Fealty

A contract between individuals in which an exchange of support or protection is promised.

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A huge and often misunderstood concept. The Known World Handbook defines it as "A relationship between individuals, marked by an exchange of oaths of service and protection. You may take an oath of fealty to the Crown, the local Baron and Baroness, or an individual. It is basically a contract which says that "I will do X for you if you will do Y for me." If one party fails in upholding the contract, the oath is null and void. Fealty to the Crown is required of no one save the Knights.

-- Mistress Arlys o Gordon

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Most folks encounter fealty in one of several ways (but other uses certainly exist):

• Swearing fealty to the Crown / Principality Coronets / Barional Coronets, most often at their coronation ceremony and events shortly thereafter;
• Swearing fealty to the Crown when becoming a peer;
• Swearing fealty to the Crown when becoming a kingdom officer or champion;
• Swearing fealty to a peer during a ceremony to become their associate.

As mentioned, except for Knights, fealty is never required. Generally you have an option to either not swear at all, or to swear an oath of service instead. The title of Master at Arms was created specifically for those worthy of the Chivalry, who choose to not sear, or cannot swear fealty.

During the An Tir coronation ceremony, many persons and groups will be invited in turns to swear fealty — the past crowns, the champions, landed principality rulers, royal peers, peers (by peerage in order of creation), landed barons and baronesses (and royal patrons), kingdom officers, and finally the populace.

Generally, the fealty oaths in the coronation ceremony all require those swearing to obey lawful commands of the crown, swear faith to the crown, and act in ways that are honorable and chivalrous. In return, the crown promises to protect you, your family, and members of your household, with all their power.

Fealty oaths to coronets might vary from this.

Fealty oaths as part of an associate ceremony will vary greatly depending on the people and personalities involved. This may be very informal with no fealty sworn, or elaborate with contracts signed and duties spelled out.

It's typical to release fealty when you step down from an office or position, if the fealty was sworn to that position or office. It's also typical for those in fealty to a peer to be released from fealty to that peer, if and when they attain the peerage in question (although they also normally may retain other fealty sworn to other peers they are still an associate to).

Even as individuals vary, their takes on fealty can vary greatly. Some see it just as a dramatic part of the game, while others might take them very seriously indeed. For example, a fighter in fealty might not think twice fighting in a war against someone they are in fealty to, might seek permission to do so, or might never consider doing so.