Duke
In the feudal hierarchy of the Kingdom of Akerlan, a duke (female: duchess) is the highest landed noble directly below the monarch. There are eight hereditary duchies, plus the royal Duchy of Preby held personally by the King. Every duke governs an extensive region containing several counties and at least one city of personal possession, commands significant military forces, and sits on the King’s Council. The two eldest children carry the courtesy title Prince-Duke or Princess-Duchess; younger children are styled Viscount or viscountess.
Duties
Governance: Administers the duchy’s civil government, including collection of royal and ducal taxes, maintenance of roads, bridges and public granaries, and issuance of local charters. Convenes the Ducal Diet, an assembly of counts, margraves, abbots and guild elders, to enact bylaws and assess extraordinary levies.
Judicial Authority: Presides over the High Court of the Duchy, hearing capital cases, noble disputes and appeals from county courts. Holds power of ban (outlawry) and may grant pardons for offences committed within ducal jurisdiction—except treason, which remains the king’s prerogative.
Military Obligations: Raises the ducal host: the duke’s own mesnie (household troops), the ducal guard and the contingents of vassal counts and margraves. Maintains at least one royal-approved armoury and keeps a standing force of 300–500 professional soldiers for border defence and royal campaigns. Supplies engineers, siege trains and scouts upon royal summons.
Fealty & Counsel: Swears direct fealty to the Crown at the Oath-Stone of Preby. Sits by right on the King’s Council; absence without royal leave incurs a fine equal to one month’s ducal income. Expected to host the monarch and travelling royal court no fewer than twice per reign.
Judicial Authority: Presides over the High Court of the Duchy, hearing capital cases, noble disputes and appeals from county courts. Holds power of ban (outlawry) and may grant pardons for offences committed within ducal jurisdiction—except treason, which remains the king’s prerogative.
Military Obligations: Raises the ducal host: the duke’s own mesnie (household troops), the ducal guard and the contingents of vassal counts and margraves. Maintains at least one royal-approved armoury and keeps a standing force of 300–500 professional soldiers for border defence and royal campaigns. Supplies engineers, siege trains and scouts upon royal summons.
Fealty & Counsel: Swears direct fealty to the Crown at the Oath-Stone of Preby. Sits by right on the King’s Council; absence without royal leave incurs a fine equal to one month’s ducal income. Expected to host the monarch and travelling royal court no fewer than twice per reign.
Benefits
Revenues: Receives a tenth of all county taxes and full dues from the ducal demesne (usually three to six estates).
Mines & Forests: Owns mineral rights and “great timber” within the ducal forest reserve.
Coinage: May strike fractional copper and billon coins bearing the ducal arms on reverse (gold and full-silver coinage reserved for the Crown).
Patronage:Holds the right to appoint city mayors, ducal judges and abbey protectors; may also grant the title of Knight.
Sanctuary: Enjoys privilege for trial only by the royal court or a panel of peer dukes.
Heraldry & Ceremonial: Bears a ducal coronet of ten visible leaves and the mantle of white ermine over crimson silk.
Marriage Alliances: Marriage into ducal families requires kingly licence; dowries commonly include baronies or fortified manors.
Mines & Forests: Owns mineral rights and “great timber” within the ducal forest reserve.
Coinage: May strike fractional copper and billon coins bearing the ducal arms on reverse (gold and full-silver coinage reserved for the Crown).
Patronage:Holds the right to appoint city mayors, ducal judges and abbey protectors; may also grant the title of Knight.
Sanctuary: Enjoys privilege for trial only by the royal court or a panel of peer dukes.
Heraldry & Ceremonial: Bears a ducal coronet of ten visible leaves and the mantle of white ermine over crimson silk.
Marriage Alliances: Marriage into ducal families requires kingly licence; dowries commonly include baronies or fortified manors.
Accoutrements & Equipment
Regalia: Ducal Coronet – a circlet of chased silver-gilt, topped with alternating strawberry leaves and pearls. Seal of Office – a double-sided matrix (arms on obverse, ducal monogram on reverse) used to validate charters. Purple-lined Ermine Mantle – worn on state occasions and during the annual Oath Court. Baton of Command – ebony inlaid with silver knots, symbolising authority over the ducal host.
Military Dress & Arms: Field Armour – full plate bearing the duke’s own house insignia upon breastplate, pauldron and horse barding. Ceremonial Sword – broadsword with a pommel shaped as the ducal coronet; presented by the king at investiture. Ducal Standard – swallow-tailed banner: primary tincture of the duchy with a gold border, charged with the ducal arms surmounted by a coronet.
Military Dress & Arms: Field Armour – full plate bearing the duke’s own house insignia upon breastplate, pauldron and horse barding. Ceremonial Sword – broadsword with a pommel shaped as the ducal coronet; presented by the king at investiture. Ducal Standard – swallow-tailed banner: primary tincture of the duchy with a gold border, charged with the ducal arms surmounted by a coronet.
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