Antoran Chivalry: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Redgirl and knight01.jpg|thumb|301x301px|''The Rest,'' 1877, displays an idealized Antoran knight and his maiden|alt=The Rest, 1877, displays an idealized Andoran knight and his maiden]]
'''Antoran Chivalry''' is a system of various concepts that encompass the ideals, behaviors, and status of [[Casilló y Réal|Antoran]] knights and gentlefolk. First popularized in 1149 with the writing of ''To Become an Ideal Cavalier'' (''Convertirse en un Perfecto Caballero,)'' the proliferation of chivalric codes of conduct and social conventions across Antora was greatly helped by literature and the teachings of the [[
The idea of chivalry in Antora traces its roots to the cavalrymen of the eastern principalities where the terrain was favorable to mounted combat. The day-to-day lives of these cavalry involved military proficiency, constant training as an individual, service to a higher authority, and battlefield control. As mounted combat become more culturally intrinsic and more ritualized, so too did the lifestyles of the cavalrymen. Concepts emerged that became central to combat of the day, such as it being forbidden for an infantryman to directly fight a horseman or vice versa. This was due to the common disparity in quality of training and equipment between the two, resulting on one hand an unfair match for the infantry, and on the other the potential shame of the cavalier if he lost, as many were landowners and nobles. The service of these self-equipped and trained soldiers became so important to the lords of the east that the formal office of knighthood was eventually created. Knights, as the most powerful individuals on a battlefield, became expected to become ideal people as well as warriors. The ideals of chivalry became codified in 1355 after several centuries of evolution as the '''Antoran Precepts of Honorable and Chivalric Life'''.
Chivalry is ingrained heavily into the culture of Antora. For much of its history its two constituent kingdoms were at war, and knights featured heavily in the militaries of both parties. There are five Chivalric Orders of Knighthood in the present day, three of which trace their heritage to the longest and bloodiest war between the kingdoms, the Thirty Years Bloodshed. So many knights were created during this war it is said that 80% of the population can trace their ancestry to one. In the modern era, chivalry has come to be accepted as a general social norm. 'Casual Chivalry' in contemporary Antora is a philosophy on living life which combines a knowledge of '{{wp|Courtesy|courtly}}' or high society manners, being true and honest with one's beliefs be they
== Terminology & Origins ==
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As the ''caballeros'' became more and more pervasive in cultural understandings of war, the idea of formations of mounted soldiers spread from the coastal regions to the Antoran interior. While mountainous terrain did not provide as much room for ideal cavalry maneuvers, the principalities of the west saw the virtue in organizing forces of horse. These ''caballeros'' were used in skirmishing, flanking maneuvers, and scouting, taking on a slightly different connotation than their eastern cousins. While the heavy horse of the Antoran coastal states were designed as the mailed fist that crushed enemy formations and rode down routed soldiers, the lighter horse of the interior lords were better suited to locating, reporting on, and harrassing the enemy, preventing him from organizing efficiently while the main infantry moved into position and tore him apart while he was distracted. This resulted in the western ''caballeros'' being viewed less as paragons of leadership, virtue, and raw martial skill, and more of responsible guides; the men that led the army onto the path to victory rather than leading the army ''on'' the path. Due to the importance of the duties of scouting and skirmishing, they were no less respected, and the position was seen as just as indicative of status.
The codification of chivalry and the acts of ''caballeros'' into a hard set of rules began with the writing of ''To Become an Ideal Cavalier'' in 1149. Penned by the [[Tunseism|Tunesism]] scholar Guilliam de Cartevija, it was the first literary work to describe in detail the responsibilities and expectations placed upon a ''caballero'' and how he should act to accomplish them. With some obvious but not direct religious overtones, the work was generally accepted as a good guide on comportment. In 1203 it was joined by the
==== de Vries Noble Commandments ====
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Further texts, such as the 1297 work ''The Great Deeds'', which chronicled the life of ''caballero'' Frederico de Largo and his efforts to always act with moral goodness, and the 1321 anthology ''Fifteen Virtues'', a collection of fifteen poems about different knights and their triumphs over different obstacles, can be considered part of the courtly romance and romantic chivalry movement of Antoran literature. This saw the idea of ''caballeros'' rescuing, learning from, escorting, or courting women enter into mainstream practice as a way to entertain and add aspects to stories that ladies could relate to. The courtly practices in literature soon became reality in noble life across the region. This combination of honor, virtue, skill, and piety would combine to make ''caballeros'' into the true Antoran embodiment of the knightly concept.
As Tunesism fell out of use in Antora in favor of
== Antoran Precepts ==
[[File:Joan of Arc - John Everett Millais.jpg|alt=Marta Lilía de Conzelaña, widely considered the most famous woman knight, was said to be the perfect embodiment of all Precepts, here depicted kneeling in armor and a red skirt holding a sword, looking upwards|thumb|200x200px|Marta Lilía de Conzelaña, widely considered the most famous woman knight, was said to be the perfect embodiment of all Precepts]]
The ''Antoran Precepts for Honorable and Chivalric Life'' were written in 1355 by King Marius Ignatius II of Réal. The king was considered a scholar in his day and was a great student of philosophy. The Precepts were written as part of a larger effort by Marius Ignatius II to set standards for behavior in his court and on the battlefield. The entire text was unique at the time for its total disregard for religious doctrine and lack of theological content. The king argued that for one to act properly, one did not have to believe in any higher power, as he had seen many men who were avowedly atheist or of
The Precepts are still used today as the code for the knights of The Precepts are still used today as the code for the knights of Antora, revised from the originals slightly:, revised from the originals slightly:
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# As a knight, you will be in all things Fair, Just, and Good, as the expectations of your people, lord, and monarch are with you at all times.
# As a knight, you will maintain your physical and mental prowess, for you have earned this office in the expectation you will use your prowess when called upon.
# As a knight, you will exercise the prowess of which you
# As a knight, you will never act with enmity towards those with less than you, even if they are criminal or enemy, for all people deserve respect.
# As a knight, you will use only commensurate force against those you are called to combat, and never cause undue or collateral harm.
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# As a knight, you will have the power to make those who embody the heritage and ideals of your office into knights of honor, so long as it is documented and recorded for your lord and monarch.
The courtly reforms were so successful that the royal knights of Réal quickly became made up of only the most skilled, moral, and responsible ''caballeros'' in the Kingdom. The common folk brought most issues before a royal knight to be judged rather than their own
=== Aspects of a Knight ===
According to tradition, there are several Aspects of knighthood that are essential for someone to function and be viewed as a 'true' knight.
First and most importantly is the actual act and record of being knighted, known as Creation. A person who possesses any chivalric title may dub another person as a Knight, through proper ceremony and paperwork. This involves tapping both shoulders of the dubbee twice with a sword, a sprinkling of olive oil across the forehead, and having them repeat each of the fourteen Precepts before reciting "I am a knight, and a knight I shall die, save if I dishonor they who have granted me this boon." This is considered the spiritual beginning of the new knight, though the dubber must fill out an official document, currently a legal form known as a C-180-k. This document requires an explanation for the knighting and must be cosigned by the dubbee and two witnesses. This document is then sent to the Ministry of Civil Services for archival and is then sent to the Monarch, who reviews and rubber stamps it. However, only the Monarch may grant a person
[[File:Ming Gold Belt Plaques (16907707407).jpg|thumb|225x225px|An ornate example of a knight's belt, which would be connected by interlocking hinges and backed by a felt band.|alt=An ornate example of a knight's belt, about two dozen golden plates about the size and shape of playing cards decorated with animal carvings and gemstones, which would be connected by interlocking hinges and backed by a felt band.]]
Second, are the Arms of a knight, which involve the traditional military functions they are expected to perform. These are the Mount, the Armor, and the Weapon. Convention dictates that all these must be in good, functional condition and well taken care of. A knight who was found to be missing parts of his armor, or had no lance, or rode an old pony would be dismissed from the troop and if unlucky, stripped of his knighthood. While the specifics on the Arms are not set in stone, it was generally expected that a knight have at least a lance, a side arm of some kind be it sword, axe, or mace, armor that at least covered his chest, head, and hands, and a horse that was in good physical condition and of a certain size. The fashion of the Arms would change with the time period, most often due to advances in armor making. Modern knights can fulfill these Aspects through an armored vehicle of some kind, which they need only ride in and not necessarily drive, a long gun and a sidearm, and body armor. Some more traditional members of the chivalric school of thought will use body armor that is evocative of medieval designs and carry a sword or baton.
The third Aspect is the Gold. Knights would wear a set of gold spurs, a belt of gold plates, and often a collar of the same. They would traditionally receive these at their knighthood ceremony from the officiant or dubber, and be expected to wear at least the spurs while in armor and the belt at formal occasions, though it was up to the individual to decide what to wear, when. Lack of Gold is viewed as a sign a knight is an unsuccessful or failed soldier, as it implies they cannot fight well enough to either buy their own Gold or have the favor of a wealthy enough patron to provide them Gold. In a similar vein, official squires of knights would be given silver spurs by tradition, to trade in for gold once they reached knighthood. Today, most knights who follow tradition will use a single gold plate belt buckle and gold pins on their shoes.
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==== The Order of the Golden Eagle ====
The Order of the Golden Eagle is the oldest Order. It was created in 1298 by Queen Lidia Carmen of Casilló, and bears the heraldic familiar of the House of Naranza as its sigil. This Order was intended to be a show of favor to the Queen's favorite knights and lords, and can only be granted at the discretion of the monarch through special ceremony. Those who were granted the honor of being inducted into the Order were said to be "elevated by wings of gold." Such knights were usually the Queen's champions at tournaments or in disputes. It is thought that many of the first members of the Order were Lidia Carmen's paramours after her husband died. Subsequent Arranzic monarchs treated the Order as simply a great honor for knights of renown, and members were not given special personal treatment besides the monarch's favor of them for their military skill. Today, it is viewed as the most difficult Order to be inducted to, reserved for the highest achieving individuals in Antoran society. Consequently, members are shown much deference and often become minor cultural icons for their day.
[[File:
The ranks of the Order are unique in that they give the bearer military authority over knights of a similar rank. Contemporary members of the Order must be military servicemembers for this authority to apply. There are three: the Golden Knight (''Caballero Dorado'',) the Golden Captain (''Capitán Dorado'') and the Golden Banneret (''Banderado Dorado.'') The fourth rank, Master of the Golden Order (''Maestro de la Orden de Oro'') serves as the administrative head of the Order, but has not been used since the 17th century as the Order became more ceremonial.
==== The Order of the
[[File:Badge of the Order of Alcantara.svg|thumb|150x150px|Badge of the Order of Eleçeron|alt=Badge of the Order of Eleçeron, depicting a green four pointed cross with fluer de lis on each point]]
The Order of the
In the modern day, Knights of the
==== The Chivalric Order of Eleçeron ====
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==== The Chivalric Order of Málama ====
[[File:
The Chivalric Order of Málama was created in 1566, also by King Félipe I. Over the course of the Thirty Year's Bloodshed, the territory between Réal and Casilló became a war-torn frontier. This region was travelled across and battled over thousands of times, changing hands back and forth. Félipe I decided to create another Order of knights to help hold the territory in Casilló's name
The only rank besides the Grand Master is that of Knight-Mayor (''Alcalde Caballero'', or ''Gobernador Caballero''.) Knights of this Order were given legal administrative control over whatever land they could hold against the enemy, and commonly set policies and tax rates for the settlements in their purview. This had some problems, especially with several of the larger Knight-Mayor polities turning to banditry after the war. However, most Knight-Mayors had only a few dozen to a hundred soldiers in their command and generally fortified and defended a single town or castle, and the surrounding region.
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==== The Chivalric Order of the Red Eagle ====
{{Main article|Chivalric Order of the Red Eagle}}
The Chivalric Order of the Red Eagle is the youngest order. It was created in 2022 by King [[Sebastián II]] together with his brother, Prince-Emeritus [[Astolfo de Naranza-Carratéo|Astolfo]]. The Prince-Emeritus had recently re-entered public life after being believed dead for over thirty years. He had built himself as the leader of the world's most prominent mercenary company under a false identity. His exposure of corruption and treason within the government led to wide-sweeping reforms, including that of the Royal Corric Guard. The King agreed to include the most skilled and trusted members of Astolfo's [[The Company of the Quill|Company of the Quill]] alongside the Guard to create an organization that not only protects against threats to the Monarch, but to Antora as well, even if said threat is the Monarch themselves. The Order of the Red Eagle is the most militant of any current Order, maintaining a standing force of elite soldiers independant of any other organization. Membership is highly exclusive and is an appointment given only to those soldiers who have proven their fitness, skill, wit, and loyalty to the nation and its people. A special review board for addressing personnel needs and vetting candidates exists within the Order to limit the influence other government departments have over membership.▼
▲The Chivalric Order of the Red Eagle is the youngest order. It was created in 2022 by King [[Sebastián II]] together with his brother, Prince-Emeritus [[Astolfo de Naranza-Carratéo|Astolfo]]. The Prince-Emeritus had recently re-entered public life after being believed dead for over thirty years. He had built himself as the leader of the world's most prominent mercenary company under a false identity. His exposure of corruption and treason within the government led to wide-sweeping reforms, including that of the Royal Corric Guard. The King agreed to include the most skilled and trusted members of Astolfo's [[The Company of the Quill|Company of the Quill]] alongside the Guard to create an organization that not only protects against threats to the Monarch, but to Antora as well, even if said threat is the Monarch themselves. The Order of the Red Eagle is the most militant of any current Order, maintaining a standing force of elite soldiers
The rank structure is divided between three branches: The Silver Band, which assumes much of the duties of the Royal Corric Guard by guarding the members of the royal family and their residences, as well as important government officials and locations. This Band is contrasted by the Red Band; a special enforcement, defense, and emergency situation unit that deals with matters of domestic security and special assignments not suitable for the armed forces, and the Black Band; an investigative security unit that operates in parallel with the various Cabinet intelligence agencies: the Department of Investigation's Special Questioning Unit, the Department of Public Security's Domestic Integrity Office, and the Department of Interconnectivity's Office of Special Representatives. Within the Silver and Red Bands, ranks mirror that of the regular Armed Legions and range from OR-4 Knight-Corporal (''Cabo Caballero'') to OF-3 Knight-Commander (''Comandanté Caballero''.) The Silver Band also has the unique ranks of Warden of the Royal Household, Sentinel of the Royal Blood, and Paladin of the Royal Body. These are ceremonial positions that denote the position of soldiers within the Band; most are Wardens, carrying out whatever duties are required, few are Sentinels responsible for the safety of the royal family and their personal property, and fewer still are Paladins with the distinct honor of serving as personal, permanent guards of members of the royal family. The Black Band, meanwhile, possesses a rank system more in line with an intelligence agency. ▼
▲The rank structure is divided between three branches: The Silver Band,
Members of the Order of the Red Eagle are granted substantial benefits along with their title of knighthood, though functionally all possess a rank within the peerage equivalent to that of a Knight-Sergeant, making them ineligible for political or land privileges. Upon admission, a Band-appropriate colored metal badge is issued to distinguish members from each other.
=== Knightly Orders of Antora ===
Distinct from the Chivalric Antoran Orders, the Knightly Orders of Antora are
==== Knightly Order of the Oak Arrow ====
The Knightly Order of the Oak Arrow is the oldest Knightly Order, founded in 1855 in Cartevedra. Created by a group of merchants, craftsmen, foresters, and lower nobles, this Knightly Order is distinct in their admission of any who wish to join. The Order's mission statement is the preservation, care, and protection of the nations' natural environment, expanded in 1917 from the original which was concerned mainly with large areas of forest. Members of the Order belong to 'Troops' based in their local area and perform a variety of tasks for ecological upkeep depending on their Troop; some will run fundraisers and public outreach programs, some will proactively repair degraded ecologies, and some act as law enforcement officials for protected areas. Ranks within all Troops follow the same model: Fellow, Trustee, Guard Second Class, Guard First Class, Corporal, Sergeant, Captain, Commander, and Paladin. While mostly modeled after other knightly ranks, the Order of the Oak Arrow does not adhere to traditional chivalric military standards. Rather, advancement of rank is dependent on a board of an
==== Knightly Order of the Southern Sun ====
The Knightly Order of the Southern Sun is a martial order that has existed in various forms since 1401. Founded in Casilló by Volscine knights settling in Iravala, the Order has evolved from a community defense force to a paramilitary group that blends traditional HAMA practices with modern special forces training. They are widely considered second only to the Chivalric Order of the Red Eagle in combat effectiveness. Ranks follow the traditional model: Knight, Knight Sergeant, Knight Commander, Knight Captain, Knight Banneret, and Master of the Order. Bannerets lead the individual Chapters, of which there are four. The First Chapter is still based in Iravala, while the largest, the Second, is attached to the 1st Venture Legion "Silver Cross Cavaliers" deployed to Volscina.
==== Knightly Order of the Sapphire ====
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