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Greetings!
After the failure of the previous Act of Definitions to reach sufficient consensus among the members of the Council of the Crowned, discussion between the legal guilds of Wysteria and Perth as well as a good many members of the community has hammered out a potential solution. At the request of many, the lore and historic symbolism has been very heavily pared down, leaving the Act a more streamlined assembly of legal definitions that does not undermine any of our other legal structure and recognizes historic legal precedent where necessary.
This Act is thus submitted to the House of Dukes for examination and voting.
Cheers.
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Act of Definitions: Noble Titles and Legal Holdings
Citizens of the planet of Hermertia are all Mercurian
By Imperial Decree, all lands discovered throughout Hermertia were always, are always, and will always be the legitimate sovereign territory of the Empire before anything else. All lands discovered are philosophically granted entry into the Empire, although by practical necessity the application of this is subject to gradualism.
Counts
Holders and protectors of local plots of land recognized by the Empire as Counties are known as Counts. It is the duty of Counts to be the protectors of local communities, coming with unique rights and privileges as prescribed in the Indoles Carta. Counties may include multiple smaller holdings and settlements within one jurisdiction, and Counts may oversee multiple Counties (sometimes adopting the term, equivalent in rank and privilege, of Grand Count of a Grand County), but they must choose a primary title when they do so. Counts may be lords of either an independent holding (with the Council of the Crowned as their liege) or a holding inside of an established realm under a Duke or King.
While the titles of 'County' and 'Count' are the land and rank legally defined and recognised by the Empire, alternative, localized, and equivalent titles for the land and the individual may be recognized and employed in formal diplomatic channels.
Dukes
Holders and protectors of vast Duchies formed from multiple Counties, Dukes are amongst the most influential nobles of the Mercurian Empire; bringing together groupings of at minimum three (3) counties under a single identity to form large Duchies, they are afforded unique rights and privileges as by the Indoles Carta and are tasked with furthering the values of Hermetia: the promotion of collaboration, project, and community. Dukes may oversee multiple Duchies (sometimes adopting the term, equivalent in rank and privilege, of Grand Duke of a Grand Duchy), but they must choose a primary title when they do so. Dukes may be lords of either an independent holding (with the Council of the Crowned as their liege) or a holding inside of an established realm under a King.
While the titles of 'Duchy' and 'Duke' are the land and rank legally defined and recognised by the Empire, alternative, localized, and equivalent titles for the land and the individual may be recognized and employed in formal diplomatic channels.
Kings/Queens
Kings and Queens are rulers of the great Kingdoms of the Mercurian Empire, sitting members of the Council of the Crowned and eternally recognised as divine. Once recognized as the ruler of a Kingdom under the Council of the Crowned, Kings and Queens will forever retain the divinity though may be recognized as inactive and/or be subject to dissolution at the discretion of the Council of the Crowned. The highest legal authorities of the Empire, the members of the Council of the Crowned may only be recognised through the unanimous consent of all active sitting members of the Council of the Crowned; they may stand for election to the position of Emperor of the Empire, are dedicated to reflecting the will of the peoples of Hermertia, and have sworn to uphold the spirit and values of the Empire.
Emperor/Empress
A representative of the divinity of the Mercurian Empire and the Council of the Crowned, the Emperor is tasked with the eternal responsibility of preserving the spirit and the historic values of the Empire; ensuring the continuation of the Empire while holding a sacred trust as a connection to its guiding philosophies.
Elected from within the ranks of the Council and equal in rights and abilities to each of the sitting members of the latter, the Emperor/Empress holds the responsibility of performing tasks as a representative of the Council of the Crowned, including but not limited to the crowning of newly ascended Kings/Queens to the Council and the delivering of announcements on behalf of the Council. The Emperor/Empress has the sacred duty of representing and encouraging the diversity and community of the Empire and of fostering communal ties and development; in this role, the Emperor/Empress holds the responsibility of representing the community in specific instances, including but not limited to officiating cultural events such as the Imperial Games, introducing communal initiatives and events, and travelling the Empire to foster international development and cooperation.
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Wysterian Labourer's Council
Currently Holding Stewardship of Wysteria
Minister for Applications and Settlement
Forums Administrator
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