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In a time of darkness
and despair, there was no order in the land. Chaos
reined supreme throughout the Kingdom and the people
called for champions of justice to bring forward a new
age of peace and enlightenment. To this end came a
man, a Queen, a family. In this so was the beginning,
the Queen took upon herself the chore to find the most
trusted and loyal subjects to render unto the crown
this service. The service to defend Gwynedd, the
church, and the very people of her Kingdom from the
invaders, and malcontents of the world.
Unto these people were given the right to bear arms,
and to meet justice unto the realm. To preserve the
fabric of the Kingdom and the ruling family. These my
friends are the knights of Gwynedd.
The Knights of the Order of
Saint Michael and Saint George:
Non Nobis Domine Non Nobis
This order of knighthood is the oldest in the Kingdom;
it has served and protected the Kingdom in its time of
darkness and in its time of peace. These brave knights
have given their very lives time and time again to
defend the realm and its people.
This order has its very roots buried in the church of
Gwynedd and serves this institution, second only to
the Crown. They are the most noble and brave knights
known to man. A more pious Order of Knights has never
existed in the realm of Aratari. They not only defend
the realm and church, but also carry the word of our
Lord and Savior across the world. They live by a code
and instill this in all their members, and have done
so since their inception. This code holds this group
together and makes them a brotherhood the likes of no
other.
Code Of The Order:
- Serve the Crown unto death.
- Protect women and the weak.
- Champion justice against
injustice and evil.
- Love the homeland.
- Defend the Church, even at
the risk of death.
The Order of the Dragon:
This is the third and most noble of the Orders of
Chivalry of Gwynedd. To attain this order, in and upon
itself, is so rare that few have ever maintained this
title. The Order of the Dragon is a group of Knights
whose only purpose is to defend the King of Gwynedd.
In their ranks only the King's champion may hold this
title, or of Champions of the past.
Code Of The Order:
- Serve the Crown unto death.
- Protect the Royal Family.
- Champion the King's Justice
- Defend the Kingdom's honor.
To be a Knight of
Gwynedd:
I. The candidate must be Christian; there are no Pagan
knights in Gwynedd.
II. The weapons of a Knight are any that he/she
chooses to learn. There are no weapons that he/she may
not learn to use if his/her Knight chooses to teach
them to him/her. The only exception to this is the
flail. This weapon has been outlawed in the Kingdom of
Gwynedd by a vote of the royal council. (See the royal
council for more details.)
The way of the chosen:
I. To become a knight one must first find a knight
that is willing to take it upon him/herself to train
you in the weapons, armor, tactics, and history of the
country and knighthood.
II. The person, be he male or female, must first
become a Squire to a recognized Knight of the Realm to
begin his/her training. Until such time as he/she has
earned the title of Knight he/she will be known as a
Squire
III. This training shall last a minimum of two years
in which time he/she must learn the following
proficiencies.
A) Three weapon combinations, one of which must be
sword and shield. The other two are the decision of
the Knight and his/her Squire.
B) Three non-weapon proficiencies that are the choice
of the squire and his/her Knight. Examples are bardic
skills, language skills (most notable Latin so the the
knight can run the mass or Futhark to understand the
Kinsmen), Unit/Tribal and Knight/Kinsmen history
(mandatory), Battlefield tactics (mandatory), melee
warfare (mandatory), armor making, leathercraft,
woodworking, garb making, mead or beer making (very
important) etc.
I. The Squire must have a strong presence on the
battlefield. He/she must be able to lead the unit into
battle, and have the faith of the unit so that they
will follow him/her as they would their other Kinsmen
and Knights.
II. Upon attainment of these skills the Squire must
also show that he/she is loyal to the Crown. All
titles come from the King in this they must give unto
the King an Oath of Fealty and swear to serve the
Crown above all whether it be against his/her Knight
or foreign foe. No one comes before the Crown and no
sacrifice is too large for the Kingdom. There are no
friends when the Kingdom is threatened from within or
from without.
III. The Squire is then called before his/her clan and
asked to trace his house lineage back through the
course of Gwynedd history. He/she must also know the
names and place each house holds in the nobility of
Gwynedd. In this we honor our past and we learn wisdom
from those who are our ancestors.
IV. When, after the two-year period, the Squire has
shown all of this above, the Council of Knights shall
be held and upon their approval shall the Squire be
allowed to ascend to the rank of Knight.
The Knights
Council of Gwynedd:
The Council is set up to allow the knights to meet and
discuss the future of the realm and to enlist rules
and changes to their title.
The Rules of the Council:
I. The meeting is one that should be held at least
once a month.
II. To attend you must have the rank of Knight. As
always the Kinsman are asked to join this Council to
give advice on what they hear, however they have no
voting capacity on the Council. This invitation is
extended to the Knights also in the Kinsman's Council.
Making of a Squire and Knight:
I. The Knight must take responsibility to make sure
that the Squire is trained in the ways described
above. Over all the Knight's are a family, and should
be thought as such at all times. We are brothers in
all we do, our strength is in this one true fact. Face
off against one you face us all.
II. When a Knight comes forward to announce that his
Squire is in fact ready to attain the rank of Knight
the Council must take a vote. This vote must be
unanimous, if but one Knight says no then the Squire
may not attain the rank of Knight. If this happens
then the Squire may not be brought forward until the
next meeting of the council.
III. If the Squire is confirmed then the name is sent
forward to the King of Gwynedd. If the King approves
him/her, then he/she may then be given the rank of
Knight. The ceremony is to take place as soon as the
Knight sees fit.
Rights and
Responsibility of a Knight in the Kingdom of Gwynedd:
I. A newly made Knight will serve in the standing
army of Gwynedd in a fashion of a Sergeant at Arms.
A) In this position the Knight will be responsible to
the people that are not of rank. Making sure the
weapons are distributed to the levies and that they
are ready in all ways to defend the Kingdom. The
Knight will work hand in hand with the Kinsman that
holds the same rank.
B) In this we teach not only responsibility to the
young Kinsman/Knight but also promote brotherhood and
understanding between the two Orders.
II. The Knight/Kinsman will serve in this position
until such a time as he/she shows that they are ready
to attain a true leadership role in not only the army,
but in the Council of Gwynedd.
III. When a Knight/Kinsman is made he/she is given
land from his Kinsman and is allowed to set upon
developing the land as he/she sees fit.
a) This is when the new Knight/Kinsman takes upon
him/herself to maintain the land for the King and
Kingdom and to recruit new solders for the army and
defend his/her people.
IV. The Knight will always be heard when he/she has an
issue. He/she will take such issues up with said Lord.
His/her liege lord will decide on any issue the Knight
has.
V. If the Knight is not satisfied with said Lord's
decision then he/she has the right to take his/her
case unto the King to be judged by royal decree.
a) It is always suggested that the Knight and his Lord
try all avenues before considering this action.
Involving the Crown is always a last resort. For as we
all know the Crown makes it decision based on the
facts of the case and can not be overturned. Be
forewarned of this before invoking this right.
VI. The Knight is responsible for the upkeep of
his/her weapons, and that of any Squire he/she may
have. If it comes to pass that the Knight fails in
this action his/her brothers will punish him/her. Do
not allow this to happen my brothers for this very
action in and upon its self puts the very Kingdom at
risk. Police your brothers well in this, for should it
come to the attention of the Crown heads will roll.
VII. The Right of Justice. In this the Knight has the
right to be judged by his peers. If this right is
brought forward the Knight may have a trial by jury
and in this jury will sit only Knights. The judge of
course will be either the head of the Knights order or
will be a representative of the Crown.
VIII. The
Knight title is that of a Lord of the Realm. All due
respect will be shown at all times. Any that show
disrespect be it on his/her own head.
IX. Trial by Combat. This right is given to the Knight
if he/she wishes to forgo a jury. The two supplicants
will take up arms. The winner will be found in the
right. This is a combat to the death.
A) If this right is called on it will be the choice of
the combatants as to what weapons may be used. No one
may interfere with this fight.
B) If one of the combatants yields then the other is
proclaimed the winner and is found in the right.
X. The Right of Taxation. All knights are given the
honor to pay a tax to the crown for his title, lands,
and persons on such land. The Crown and Council of
Gwynedd hand down this tax. Failure to pay tax results
in the expulsion of said person from the Kingdom.
A) Of course there are reasons we know that may
inhibit the paying of taxes this will of course be
taken into account. We see this as an honor and will
not have it said that we are unjust in the application
of such an honor.
XI. The Right to Title. In this we say that once the
rank of Knight has been given it may never be taken
from an individual. This title is given for life. This
does not mean that the Knight will not be held
accountable for his/her actions. Just that, he/her
must remember that his/her expulsion from the realm
will still in affect cancel any honors, rank,
privileges that this title holds. Knights he/she may
be, but he/she will be alone in the world with out
his/her brothers.
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