The Nobility

The Nobility of Halmoria

In Halmorian culture, Nobility consists of families which own land, field an armed force supported through their own personal means - which are directly pledged to the Emperors will, and manage the affairs within their region - according to the precepts laid down by the Emperors decrees. Overall the citizens of Halmoria are educated, civilized, and enlightened in the social arts. They are not 'mud-farmers' to put it humorously, they are a people that any Noble worth his/her salt would eagerly want upon their land. As the citizenship plys their various trades they pay a direct tax to the Noble in charge of the regions security and stability. This taxation is greater among the more accomplished and talented citizens, so it is within a Nobles better interests to attempt to persuade as many productive citizens to settle within their region.

A citizen is a subject of the Emperor, not the noble of the lands where he lives. A citizen could demand to have his case heard before the Emperor if he so desired. However the citizen still would be wise to not anger his local ruler or else the Emperor would gladly turn over his case to the local Noble, as he does so with nine out of ten requests he receives. Ultimately the Nobility is charged with acting as the stable, secure, ruling presence who acts only in the Emperors stead, and at his pleasure.

Major Houses (distinguished by the Nobilary “Von”) are the actual landowners of the nobility. They are entrusted, as mentioned above, to manage the affairs of their region and operate on a high administrative level, taking decrees directly from the Emperor. Assisting them in their functions are the Minor Houses (distinguished by the Nobilary “Van”), which do not own land, per se` but more often than not they do effectively own buildings and organizations as outlined below.

• A Knightly House accepts taxes and utilizes them toward funding and administrating the security of a region via local militia, handling matters of justice, and working with the Legion and Magistrates as needed.
• An Art'ly House accepts taxes and utilizes them toward funding and administrating schools, universities, theatres, coliseums, and the like. As "entertainment", gladiatorial schools also fall under the purview of an Art'ly House, though these sometimes are a joint venture between Art'ly and Knightly Houses.
• There can be other types of Minor Houses handling further specialized aspects of government and everyday living, but the above two are the most common.

A Major House must be able to retain the loyalty of two Minor Houses at minimum, one Art'ly and one Knightly, to retain Major status. Similarly, a Minor House cannot exist without being attached to a Major House. Due to land divisions, the number of Major Houses tends to be fairly static. Minor Houses, however, are more flexible in number, and can be mobile. During the Halmorian-Kalmivar war in Spring 985IY however, the Emperor has sent a major noble house to claim the nobility of Atalan, without the support of two minor houses. What this means exactly, is still unknown.

Halmorian Ranks of Nobility

• Archduke/Archduchess (Special Case Title)
• Duke/Duchess (Head of House Major Only or Spouse)
• Margrave/Margravine (Head of House Minor)
• Count/Countess
• Viscount/Viscountess
• Baron/Baroness (and above can be referred to as Lord/Lady)
• Sir/Dame
• Retainer (Can use Esquire)
• Herald (Typical entry level)
• Servant

The Head of a House can promote people within their own House as per the progression above.

The Head of a Major House can promote those of their House and any minor House attached to them as per the progression, with this caveat -- Promotions to, or demotions from, a Head of House Minor can only be done by the Head of a House Major with the knowledge that the Emperor can veto the decision if he wishes.

Only the Emperor can promote to Archduke/Archduchess, Duke/Duchess, grant the formation of a new House entirely, or dissolve a House, Major or Minor. The Head of a Major House can and will suggest / submit to the Emperor whom should be an "heir" to a Major House, and this is more often than not a child or other relative, but the final decision still lies with the Emperor.

The title Archduke/Archduchess is a special case title that the Emperor can grant to the Head of a Major House to denote particular favor and/or that the House is permitted certain allowances outside normal custom ... Often for expediency or political/realistic need. For example, the tract of land wherein the Halmorian capital resides is an Archduchy, as is the land at the border of the Kutaran Empire, and of course, Atalan.

Entering into the Nobility

This combination of aristocracy and meritocracy recognizes several different ways one can enter the ranks of nobility. No specific method carries with it any more prestige than another, save the last method.

• Service --- Typically, having merit, a person can be accepted into a House as a Herald, and then can be duly promoted up the chain for exceptional service / discretion of the Head of the House.
• Birth --- If a child is born to a noble, they are automatically granted the rank one step below their parent once they become of age. While still a child, they have no specific ranking or authority under the law.
• Marriage --- Marriage to a noble grants the spouse the right to enter into that noble's House, and take up their House Name, along with the title of the spouse, by courtesy.
• A final method is direct promotion by the Emperor. This is done very rarely.

The Nobility of Atalan

Firmly situated within the heart of Atalan’s most comfortable district, the Nobility currently fills one of four seats within the Council, although it fashions itself more influential. The Archduchess held this seat since the Long Night when the Council was formed, until her death in the year 983 IY. She was been replaced with her son in law Archduke Maximilian Terratus von Atalan. In the year 985IY, the Archduchess was discovered to be alive. Maximilian was slain as it is said a plot to have the Archduchess killed was revealed. Moments later it was revealed that Archduke Tobias von Strathorne had an Imperial writ to take over the Archduchy.

In the past, upon recognizing Atalan as a viable colony and valuable Holding, the Emperor created the Archducal House of von Atalan. One Knightly House Minor and one Art'ly House Minor pledged themselves to this new Archducal House. All three families voluntarily gave up and liquidated their previous holdings from Halmoria. Upon arriving in Atalan they were given a charter by the Emperor, allowing them to own the district they resided in, act as the Emperors authority, and legally claim land in Eramere, as per Halmorian custom.

The Long Night, and its aftermath, changed this.

While still permitted to own the district in which they reside, and still technically permitted to legally claim land in Eremere, the new Voice of the Emperor's Authority became that of The Council.

From that point forward, any Halmorian nobles who wish to move to Atalan out of their own volition and not moved there under the aegis of the Emperor are considered by law to have voluntarily given up all of their holdings, titles, and rights to their former House's name. They are not officially recognized within City of Atalan's nobility until they are legitimatized by the Archducal House. Once this is done they are only permitted rank and title as granted by the Archduchy, and must adopt the name and House into which they are placed. While this resides outside of traditional Halmorian custom, the Archduchy is allowed this due to the status of being an Archduchy. This allows the power structure of the nobility to remain relatively stable.

The Archduchy is still expected to expand its holdings, although it is understood that this is limited by the Council. That being said, the Archduchy is still open to the creation of new Minor Houses to which owe it loyalty, in the hopes of imminent growth. For this to occur, the Archduchess or Archduke must apply to the Emperor for a new House Minor Patent, in the name of the proposed new Head whom must have demonstrated ability by working within one of the current Houses, earning favor and promotion.

All of the grants and responsibilities above are now in the hands of Tobias von Strathorne and his family.

Current Noble Houses of Atalan

Information is just now being discovered as Archduke Tobias von Strathorne and his family settle into the old von Atalan mansion. It is said he will introduce himself within the next week.

Countess Sabiana von Strathorne, said to be his fiancee, will be taking up the Council Seat.

Past Noble Houses of Atalan

Archducal House of Atalan (Formerly the Ducal House of Palustris)

• Archduchess Cornelia (Beaumort) Von Atalan, Previous of House, widow of Duke Archibald Von Palustris
• Archduke Maximilian Terratus Von Atalan I Claudia’s husband, Last Head of House
• Duchess Claudia Von Atalan, Cornelia’s eldest daughter
• Count Maximillian Terratus Von Atalan II, Claudia’s son (heir presumptive)
• Cordelia Von Atalan, Claudia's youngest daughter, unmarried
• Count Cornelius Beaumont Von Atalan, Cornelia’s youngest son, unmarried
• Margrave Archibald II Von Atalan, Cornelia’s son, (previously heir presumptive)
• Countess Lucretia Corvinus Von Atalan, Archibald's wife
• Count Sebastian Von Atalan, Archibald’s son
• Countess Seravanda Von Atalan, Archibald’s daughter, Sebastian’s twin
• Viscount Vernicus Von Atalan, no blood relation
• Baroness Persephone Von Atalan, Vernicus' wife

Knightly House of Martellus

• Margrave Geoffrey Van Martellus XXIII, Head of House
• Margravine Gertrude Van Martellus, Geoffrey's wife
• Count Geoffrey Van Martellus XXIV, their eldest son, unmarried, (heir presumptive)
• Countess Beatrice Van Martellus, their daughter, unmarried

Art’ly House of Ottrius

• Margravine Faustina (Goetha) Van Ottrius, Head of the House, de Facto
• Margrave Heinrich Van Ottrius, Head of the House, de Jure; Faustina’s unmarried same-age nephew-by-marriage
• Countess Herletta Van Ottrius, Faustina’s Oldest Daughter, unmarried, (heir presumptive)
• Countess Henrietta Van Ottrius, Faustina's youngest daughter, unmarried