Royal Diet
In Eremere, Royal Diets are meetings between prominent noble houses and the king. They occured regularly every five years, with each diet being hosted by a noble chosen by the monarch. Some emergency diets were called in times of crisis, though such crises were often above the reach of what the Royal Diet could acheive.
The agenda for a Royal Diet is entirely unscheduled, with nobles brining their petitions before the king and their peers as and when they are called to do so by the king, the ultimate arbiter. This often results in many disputes going unresolved and even unheard, but the mere presence of the diet serves to relieve overwhelming pressure, rather than solve every problem.
Selection for the location of a diet occurs a few months beforehand to allow the chosen lord or lady to prepare. Hosts are expected to provide a grand feast to feed the king and his household, as well as any high earls in attendance. Earls are expected to pay for their own bread. As such, diets tend to be held in the holdings of only the wealthiest of vassals. High earls are disproportionally represented, though many other earls have held multiple. It is seen as a great honour to be selected, and it is often a reward for acts of loyalty to the crown or in response to a great achievement. Some monarchs, such as Varun I, used the diets to financially cripple vassals who voiced displeasure at his rule.
Royal Diets have been occassionally missed due to war, such as the 750 diet which was interrupted by the War for the Marian Succession.
History
The Royal Diets in their current form were established by King Biddacrow, the first being in 560, five years after the unification of Eremere. In the aftermath of the conquest, Biddacrow believed it to be crucial to maintain a degree of vassal autonomy in order to prevent seccession. Royal Diets are therefore seen as the greatest power of the vassals in maintaining rights.
The Royal Diet was modelled on previous systems which existed before and during the War for the Light. During the war, the high thegns of Eremere cooperated under the rule of the high thegn of Thendanor, who styled himself as King Isah. He met regularly with his vassals to better consolidate the war effort, and while this continued after his kingship in the first years of the Era of Light, the tradition died out after his death.
Notable Diets
560 - The first Royal Diet was in 560 and was held in Knightsmire as a thanks to House Whitemount's devoted support during the conquest. It was the most limited of diets, with just the king, the five high earls, and the most powerful earl from each high earldom in attendance. 970 - The 970 diet, held in Beaucroft, saw Richard Whitemount of Dregonvell claim Ambrose Brawnby of Springmore had promised him the Rush. It was not resolved at the diet, and Richard pressed his claim in Richard's War for the Rush. 980 - Held in Knightsmire as a nod to Edward Whitemount's peace-making efforts after his father's war, the 980 diet saw Amelie Whitemount make her case for marriage to King Aldred II.
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
Comments