Ve Haurul Caezk – Compendium Hanseti-Ruska

The Book of Honour

VE HAURUL CAEZK

KRUSAE ZWY KONGZEM

Issued by the

CROWN

On this 13th day of Wzuvar and Byvca of 404 E.S.

EA BYK ZWE ZANYOTSKER ZWEER EA TER PETRAVEZKER
WE WOULD HAVE PERISHED HAD WE NOT PERSISTED

It is strength and endurance that defines the Haeseni people.

Lady Haense and her Kongzem have endured centuries of trials and triumphs. She has relished in long summers of peace and prosperity, and so too has she weathered bitter winters of hardship and war. Many times has history cast a grim shadow across our Kongzem, but never once have the Haeseni people balked; never once have they flinched; never once did they fail to persist.

It is this fundamental strength that has tempered this Book of Honour, this Haurul Caezk; it is that fundamental strength that has shaped the ideals and values of the Haeseni people reflected in these words; and it is that fundamental strength that models our law, our society, our honour, and our heart as a people.

This Book was first penned in 340 E.S. after the Kongzem’s independence from the Holy Orenian Empire, and rewritten in 400 E.S. following sixty years of cultural development that has better formed a Haeseni ideal of what the law should be, and the values it should reflect.

INDEX

Jura i Kongzem | Law of the Kingdom

Jura i Krima | Law of Crime

III

Jura i Szlata | Law of Nobility

Jura i Osobaz | Law of the People

Law of the Kingdom

JURA I KONGZEM

These words shall proclaim the composition and government of the Kongzem.

The Crown

The Crown of Hanseti-Ruska shall be the incumbent monarch, whose authority shall be ultimate.

By the will of the Crown shall government and armies form, shall nobles and knights be named, and shall laws and land be administered.

III

The Crown shall be succeeded, in death or abdication,

firstly by the eldest son and his line,
secondly by the eldest daughter and her line,
thirdly by the eldest brother and his line,
fourthly by the eldest sister and her line,
fifthly by the eldest uncle and his line,
sixthly by the eldest aunt and her line,
and seventhly by elevation of a blooded kin of the Royal House by majority vote of the Royal Duma.

The Koengraeken shall commemorate the reigning monarchs of the Kongzem, and they shall be:

Petyr I the Founder, born Petyr var Sigmar Barbanov, reigning 131-135 E.S.
Andrik II the Winter King, born Andrik Otto var Petyr Barbanov, reigning 135-139 E.S.
Marius I the Good, born Marus var Andrik Barbanov, reigning 139-164 E.S.
Petyr II the Poxed, born Petyr Mark var Marus Barbanov, reigning 164-164 E.S.
Stefan the Green, born Stefan Karl var Marus Barbanov, reigning 164-177 E.S.
Otto I the Hero of Asaili, born Otto Henrik var Andrik Barbanov, reigning 177-177 E.S.
Otto II the Prudent, born Otto Georg var Otto Barbanov, reigning177-197 E.S.
Otto III the Builder, born Otto Stefan var Otto Barbanov, reigning 197-208 E.S.
Karl II the Stubborn, born Karl Marus var Otto Barbanov, reigning 208-219 E.S.
Franz II the Unfortunate, born Franz Jakob var Heinrik Bihar, reigning 219-219 E.S.
Sigmar I the Short, born Sigmar Lothar var Robert Bihar, reigning 219-235 E.S.
Robert I the Kind, born Robert Lothar var Sigmar Lothar, reigning 235-260 E.S.
Marius II the Brash, born Marus Demetrius var Robert Bihar, reigning 260-272 E.S.
Andrik III the Unyielding, born Andrik Lothar var Marus Bihar, reigning 272-299 E.S.
Andrik IV the Preserver, born Andrik Petyr var Andrik Bihar, reigning 299-306 E.S.
Sigismund II the Soldier, born Otto Sigismund var Andrik Bihar, reigning 306-329 E.S.
Josef I the Temperate, born Josef Sigismund var Otto Bihar, reigning 329-359 E.S.
Henrik II the Stern, born Henrik Karl var Josfer Bihar, reigning 359-391 E.S.
Sigismund III the Golden, born Sigismund Karl var Henrik Bihar, reigning 391-426 E.S.
Karl III, born Karl Sigmar var Sigismund Bihar, reigning from 426 E.S. to present.

The Aulic Government

By the grace of the Crown shall the Aulic Government manage all affairs of the Kongzem, and it shall consist of the Aulic Council, the Boyar Council, the Brotherhood of Saint Karl, the Aulic Court, the Queen’s Council, and the Royal Duma.

The Aulic Council

The Aulic Council shall lead the Aulic Government, and the Palatine shall lead the Aulic Council as greatest advisor of the Crown.

VII

Upon the Aulic Council shall sit:

The Palatine (ve Palatin), who shall wield the Golden Bulava as leader of the Aulic Council,
The Speaker of the Duma (ve Herzen i ve Duma), who shall wield the Black Bulava as overseer of the Royal Duma,
The Marshal (ve Kengzhetmenn), who shall wield the Iron Bulava as commander of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl,
The Treasurer (ve Aranyiaz), who shall wield the Silver Bulava and cultivate the wealth of the Kongzem,
The Envoy (ve Szara), who shall wield the Ivory Bulava and represent the Crown diplomatically,
The Grand Lady (ve Haucherzenas), who shall wield the Rose Bulava as representative of the Queen’s Council,
The Komptroller (ve Kauntroler), who shall wield the Bronze Bulava and oversee immigration to the lands of the Crown,
The Justiciar (ve Vasricar), who shall wield the Copper Bulava and shall pass judgment for the Crown,
And the Knight Paramount (ve Kossarowain), who shall wield the Steel Bulava as First Knight of the Knight’s Table.

VIII

The Consort and Grand Prince of Kusoraev shall have the right to attend meetings of the Aulic Council.

The Brotherhood of Saint Karl

The Brotherhood of Saint Karl, commanded by the Marshal, shall be the army of the Kongzem and keeper of its peace.

No other army shall stand nor recruit without the assent of the Crown.

The Aulic Court

The Aulic Court shall be the judges of law of the Kongzem, and it shall consist of the Palatine as foremost judge in the realm, and the elected Jovenaars as their deputies.

XII

The Palatine or Jovenaars may convene the Aulic Court whenever a dispute of law is brought before them to trial the matter and pass down judgement.

XIII

Those who come before the Aulic Court may resolve their issue by:

Trial by Plea, wherein all parties shall present their case to the Court by word of mouth and evidence, and this shall be the default form of trial where parties cannot agree on another form,
Trial by Combat, wherein the parties shall duel to yield to determine the wrongdoer,
Or Trial by Wit, wherein parties shall play a game of chance or wit in which Godan will favour the righteous.

XIV

The Aulic Court shall punish the guilty in proportion to the wrong they have done.

Punishments are defined to be fines, banishment, imprisonment, and execution.

XVI

Let they who believe the Court to have wronged them profess their innocence before the Crown.

The Royal Duma

XVII

By the grace of the Crown shall the Royal Duma sit as representatives of the Haeseni people to advise the Crown on matters of law and action.

XVIII

The Speaker of the Duma shall oversee the assembly and ensure its sittings are peaceful and productive.

XIX

Upon the Royal Duma shall sit:

Every Haeseni Lord of landed title or their appointed representative, of which shall be a member of their family,
Two Royal Aldermen,
The Military Tribune,
The Grand Maer,
And the Palatine.

The Royal Aldermen and the Grand Maer shall be elected to the Royal Duma through public elections held every six sittings, in which every Haeseni adult may vote.
The Military tribune shall be elected to the Royal Duma from among the initiated members of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl, in which every oathed member of the Brotherhood may vote.

XXII
On the first sitting of every session, there shall be elected from among the members of the Royal Duma:

The Lord Handler, who shall convene the Duma Committee to ensure the actioning of law put forward by the Royal Duma and shall in absence of the Lord Speaker be permitted to act as overseer of the Royal Duma.

By nomination of the Lord Speaker of the Duma; The Royal Inquisitor, who shall upon their own volition or by order of the Lord Speaker seek to maintain excellence among the members of the Aulic Government and noble Peerage.

XXIII

As representatives of all Haeseni people, the Royal Duma shall:

Petition the Crown to sign bills passed by two-thirds majority vote into law,

Advise the Crown by two-thirds majority vote to act on any matter,
Establish and mandate both civil and martial infrastructural works,
Create organised political institutions within the Royal Duma,
Receive petitions from the citizenry,
Officiate proposals for naturalization and citizenship,
Mandate national holidays,

Elect Haeseni citizens to the office of Jovenaar,

Elect Haeseni citizens to the rank of Knight of the Order of Queen Maya and the Lily,
Summon and investigate members of the Aulic Government and noble Peerage,
Ensure the regulation of law and domestic policies of the Royal State,

And ratify international treaties.

XXIV

The Royal Duma shall sit once called by the Speaker of the Duma, and those who neglect to attend regularly shall have their privilege revoked.

XXV

A sitting of the Royal Duma that lacks at least half of its members and the Black Bulava shall be unlawful.

The Queen’s Council

XXVI

Led by the Queen-consort, the Queen’s Council shall be responsible for maintenance of the Royal Palace, Royal Courts, and social, cultural, marital, and educational aspects of the Kongzem.

Hospital of St. Amyas

XXVII

Led by the Surgeon General, the Hospital of St. Amyas is a body of certified medical practitioners with the purpose of treating the injured and the ill.

Haeseni Language

XXVIII

The language of the Kongzem shall be New Marian (Naumariav).

Sigmundic Calendar

XXIX

The dates of the Kongzem shall follow the Sigismund Calendar, whose months are:

Wzuvar and Byvca, known in common as Snow’s Maiden,
Jula and Piov, known in common as Malin’s Welcome,
Vzmey and Hyff, known in common as the First Seed,
Gronna and Droba, known in common as the Grand Harvest,
Tov and Yermey, known in common as the Sun’s Smile,
Msitza and Dargund, known in common as the Amber Cold,
Joma and Umund, known in common as the Deep Cold.

XXX

The year of the Sigmundic Calendar shall be 349 years more than the Common Calendar and suffixed with E.S., or Exalted Sigismund.

Faith

XXXI

The faith of the Kongzem shall be Canonism, and no other faith shall be practised.

Law of Crime

JURA I KRIMA

These words shall proclaim the law of order of the Kongzem.

No man shall be punished for a crime not within this code of honour.

Let he who is under the age of sixteen be free from punishment.

III

Let he who is of unsound or simple mind be free from punishment.

Let he who commits a crime through carelessness or recklessness be guilty of Negligence, to be punished as if they had committed the crime itself.

Let he who attempts or conspires to commit a crime be guilty of Attempt, to be punished as if they had committed the crime itself.

Let he who aids or conspires with another to commit a crime be guilty of Contribution, to be punished as if they had committed the crime itself.

VII

Let he who slays another outside of battle be guilty of Murder.

VIII

Let he who harms another outside of battle be guilty of Assault.

Let he who steals the property of another be guilty of Theft.

Let he who extorts tolls under threat of arms be guilty of Banditry.

Let he who forges money or mark be guilty of Forgery, as shall he who presents himself as another.

XII

Let he who wrongly slanders the name and honour of another be guilty of Defamation.

XIII

Let he who intrudes on the land of another, be it fief or building, be guilty of Trespass.

XIV

Let he who defaces the property of another be guilty of Vandalism.

Let he who conspires to bring harm against the Crown, Royal House, or the Kongzem be guilty of Treason.

XVI

Let he who trades in goods stolen or defective be guilty of Fraud.

XVII

Let he who aids criminals and frustrates justice be guilty of Obstruction.

XVIII

Let he who flaunts the teachings of the Church of the Canon be guilty of Heresy, and let he who undermines or challenges these teachings be guilty of Sacrilege.

XIX

Let he who soils a place of Godani – be it church or graveyard – through drunkenness, dress, tongue or exhumation – be guilty of Desecration.

Let he who abandons his duties as a soldier be guilty of Desertion.

XXI

Let he who persists as a nuisance to others be guilty of Harassment.

XXII

Let he who abuses their rank or office for improper gain be guilty of Corruption.

XXIII

Let he who entraps another in his service with threat or force be guilty of Enslavement.

XXIV

Let he who consumes the flesh of another be guilty of Cannibalism.

XXV

Let he who lies with another outside of matrimony be guilty of Fornication.

XXVI

Let he who lies with a Descendant of another race be guilty of Miscegenation.

XXVII

Let he who lies with another of the same sex be guilty of Homoesexuality.

XXVIII

Let he who belongs to a foreign military or organization enacting law or will on Haeseni land be guilty of Invasion.

XXIX

Let he who flouts his debts be guilty of Racketeering.

XXX

Let he who abducts another against their will be guilty of Kidnapping.

XXXI

Let he who uses or practices dark magic be guilty of Dark Witchcraft.

XXXII

Let he who is of demonic, necrotic, or otherwise unholy origin be guilty of Abomination.

Let a medical professional who neglects their duties, or gives substandard treatment that causes harm, injury or death to a patient be guilty of Malpractice.

XXXIV

Let he who disrupts a medical professional providing service be guilty of Sabotage.

Let he who seizes correspondence sent from or bound for a Haeseni territory be guilty of Postal Interception.

Let he who kills or brings damage to any courier within the lands of Hanseti-Ruska be guilty of Obstruction of Correspondence.

Law of Nobility

JURA I SZLATA

These words shall proclaim the structure, rights and duties of the Noble class.

The Noble Class

The Noble Class shall include he who holds the landed title and their lawful kin.

Let he who carries a title of nobility without land be deemed a titular Noble.

Titleage

III

Landed titles shall be titles granted by the Crown to a Haeseni, and that title shall pass unto his heir.

Titles without land shall be titular titles, granted to an individual by the Crown, and shall return to the Crown upon the death of that individual.

Titles of Nobility within the Kongzem shall include:

Grand Prince or Grand Princess | Hauchprinzen ludr Hauchprinzenas
Awarded titularly to the Heir Apparent of the Kongzem.

Prince or Princess | Prinzen ludr Prinzenas
Awarded titularly to members of the Royal House.

Duke or Duchess | Herzen ludr Herzenas
Awarded to Houses of the highest merit whose contributions to all aspects of the Kongzem are beyond doubt.

Margrave or Margravine | Margravir ludr Magraviras
Awarded to Houses of committal merit charged with the defense of a border of the Kongzem.

Count or Countess | Komit ludr Komitas
Awarded to Houses of great merit who contribute remarkably to the welfare of the Kongzem.

Viscount or Viscountess | Vikomit ludr Vikomitas
Awarded to Houses are of commendable merit who contribute actively to the Kongzem.

Baron or Baroness | Bossir ludr Bossira
Awarded to fledgling Houses in recognition of their contributions to the Kongzem.

Nauherzen or Nauherzenas
Awarded to debuting Houses in recognition of their ambitions for the Kongzem.

Nobility shall be referred to as ‘Lord’ or ‘Lady’, and the Noble holding the title and his spouse shall be referred to as:

Grand Prince | Hauchprinzen
Your Serene Highness | Vyr Haurazir

Prince | Prinzen
Your Highness | Vyr Hauraz

Duke | Herzen
Your Grace | Vyr Graiz

Margrave | Margravir
Your Right Honourable | Vyr Kariavir

Count | Komit
Your Right Honourable | Vyr Kariavir

Viscount | Vikomit
Your Honorable | Vyr Kariav

Baron | Bossir
Your Lordship | Vyr Zaltry

Nauherzen
Your Lordship | Vyr Zaltry

Rights & Duties

VII

A landed Duke shall:

Sit upon the Royal Duma or elect a representative from among their family,
Keep a large plot of land to farm, graze, hunt and sail, on which they shall build a castle and walls to host their kin,
Defend their castle and settlement from invasion,
Be permitted to settle taxable tenants on said land,
Be permitted to enforce the law of the Crown on said land,
Employ a guard of retainers, numbering that which is befitting of their class,
Host a large family who shall dedicate themselves to the Kongzem in service of arms, politics, and all other aspects.

VIII

A landed Margrave shall:

Hold a Comital title,
Defend a border of the Kongzem against invasion through the erection of a castle,
Be prepared to man their castle as the first line of defence against invasion.

A landed Count shall:

Sit upon the Royal Duma or elect a representative from among their family,
Keep a plot of land to farm, graze, hunt, and sail on which they may build a keep to host their kin,
Defend their keep against invasion,
Be permitted to settle taxable tenants on said land,
Be permitted to enforce the law of the Crown on said land,
Employ a guard of retainers, numbering that which is befitting of their class,
Host a family of notable size who shall dedicate themselves to the Kongzem in service of arms, politics, and all other aspects.

A landed Viscount shall:

Sit upon the Royal Duma or elect a representative from among their family,
Keep a small plot of land to farm and graze on which they shall erect an estate to host their kin,
Be permitted to settle taxable tenants on said land,
Be permitted to enforce the law of the Crown on said land,
Host a family of minor size who shall dedicate themselves to the Kongzem in service of arms, politics, or otherwise.

A landed Baron shall:

Sit upon the Royal Duma or elect a representative from among their family,
Keep a small plot of land to farm on which they shall erect an estate to host their kin,
Be permitted to settle taxable tenants on said land,
Be permitted to enforce the law of the Crown on said land,
Host a family of minor size who shall dedicate themselves to the Kongzem in service of arms, politics, or otherwise.

XII

A recognized Nauherzen shall:

Keep a taxable manor with or without crenellations to host their kin,
Host a family of minor size who shall dedicate themselves to the Kongzem in service of arms, politics, or otherwise.

XIII

Landed titles and their land shall be inherited, except those of Nauherzen status, whether after death or abdication:

Be entitled to squire in the Knightly Order of the Crow,
Be entitled to seek private audience with the Crown,
Be encouraged to hold employment in at least one institution of the Kongzem,
Be entitled to further their bloodline through marriages of worth,
Bear the unique heraldry of their House,
Be entitled to be executed by way of beheading,
Choose to elect a Champion to fight on their behalf in a Trial by Combat,
And choose to settle disputes both legal and personal through a battle between Houses,

Regency

XIV

When a landed Lord is below the age of eighteen, a Regent, who shall be chosen by the late landed Lord or by consensus of the House, shall manage their affairs.

Inheritance

Landed titles shall be held until the death of the landed Lord or until he abdicates from his title and duties.

XVI

Landed titles and their land shall be inherited, whether after death or abdication:

Firstly by the eldest child and their line,
Secondly by next eldest child and their line, and so on and so forth,
Thirdly by the eldest sibling and their line,
Fourthly by the next eldest sibling and their line, and so on and so forth,
Fifthly by the eldest relative in adherence to lineal ascent,
and sixthly by resolution of the Crown or the Royal Duma.

Disownment & Disinheritance

XVII

A disowned member of a House shall have all rights, honours, and titles revoked as if they were born into the Common Class.

XVIII

A disinherited member of a House shall remain of the Noble Class, but shall not be capable of inheriting any landed title.

XIX

A Noble who behave as follows shall be automatically disinherited:

Join the priesthood,
Take a spouse who is not of a Noble House in the Kongzem or abroad without permission from the crown,
Marry out of their Noble House without permission from the crown,
Assume rank or office in a foreign nation.

A Noble guilty of the following shall be automatically disowned:

Swearing an oath of fealty to a foreign sovereign,
Denouncing the faith of Canonism,
Committing the crime of treason.

Auditing

XXI

The Royal Inquisitor, as so named by the Lord Speaker of the Duma, shall ensure all members of the Aulic Government and Noble Class act with honour and integrity, and shall fairly voice their concerns.

XXII

Should a case arise in which there is a dispute between or alleged dishonour by any members of the Noble Class, the Royal Inquisitor may convene a court of honour to determine the rightful truth.

XXIII

A Court of Honour shall hear any case of substance put forward by a member of the Noble Class and follow the procedure of the Aulic Court, in which the Lord Speaker of the Duma assumes the role of Palatine of Jovenaar.

Law of the People

JURA I OSOBAZ

These words shall proclaim the structure and instruments of Haeseni society.

The Gentry Class

The Gentry Class shall be composed of individuals dubbed Knights of the Order of the Crow, the Marian Retinue, or the Order of Queen Maya and the Lily.

Nobles or Commoners of heroic renown may enlist as a Squire in the Order of the Crow, and may be dubbed as a Knight of the Order of the Crow if they succeed in the Knightly Trials assigned to them.

III

Squires of great skill may be dubbed a Knight of the Marian Retinue as closest protector of the Crown.

Haeseni may be nominated by the Royal Duma to be dubbed into the meritorious Order of Queen Maya and the Lily as:

Valtakossar, if they make a contribution to the Kongzem so great that it is practically unmatched,
Hauchkossar, if they make contributions to the Kongzem of such merit that very few shall ever rival,
Or Kossar, if they make contributions to the Kongzem of such merit that outshines their peers.

The Gentry title of Knight, be it militant or meritorious, shall not be inherited and cease to be upon the death of the individual upon whom it was bestowed.

Gentry shall be entitled to:

Take the title of ‘Dame’ or ‘Ser’ if a Knight of the Order of the Crow or Marian Retinue,
Take the title of ‘Kossar’ if a Knight of the Order of Queen Maya and the Lily,
Own a manor within the Royal Capital for which they shall pay tax,
On select occasions erect a manor outside of the Royal Capital for which they shall pay tax.

The Common Class

VII

The Common Class shall encompass all Haeseni who do not compose the Noble or Gentry Class.

Marriage

VIII

Marriage shall be the sacred rite of taking a husband or wife to form a family.

A marriage shall be marked by a wedding held in a place of Godani, before the people of Godani, and conducted by a priest of Godani.

Once wed, only death or a decree of the Pontiff shall end a marriage.

Should a spouse go missing for five years or feign their own death, then their spouse shall be free to marry anew.

Children

XII

Those born of a lawful marriage shall be lawful children and inheritors of their family name and holdings.

XIII

Those born outside of lawful marriage shall be bastards, incapable of inheriting their family name and holdings.

XIV

Barred of their family name, bastards may take the following names in their stead:

If born in the Royal Capital = Maanska
If born in the wilderness = Arav
If born on a farm = Heidyr
If of Barbanov, Morovar, Ruthern, and Ludovar = Barrow
If of Baruch = Vander
If of Kortrevich = Kort
If of Amador = Nikuldov
If of Mondblume = Verwelk

The Crown may legitimize a bastard, bestowing unto them the name, rights, and honours had they been born lawfully.

XVI

Children born lawfully but whose parents are dead or missing may be adopted and raised in a Commoner family and assume all names as if born to that family.

XVII

Children born lawfully but whose parents are dead or missing may be taken as wards to a Noble family, but may not take the Noble name nor inherit.

Contracts

XVIII

All those above the age of eighteen may sign a contract, which must be either verbal or written, and must be upheld by the agreeing parties.

XIX

Those between the ages of eighteen and sixteen may sign a contract with the consent of their legal guardian.

A contractual agreement may be terminated by the Aulic Court or the Crown, should they see suitable grounds to do so.

XXI

All written contracts must be signed in the presence of a qualified Jovenaar as a contractual witness to be considered valid.

Duelling

XXII

Those of equal standing may settle civil disputes by the form of duel, thus meaning that nobility may duel nobility, gentry may duel gentry, and commoners may duel commoners.

XXIII

Nobility shall be entitled to settle familiar disputes in the form of a family duel, in which an agreed upon amount of members from each family duel to the last man standing.

IV JOVEO MAAN
His Royal Majesty SIGISMUND III by the Grace of Godan, King of Hanseti and Ruska, Grand Hetman of the Army, Prince of Bihar, Dules, Lahy, Muldav, Solvesborg, Slesvik and Ulgaard, Duke of Carnatia and Vanaheim, Margrave of Korstadt, Rothswald and Vasiland, Count of Alban, Alimar, Baranya, Graiswald, Karikhov, Karovia, Kaunas, Kavat, Kovachgrad, Kvasz, Markev, Nenzing, Torun, and Toruv, Viscount of Varna, Baron of Esenstadt, Kraken’s Watch, Kralta, Krepost, Lorentz, Rytsburg, Thurant, Venzia and Astfield, Lord of the Westfolk, Fidei Defensor, Protector of the Highlanders, etcetera.