Knights of the Spear

"Prime Protectors of the Crown"

Created nearly 3,000 years ago, the noble and venerable order of The Spear has a lineage that goes back as far as the founding of Wyeth itself. Established by Markhan Wyeth I, a general in the (originally loose) army protecting the growing township named for his forefathers, the Spear was meant to be an exemplar of noble service and a beacon of light to the allied minor kingdoms that would shortly meld into the far more stable nation of Wyeth. The Spear would go on to enjoy greater fame and praise under the command of Sabern Wyeth, some 50 years later (see history below). The Knights of the Spear are the best of the best. The most elite, the most highborn of the knights of Wyeth. With none below the rank of a Knight Errant, and most being Knight Commanders, the Spear has direct authority over all standard army and foot soldiers throughout the kingdom. The order is based out of Markhan, and many even serve (exclusively) as the official kings guard. Each officer within the order maintains the full right to enact the king's justice, if courts or due process is not an immediate option. Appointment to the order is the highest honor a knight without land can attain. For those landed nobles within the knightly order, it too is amongst the highest of possible honors.

Structure

The spear is commanded by a "Grand Marshal," sometimes called the "Highlord of the Spear" or "Warden of the Spear." The chain of command is as follows: Knight Grand Marshal, Knight Field Marshal, Knight Commander, Knight Lt. Commander, Knight Champion or "Steward of the Spear," Knight of the Spear.

History

The Spear was established around 1500 D.E. to protect the lands and holdings of the joint "minor" kings throughout what is now known as The Freemantle. It was initially commanded by a rotating selection of Knight Generals, each representing a different kingdom or township within the confederacy. Around 1550 D.E., the Spear's commander was Sabern Wyeth, who was also lord of the township of Wyeth (before the establishment of Markhan). During his tenure, he was tasked with routing the barbarian hordes to the north, as they'd become more brazen of late with their raids upon the region known as The Thaw. Upon the end of a most successful campaign, one which ended with a decisive victory over the barbarians (that left them disbanded and without a leader), Sabern was informed that he was to relinquish his command in favor of his closest rival, Lord Godric Nerithal (of the similarly growing township of Nerithal). Sabern knew he'd lose everything he held dear mere moments after resigning his command. Further, he knew of Godric's ambitions to rule more than his share of territories. So Sabern beat him to the punch. He sent word to his allies that he intended to dissolve the confederacy and join lands under one banner. His banner. Those with him would stand to gain much power and would be granted lands and titles within this new kingdom. Sabern's reach was long, and he commanded a fleet of ships (the Knights of the Spear are one of the only such orders to have a naval division), due to his relationships within the free-city of Angleport. By the time word made the rounds, it was clear that Sabern had the ability and temerity to take what he wanted by force. Many joined his cause, in what was considered a "no brainer." The conquest that followed, headed by The Spear, was largely bloodless, with well over 50% of the confederate city-states throwing in with Sabern. The only true power in his way was Godric Nerithal. After a year-long campaign, Nerithal eventually bent the knee, and the nation of Wyeth was formed. The ease of the transition was largely due to the effectiveness and reputation of the Order of the Spear. When Sabern founded Markhan as his seat of power, the order's headquarters was promptly relocated there to better serve the king. It resides here to this very day.

Divine Origins

The Order of the Spear was originally established as a knight's templar (religious) order dedicated to the Zenithal as a whole, with a specific focus on the god Yareuss. The tenets of the Zenithal and the church guided the order for many centuries, with the knights even occasionally taking orders from the Primate of the church (or even, in rare cases, the Pontiff himself). This all would change during the Restoration, with the church being (unofficially) separated from state affairs, and relocated to Jomor. The church was still granted an honor guard, culled from the Order of the Spear, but these knights were essentially "cut off" from their peers within the order as a whole. These detached knights are the only remaining amongst the order that take their lead directly from the church (and technically the crown, but this is never enforced). Though most Knights of the Spear remain adherents to the Faith Zenithal, no more do they take any form of order from the church or its representatives. The order answers directly to the crown in all matters, through the king's Lord Warden (or Lord Constable).