The nobility of the Imperial Domain

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The nobility of the Imperial Domain RaboudeImpP

To the people of the Holy Roman Empire
To the nobles of the Holy Roman Empire
To the Heraldic Institutions,

We grasp this occasion to announce the nomination of Robin "Koalabeertje" Meertens as Imperial Envoy for the County of Holland. It will be his duty to assist the Count of Holland as an expert on Imperial Affairs and to establish stronger bonds between the County and the Empire. Furthermore he will serve as Spokesperson whenever a direct contact with the Empire is required. We wish him good luck in this task.

We have decided to state the rights and duties of the Imperial nobles in this following document. These laws will enter immediately for every fief of the Imperial Throne Domain. We do however, confirm the inheritance of Azurelle Elzebeth Elfriede de Sparte, daughter of late Victor de Sparte, King of Lotharingie. She will remain Imperial Duchess of Sierenz and Ensisheim in honour of her father, first King of Lotharingie, who has never been able to enjoy his fief of merit.

English

Citação :: Chapter I - The nobility of the Imperial Domain

I. Introduction
Any fief of the Imperial Domain always remains the property of the Domain to which it is bound. When a fief is granted, it is entrusted to the management of a person who has the usufruct (usus and fructus). Nevertheless, the fief remains subjected to the Imperial heraldic rules and by Her Imperial Majesty the Emperor and the noble may not dispose of it as one pleases.

II. Titles and ranks in the Imperial Domain

Imperial Duke:

Imperial Margrave:

Imperial Landgrave:

Imperial Prince:

Imperial Earl:

Imperial Viscount:

Imperial Baron:

III. Vassalage

The nobles holder of a fief issued from the Imperial Domain are members of the Imperial Ban where they have these lands. They must swear the oath of vassalage and are subject to the rules and laws of nobility of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor.

As for any ennoblement, the person who is granted such a fief becomes holder only after that the High Imperial Heraldry has validated the request and after the noble made oath of loyalty to the Imperial Crown and received a positive answer.

A countersignature confirming the ennoblement is later published, attesting the grant. It is only once this countersignature is recorded in the nobility register of the Imperial Domain in the Castle in Strasbourg that the nobility is valid.

IV. Vassalage system

Within the Imperial Domain, land of the Emperor:

The members of the nobility issued from a fief of the Imperial Domain lend tribute to the Emperor as the suzerain of the Imperial Domain and in return of the authority he gives them. Thus, they are vassals of the Emperor. The oath is said in Strasbourg in the presence of the emperor or his designated representative.

The tribute of the nobles with lands in the Domain is made to the Emperor. The Emperor is the Suzerain of the Imperial Domain and holder of the land. They are therefore considered as vassals of the Emperor. This tribute is renewed at each change of suzerain, therefore all 6 months.

V. Break of the vassal relationship

At any time, the Emperor may decide to break the relationship with his vassal. To do this, he must warn officially the High Imperial Heraldry who acts upon the request. Once the request applied, the fief returns among the ones available in the Imperial Domain.

The death of the vassal bring the break of the vassal relationship. No fief coming from the Imperial Domain can be inherited. To the death of the vassal, the fief will return to the Imperial Domain.

VI. Rights and duties of the nobles

6.1. Imperial vassal oath

The vassal oath includes the following commitments:

The vassal is committed at the minimum to bring fidelity (obsequium), help and armed service (auxilium) and Council (consilium) to his suzerain.
The suzerain, the Emperor, in exchange commits at the minimum to provide protection, justice, and subsistence.

An oath is complete only if the two parties have pronounced it.

6.2. Imperial ban levy

By their auxilium commitment that they take at the vassal oath to the Emperor, the members of the nobility issued from the Imperial Domain must respond to any levy of the Imperial ban that her Imperial Majesty the Emperor would ask. Non response to these levies can lead to a sanction following the Imperial will.

Only her Imperial Majesty can lift the Imperial ban.

6.3. Rights of the nobles

By the protection which the suzerain supplies, it is considered that the Emperor provides his protection for his direct vassals on his lands, therefore it becomes possible to travel without to fear of being expelled from it.

It is possible to have several suzerains, but in case of a conflict between two of them, a choice must be made which can lead to a loss of title for non-compliance of a levy of a ban or appeal from a suzerain.
The Liege tribute is regarded as an indication to which suzerain priority will be given if such a choice would be put. The Liege tribute shall not release vassal duties to the other suzerains and disqualifications arising from the choice made.
The Liege tribute is due to his Imperial Majesty, the Emperor.

The spouses sharing the same arms are authorized to pay tribute instead of their spouse in the event of unavailability.

VII. Marriage

Only the Aristotelian marriages are recognized and valid. Only the resulting offspring of such marriages is legitimate.
Spouses bear the same titles and the same arms.

May the Almighty guide us,
Written on this XXVIIIth day of December MCDLIX

Pro Imperium,

Raboude Mondrianus de Ligne
Divina favente clemencia Romanorum imperator electus semper augustus

The nobility of the Imperial Domain Jaune2

The nobility of the Imperial Domain Jaune2