Queen

LANDLORD IN CHIEF

Nobles own land. The King & Queen are of the highest status noble, effectively owning all of the land of the kingdom. They also have bestowed some to Earls / Duchesses and Barons / Baronesses and Knights / Ladies. They collect taxes via the sherrifs of each shire and are tremendously wealthy.

JUSTICE

Executing low justice is considered below their station, but they are the ultimate authority to which to appeal low justice judgements. High justice is used as a political tool to keep the King's & Queen's rivals fighting with each other. Each shire's sheriff administers high justice on behalf of the king.

MILITARY

Only the King / Queen may declare war and so doing summon all the able bodied noblemen (officers) and peasants (footmen) to military service. Freemen are exempt from this draft, but are often hired on as mercenaries when more bodies are needed.

* Gender - None of the rules of noble titles preclude women from holding noble titles. However, most noble titles are carried by men as a matter of tradition. Spouses of nobles are 'granted' the corresponding noble title, i.e., the spouse of the queen is called king. But she is the ruler, and he is the spouse. He does not have any authority beyond what she grants. So a peasant could ask the king for a pardon, but in effect they are asking the king to ask the queen for them.

The queen is the female equivelant to the male King .