Section. I.

The Sovereign is, and shall remain, the supreme authority of Our realm, entrusted with the duty of safeguarding its laws, lands, and people.

It is the Sovereign’s prerogative to appoint a House of Lords to serve as a body of counsel and legislative design, their decrees requiring the Sovereign's seal to attain the force of law.

Section. II.

The House of Lords shall be composed of an equal number of members, with the Chancellor holding the charge of casting the deciding vote in the event of a tie.

These Lords, chosen from the nobility by the Sovereign’s hand, are charged with the stewardship of their designated regions, ensuring the prosperity and welfare of Our people.

Section. III.

In the townships and villages within the Realm, the citizenry may elect a Lord Mayor to oversee local affairs, provided the mayor upholds its laws and customs.

The election cycle shall commence with a three-month period for nominations and deliberation.

The term of office for a Lord Mayor shall span six years.

A nominee for the position of Lord Mayor must fulfill the following:

• They shall be a resident of the Realm.
• They shall profess and adhere to the Canonist Faith.

 

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ARTICLE.  III. On Inheritance

Section. I.

The standard of Our realm shall be Lateral Succession, ensuring the orderly passage of titles and estates. However, it remains the prerogative of each noble House to decree the specific laws of succession that shall govern their lineage, with the Crown’s assent.

The head of a noble House shall wield the exclusive authority to approve or deny matrimonial unions within their House.

Any member who enters into marriage without the consent of their House’s head can face disinheritance, their claim to title and inheritance forfeited.

Section. II.

An inheritor who pledges allegiance to a foreign realm beyond the Crown must relinquish either their foreign allegiance or their titles and estates, ensuring that the lands of Our realm remain intact.

Should an inheritor forfeit their lands or titles, these shall pass to the next rightful heir. In the absence of a suitable inheritor, such lands and titles shall revert to the Crown, to be redistributed in the interest of the realm.

 

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ARTICLE. IV. On Law and Justice

Section. I.

The Chancellery of Our realm shall preside over all secular judgments, with judges appointed by the Sovereign, chosen for their wisdom, impartiality, and adherence to the laws of the land.

Matters of faith and ecclesiastical governance shall fall under the jurisdiction of His Holiness’s High Court, whose decrees shall bear the divine authority of the Canonist Church.

Section. II.

Crimes such as theft, murder, and treason shall be met with punishments commensurate to their gravity, ensuring both justice and the deterrence of further transgression.

Treason against Our realm shall merit the ultimate penalty: death or exile, as determined by the Sovereign or their appointed judiciary.

Let it be proclaimed that no punishment within Our realm shall be cruel or unusual, save for offenses of unspeakable and exceptional depravity, which may warrant measures befitting their heinous nature.

 

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ARTICLE. V. On Trade and Stewardship

Section. I.

Merchants within the Duchy shall enjoy the liberty to conduct their trade freely, provided they render unto the realm all lawful tariffs and fees as prescribed by its statutes.

Foreign traders seeking to engage in commerce upon the soil of Our realm must first obtain permits bearing the Sovereign’s seal, granting them the privilege to ply their trade within the bounds of the Duchy.

Section. II.

The lands of Our dominion, and the bounties they yield, are the patrimony of its people and shall be cultivated with diligence and care for the sustenance of the realm.

Nobles entrusted with the stewardship of these lands bear the solemn duty of ensuring their fecundity and preserving the welfare of those who toil upon them, that the prosperity of Our realm might endure for generations.

 

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ARTICLE. VI. On Military Service

Section. I.

In times of peril, every able-bodied citizen of Our realm may be summoned to its defense, to stand as a bulwark against those who would threaten its peace and sovereignty.

Nobles, as stewards of their lands and protectors of their people, are duty-bound to maintain levies of armed men and to ensure their readiness for the defense of Our realm.

Section. II.

Let all acts of war waged by Our realm be conducted with honor and dignity, sparing the lives of non-combatants and refraining from deeds that would sully the integrity of the realm.
In victory or defeat, the conduct of war shall reflect the grace and valor befitting Our realm.

 

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ARTICLE. VII. On Amendments

Section. I.

This Code, being the foundation of law and order within Our realm, may be amended solely by decree of the Sovereign, with the counsel and deliberation of the House of Lords to guide its refinement.

Section. II.

Let copies of this Code be preserved within the Johannian Archives, safeguarded for posterity.

Its principles shall be taught to all who dwell within Our realm, that its wisdom may endure unbroken through the ages and guide the generations to come.
 

 

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In witness whereof, this Code is decreed by the Duke and Duchess of Alba and witnessed by the House of Lords, In the year of Our Lord 2009,

S I G N E D,

   THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES, Cecily and Edward, Princes of Alstion, Dukes of Alba

 

HIS EXCELLENCY, George Charles Aldersberg,

Lord Chancellor of Alba