Those Who Fight
To assist in ruling his large domain, the king heads an organization of barons who receive ruling rights over lands sufficient to support a small local army.
The feudal system is an entirely different pyramid of authority than the king’s courts. At its base, the commoners pay their render and rent to their baron, not the king. The baron has his own court, the seigniorial court, which takes care of certain legal recordings and minor judgments, and collects the fees.
One critical rule of the barons is important to state: Any feudal nobleman who receives a writ for a hundred or county court can just pay a reasonable fee (60 pennies) and transfer his case to the Court of the King’s Bench.
Fiefs are not based on Ancient Law and Custom, but are instead determined by Aurelius Ambrosius’ Feudal Law. He imposed them upon the ancient ways in order to finance local armies effective enough to destroy raiders. To settle public demands, Aurelius Ambrosius made a single set of rules for all rulers, nearly all of whom agreed. The few who did not were crushed by young Sir Uther and soon everyone agreed to it.
About forty noble families are called tenants-in-chief, because they hold their land directly from the king. Some of them are legal heirs of ancient British families, some are scions of old Roman families, some are appointees of Vortigern and Aurelius Ambrosius, and some just seized their lands by strength of arms. During his brother’s rule, Uther was the king’s firebrand warlord.
The barons acknowledge their feudal obligations and rights, and support the king. Their holdings are of unequal size, but all of them are large, sufficient to supply at least a conroi (company) of cavalrymen. They are all, equally, barons to King Uther.
Eight nobles and their families are significantly richer than the others. These form the greater nobility or upper baronage, while the rest are the lesser baronage.
Noble Titles
Cavalry (Miles)
Cavalrymen are not nobles, even though they are mounted warriors and armed like knights. They are also called by their Roman name, milites (singular, miles). They are mentioned here only because they are the class from which true knights are drawn.. The single most important difference is that a cavalrymen swears an oath of fealty, a temporary promise, while a knight swears homage, a life-long commitment of loyalty. They (along with esquires-at-arms) may serve permanently as part of a lord’s army, or as mercenaries. While they may have servants, they do not have squires (who are both servants and supporters on the battlefield).Esquire, Esquire-at-Arms
An esquire is a nobleman who has not been knighted. Squires typically become knights or esquires at age 21. An esquire-at-arms is armed as a knight, but has not received the title. He is, in essence, the same as a cavalryman, except he is a nobleman.Knight
(Household, Bachelor, Eques) Knight is a relatively new term in 485. It is a noble title granted by King Uther and the greater nobles to select mounted warriors who pay them homage. In return for their loyalty, the lord provides protection and leadership as well as food, shelter, weapons — and status.Household knights are the most common class of knight. They always live in their liege lord’s castle, providing service as guards there when not in the field. They are occasionally sent to serve in the king’s guard. Household knights are also called bachelor knights from the low-French bas chevalier (low knight). Many are unable to afford marriage, and indeed must request their lord's permission before they can be wed.
An eques (plural equites) is a Roman nobleman who has taken up the profession of knightly arms. The Romans are primarily aristocrats of the city, the wealthy urban elite whose leaders call themselves Senators. They are the remaining plutocrats, overseeing the remnants of industry, trade, and the city council. The old aristocratic families recognize a duty to defend the realm and to provide military leadership. The “liege lord” of an eques is really his family.
Vassal Knight
Vassal knights hold manors of their own. Starting Player-knights who are generated through the core rulebook hold land of the Count of Salisbury and are thus all vassal knights.Vavasour, a “vassal of a vassal,” a “vassal of a vassal,” is applied to knights who hold their land from another vassal, to set them apart from tenants-in-chief. Your first character, generated from the King Arthur Pendragon rulebook, is a vavasour. It is an honorable term. The value of the estate could be as much as that of a minor baron.
Estate holder, Knight Banneret
An estate holder is a nobleman of rank higher than a knight, with an estate-sized holding. If he holds the estate from a baron, he is also a vavasour (see below). Knight Bannerets are estate holders who are direct vassals of the King, and have won their rank due to battlefield heroics.Baron
Fifty-five barons are King Uther’s warlords. They are the backbone of the feudal system. They are called tenants-in-chief, with “tenants” in the sense of occupant, and “chiefs” in the sense of leaders.Count
Four counts exist: of Summerland, Salisbury, Bedegraine, and Caercolun. The title comes from Roman times, comes, when the Come (“companion”) Brittainnorum was in charge of the defense of Roman Britain. Long ago, Emperor Constantine created the office, and appointed individuals to be responsible for local military defense. By the time of Maximus some of the descendants of those ancient counts had permanently earned their father’s office and rank. More recently, Aurelius Ambrosius recognized the remaining counts with their ancient privileges, within his new standards of law. Earl is a synonymous term, and comes into more extensive use in later periods. The wife of a count or an earl is a countess.Duke
Six nobles hold this title: Lucius, Duke of the Saxon Shore; Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall; Corneus, Duke Lindsey; Ulfius, Duke of the Vale; Edaris, Duke of the Marche; Eldol, Duke of Glevum.The office as set up by High King Aurelius was supposed to be temporary, but through political machinations the Dukes of Lindsey and Caercolun both managed to hand it off to their sons, and the Duke of Cornwall has become disturbingly popular with the men of his “temporary” holdings.
King
Also called monarch or sovereign, a king is the head of a large territory and has no higher-ranking noble, unless there is a High King. The wife of a king is a queen and their children are princes and princesses. King Uther has no queen in 485, and just one acknowledged bastard. Strictly speaking, the king is unique. He is not a nobleman, but reigns over noblemen, just as he reigns over all religious rulers and all the commoners. His duty is to assure harmony among all his subjects, defend the realm, negotiate all foreign agreements, make laws, and maintain customary practices.High King
A High King rules over other kings. The Supreme Collegium of 28 high-ranking nobles and clergy men elects the High King of Britain. King Uther has been unable to gain the trust and support of the requisite 3/4th majority, and hence Britain in 485 has no High King. Past High Kings include Emperor Constantine the Great, who ruled over all the Roman Empire; Emperor Maximus, who conquered Gaul; Vortigern the Usurper, who ruled all of Britain; and Aurelius Ambrosius, the elder brother of Uther.The Baronage
The Great Barons
Count (King) Cadwy
Ambrosius was content to leave this old land to itself. When Uther became king, he applied his warlord logic to everything, including a desire for the metals in Summerland. Neither Cadwy nor Melwas even tried to resist King Uther’s massive invasion. The Summerland army followed their ancient tactics and occupied the strong points, while bands of raiders dispersed. Uther besieged the strongholds, but his troops found the mines flooded, equipment broken, devoid of workers. The sieges failed quickly due to disease and raiders pillaged all Uther’s supplies, but the worst was the nightmares that plagued the invaders every night.
Uther eventually contented himself with a formal alliance, leaving all of Cadwy’s rights and powers intact, and pressing only for token signs of submission. King Cadwy continues to sit in his shrouded land, leaving the rest of the realm to itself.
Arms Per pale gules and azure, a servant in livery proper with dexter side of the second and sinister side of the first bearing a cup or
Lucius, Duke of the Saxon Shore
Sir Lucius is a knight in title only, having been knighted prematurely by his scheming courtiers led by his aunt, Baroness Pomponia. Marvis de Revil, his father’s favorite, is the Seneschal of Caercolun, while the king’s officers possess the other estates during the child’s youth.
Arms Per fess embattled gules and sable, a fasces in pale or banded of the first, the axe or.
Count Roderick of Salisbury
Arms Azure, four bars or
Duke Gorlois of Cornwall
Arms Sable, a chevron gules between three lion heads erased of the second
Duke Corneus of Lindsey
Arms Or, an eagle displayed vert
Duke Ulfius of the Vale
Arms Or, a wolf passant gules
Duke Edaris of the Marche
Duke Edaris guards Logres’ western border against incursions from the Cambrians. Edaris’ father was killed in 479 by Cambrian raiders. He has not forgotten nor forgiven, and aims to make those savages pay.Arms Per pale gules and azure, three eagles displayed argent, langued of the first, armed or.
Duke Eldol of Glevum
Duke Eldol is a very old hero of Britain. He was the only survivor of the Night of Long Knives when Vortigern and the Saxons treacherously murdered the nobles of Britain. Duke Eldol, though already a grandfather at that time, fought his way out of the trap using the leg of a table as a weapon. Back at Glevum he resisted Vortigern and the Saxon armies for years. When Ambrosius Aurelianus returned, the old duke quickly joined the new king and was always at the forefront fighting Vortigern and the Saxons.For his service King Aurelianus knighted him and gave him additional holdings. Now he is the elderly lord, content to oversee his squabbling and jealous family. His great-grandson, Chaleins, and grandson, Heli, are the worst of the contentious crew, each plotting and planning to seize the family wealth when the duke dies.
Arms Per pale gules and vert, a bear sable to sinister langued and membered gules.
The Warlords of Logres
These warlords are all members of the king’s council. They all know him and he knows them. Whenever Uther is in their county or otherwise nearby, these men must attend his court. Furthermore, they may be summoned at any time for their advice. In war, these men lead their iron squadrons of knights on the bloody field of battle. This includes the Great Barons of the real.Sir Emyr, Baron of the Castle Behind the Waters (Lonazep). He keeps watch from an island between the Fens and the German Sea.
Sir Maelwys, Baron of Battle-axe Pillar (Tintagel).
Sir Cadawg, Baron of the Beautiful View (Lambor). The Castle of the Beautiful View guards the border with Cameliard.
Sir Galehaut, Baron of the Castle on the Water (Lonazep), also called Castle Brown (Brun) after the family of heroes that lives here.
Sir Cadel, Baron of the Cattleherds (Wuerensis).
Sir Tarrant, Baron of the Chattering Glade (Thamesmouth).
Sir Elystan, Baron of the Dangerous Ford (Tribruit).
Sir Cynfan, Baron of Castle Dykes (Tribruit).
Sir Pwyll, Baron of Goat Town (Tribruit).
Sir Landri, Baron of Slayersfort (Wuerensis).
Sir Ederyn, Baron of Warcastle (Wuerensis), Castle of Vigor (Caercolun), Estate of the Extraordinary Cattle (Caercolun), Brothercross Estate (Caerwent). A rich baron.
Sir Geraint, Baron of Guinnon (Caercolun).
Sir Ganfael, Baron of Hartspool (Caercolun).
Sir Gynnfardd, Baron of the Horsemane Fort (Lambor).
Sir Gwenwynwyn, Baron of the Island that was Raised(Hantonne), Lord of Yarmouth Fort.
Sir Brychan, Baron of Longridge (Clarence).
Sir Kynon, Baron of Meadowstream (Dorsette).
Sir Bassianus, Baron of Noviomagus (Hantonne). Bassianus presides over the old Roman city of Noviomagus, secure in its stone fastness against the Saxons who are his neighbors; A rich baron.
Sir Gwythyr, Baron of Oxenford (Rydychan).
Sir Madern, Baron of the Castle of the Pinnacle (Jagent).
Sir Auryn, Baron of the Roaring Stream (Ascalon).
Sir Lleufer, Baron of the Roman Isle (Hantonne).
Sir Meneu, Baron of Rooksroost (Tribruit).
Sir Collen, Baron of Sentinel Ridge (Tribruit).
Sir Varwawc, Baron of Southtown (Caercolun).
Sir Dryw, Baron of Sparrowhawk Castle (Gentian).
Sir Anian, Baron of Stonetown Castle (Lambor).
Sir Staterius, Baron of Thornbush Castle (Silchester).
Sir Tegwared, Baron of Weir Meadow (Dorsette).
Sir Duach, Baron of Wereside (Salisbury).
Sir Celyn, Baron of Woodgrove (Linden).
Sir Amren, Baron on the Lonely Path (Wuerensis).
Sir Gruffydd, Baron of the Roe Deer Gate (Berroc).
Lady Sulwyn, Baroness of the Hidden Vale (Clarence).
Lady Blodeyn, Baroness of the Castle at the Crossing (Caerwent).
Lady Pomponia, Baroness of Clareia (Caerwent), the Sand Dunes (Silchester) and Custos of the Duke of the Saxon Shore.
Sir Sulien, Count Bedegraine, and Baron of the Field of Doves (Bedegraine), Castle on the Shining Stream (Jagent). Sulien is a northern lord, newly defeated, now loyal to his conqueror Uther.
Sir Roderick, Count Salisbury and Baron of the Castle of the Rock (Salisbury), Borders (Salisbury), Vagon (Salisbury), DuPlain (Salisbury), Roe Deer Ford (Thamesmouth), Kingstown (Hartland), Cockfield (Caercolun), Wildspring (Caerwent). Salisbury is a powerful lord of an ancient and widespread realm, and the default lord of Player-knights in King Arthur Pendragon.
Sir Eldol, the Duke of Glevum and Baron of Goodrich (Glevum), Baron of the Birchwood (Clarence), Stoneheight Castle (Tribruit), Bees Clearing (Ascalon), Hillfarm (Salisbury). Eldol, the “Old Duke” is said to be nearly a hundred years old in. The lone survivor of the infamous “Night of Long Knives,” Eldol has helped the Pendragons resist the Saxons for decades. Eldol’s heirs are already feuding over the inheritance.
Sir Gorlois, the Duke of Cornwall and Baron of the Clean Stream (Ascalon), the Bright Skull (Silchester), Sheriff of Tintagel, Lord of Castle Terrabil (Tintagel), Lord of Camulos’ Castle (Hantonne).
Sir Corneus, the Duke of Lindsey and Count of Linden Pool, Baron of Linden Pool (Linden), Magouns (Hantonne), St Peter’s (Lonazep), Birch Hill (Rydychan), Sheriff of Linden. Lindsey is an ambitious warlord with additional valuable holdings in the foreign land of Malahaut.
Sir Edaris, the Duke of the Marche and Baron of Leir’s Castle (Lambor), Bow and Arrow Castle (Dorsette), Humberside (Linden), Stonewall (Tribruit), Bran’s Town (Lambor), Ashtree Spring (Hartland).
Sir Lucius, the Duke of the Saxon Shore, Baron of Fort Bran (Caerwent), Seafort (Caerwent), Old Fort (Caerwent), Fort Brutus (Caercolun), Broadstream Fort (Caerwent), Harborkeep (Hantonne), Buna’s Island (Caercolun).
Sir Ulfius, the Duke of the Vale, Sheriff of Silchester, Baron of the Castle of the Buck (Caerwent), Monument Hill (Caercolun), Baron of the Castle at the Loud Stream (Tintagel), Stoneskeep (Berroc), Bridge on the Cam (Clarence), Oaktown (Tintagel), Upper Ford (Caercolun), Levcomagus (Silchester), Wolfhill (Glevum) Flax Spring, Alys’ Wood.
King Cadwy, the King of Summerland and Baron of the Castle by the Great Bridge (Summerland), Castle on the Heights (Ascalon), Wells, Baths, and the Forest of Glamour. Cadwy is an ancient lord with mysterious powers ruling a strange land. He is not a knight.
Barons of the Robe
The Barons of the Robe are no different than other barons — other than they’re also bishops and abbots. All oversee large tracts of land, for which they must answer to the king and his courts. They are his feudal vassals, identical in status to the tenants-in-chief concerning all legal issues.There are many other abbots, including some of importance, but they are not barons. All these bishops, but not the abbots, field forces for the king. They are not allowed to lead troops, by canonical law, and so their troops are led by their officers.
Dilwyn, Abbot of Ambrius’ Abbey (Salisbury)
Cadfael, Abbot of Bladud’s Mound Abbey and Lord of Bladud’s Mound (Gentian)
Valerius, Abbot of Riverford Abbey and Lord of Riverford (Silchester)
Palladius, Abbot of Westminster Abbey (Thamesmouth), Lord of Aneirin (Thamesmouth) and Woodland (Silchester)
Cynfarch, Abbot-bishop of St Albans, Lord of St Albans (Hartland) and Saffron (Hartland)
Dyfan, Bishop of Camulodunum (Caercolun), Lord of New Works Castle (Linden)
Decius, Bishop of Corinium (Clarence), Lord of Hawthorn (Caercolun)
Mesalla, Bishop of Durnovaria (Dorsette), Lord of Middlestone (Rydychan)
Lampades, Abbot-bishop of Linden Pool (Linden)
Quintus, Bishop of Londinium (Thamesmouth), Lord of Birch Hill (Rydychan) and Grantabridge
Metellus, Bishop of Silchester (Silchester)
Andronicus, Bishop of Venta (Caerwent)
The Civitates
Civitates are the old Roman cities that have kept their ancient urban charters. They are loyal only to the King of Logres. They are very old fashioned, each with a senate and senators who decide urban affairs. Although these are each surrounded by a county, they owe nothing to the county government, but deal directly with the king. These cities act collectively rather than with one lord, so that when a representative is summoned, a city sends a group of diplomats to deal with the king. The civitas are each responsible for their own self-defense, and each must field a number of infantry, up to a thousand each and serving under their own officers, whenever the kingdom is invaded.Londinium (Thamesmouth)
Glevum (Glevum)
Venta (Caerwent)
Silchester (Silchester)
Durnovaria (Dorsette)
Corinium (Clarence)
Camulodunum (Caercolun)
Noviomagus (Hantonne)
Londinium
The great and ancient city of Londinium has considerable political power that other cities lack. Londinium has its own sheriff, and holds nearly all liberties. It is the sole staple port for many imported products.Baronial Rights
A baron is close to the pinnacle of the ruling class. He has great personal power and legal rights far above those of commoners. He is a friend of the king, and is thus summoned to court regularly. He is given his rights by the king, and those are upheld by the Ancient Law and Custom of the people.Nobles are treated with the honors of rank. Everyone of lesser rank bows to a noble. He sits closer to the king, and may initiate conversation with him. barons are all knights, of course, and so receive the honors and perqs of that class, too.
A noble has obligations. He must keep peace among his followers and defend the realm from outside aggressors. He is the defender of churches, protector of peasants, and the champion of the warrior tradition among his knights.
By Ancient Law and Custom barons have the usual feudal rights, called seigniorial rights, and some additional, very special rights.
Seignorial Rights
All nobles, including vavasours, hold seigniorial (“lordly”) rights, also called manorial rights. First among them is the right to collect Customary Revenue. Ancient Custom grants the lord general legal oversight of his followers; his court collects fines and metes out punishment for violating the rules of the court. The court’s profits go to the lord of the manor.Seignorial rights are so well known that they do not need codification in a charter from the king. Traditionally stated, these rights are “of sake and soke, toll and team, and Infangentheof”
Sake and Soke
General jurisdiction over the area, which includes most police, social, and economic functions.Toll
The right to collect sales tax (called tolls) on all goods sold, and to judge disputes about tolls.Team
The right to oversee and judge, through the sworn word of others, the transfer of goods and ownership disputes.Infangetheof (Thief-hanging)
This is the right to hang a thief caught red-handed with the goods on him. Commonly, the sentence is commuted to fines and compensation to the victim. But if the thief is unable to pay, the lord can hang the thief. Very rarely, some lords have a special right to bring a thief to the lord’s own court to face justice even if the thief is apprehended outside their lands (called Outfangetheof).Other liberties
A huge variety of special fees exist, and the king can grant these to his favorite vassals. For game purposes, these are simplified as “miscellaneous liberties” lumped together into blocks of one percent of the normal Assized Rent of the holding. A manor with its normal £10 Assized Rent would collect an additional £0.1 for one set of “other liberties.” A maximum of six percent would include “all lesser liberties.”For completeness a full list of liberties is given below:
The king owns everything and he alone can extract resources or impose restrictions upon his commoners. He may license any of his rights to his noblemen, either for life or permanently. The right to extract resources or impose restrictions is called a liberty (that is, the holder is free to do something). If a noble has been granted a liberty then he is also required to exercise it in a responsible manner. Regrettably, many noblemen abuse the privileges of holding a liberty through arbitrary application, generally to make themselves wealthy. (Also, “liberty” was historically used to describe a type of holding that generally included many such rights. The word is not used in this context in the game, but is represented by the concept of Free Manor.)
Liberty of the Hundred Court
The lord of a hundred regularly (though not always) holds the profits & perqs of that hundred. Hundred courts judicate all petty and local crimes including land exchanges among commoners, boundary disputes, brawling, failure to show up for the siegnorial court, marriage fees, burial fees and so on. Each court pays for its functionaries from these fees, and a share goes to the lord’s treasury. This liberty confers more income than it does prestige or power. A bailiff does the actual work of overseeing the running of the court. The value of the Hundred Court is equal to three percent of the holding’s value. Court income comes from:Customary Payments: Income paid for various rights at stated terms.
Fees: Monies paid by commoners to have a case seen in court; or be exempted from it.
Fines: Fixed, standard charges for breaking the law.
Amercements: A penalty imposed by court for a minor violation of the law, often to avoid imprisonment. The amount is arbitrary.
Lordly Liberties
Barons and higher lords might obtain these rights for their holdings. These liberties are specific to a holding, hundred, county or other location and can cumulatively equal up to six percent.Assize of bread and ale: Checking scales and quality of these basic foodstuffs was done so regularly it provided steady income, almost like a regular fee.
Gallows: The right to own a gallows used to hang thieves. These are customarily erected at the hundred’s boundary, and used by all the surrounding courts for execution.
Toll: The right to collect for crossing a bridge, ford, or stretch of road.
Cartage: Fee for moving goods from one place to another.
Pontage: Fee to keep bridges in repair.
Wreck: The right to keep anything that washes ashore.
Treasure: The right to keep any gold and silver discovered on an estate.
Market Liberties
The movement, exchange and sale of goods are all subject to taxation. The lack of some of these provides a bonus for holdings close to the sourceStallage: The right to erect a stall or stalls at a fair.
Tallage: A land-use tax, charged to tenants of an estate.
Cornage: A tax on imported wine, paid at the port.
Presage: An impound by the king’s agents on all wine that comes into Logres, the result of which is the right of the king to purchase the wine at a small discount.
Market: The right to create a permanent market and collect its fees, such as tolls, cartage, etc.
Fair: The right to hold an open-air fair. Dates and places are specified, generally on the holder’s land and once per year. The lord collects tolls, stallage, cartage, etc.
Port Liberties
Lastage: 1. A sales tax levied on sales at fairs; 2. an export tax, paid to takes good out of the country, measured per last (80 bushels, 640 gallons).Scavage: A tax levied on merchants visiting a market.
Murrage: A fee to keep the walls of a town or a city in repair, generally levied on inhabitants of the place; sometimes used to keep dams repaired.
Anchorage: Fee to anchor a ship in harbor.
Exemptions
Quittance from county or hundred court: The right to ignore the normal courts, and to hold a private court of the county or hundred.Freedom from…: The right to ignore normal payment from the fees named, such as freedom from tolls, freedom from cartage, and so on. Almost every liberty that could be collected could also be made exempt this way.
County Liberties
A county-wide court is held twice per year. Here the sheriff exercises a wide range of duties. Some of his responsibilities are sometimes granted to warlords who perform them at their own local courts.View of Frankpledge: All free men are required to attend an annual court to be counted, and whoever does the view (like “review”) collects money for doing it from each participant, and even more for enforcing it on absentees.
Cert money: Money paid to avoid reporting for Frankpledge.
Felon’s Goods: Collection of all property of an executed felon is given to the holder of this right.
Outlaw’s Goods: Collection of all property of an outlaw who had fled.
Confiscation of strays and waifs: Ownership of all wandering livestock.
Pleas of vee dee naam: A complaint about the taking and holding of distresses (i.e. goods seized to force a man to court).
Distraints: Beasts or property that have been seized as punishment for legal disobedience. When someone refuses to attend court his goods are “distrained;” that is, their property (commonly all livestock) is seized to force them to answer the summons. Offenders must pay to get their animals back, are charged for the time they are kept, and forfeit them if they remain unclaimed for three days.
Regal Liberties
These are special liberties not usually granted to lords, since they are the special privilege of the king. They collectively grant an average of 4% if all are held.Seignorial justicier: The highest liberty possible. A nobleman who names the justicier of his own lands places his wolf to guard his flock. Whenever any commoner thinks that his lord is abusing the king’s laws, he can take his complaint to the king’s court, which in this case works for the man that is oppressing him.
Service of writs: A very high liberty, rarely granted and eagerly sought after. Serving writs brings in a lot of money as they must all be registered, for a fee. If writs are refused they just generate more fines. Also, this one is almost always combined with the next liberty too, making a powerful little package of power and money.
Ancient customary dues: Certain fees and honorary payments are due to the king. No one refuses because the dues are so ancient no one really remembers why they are paid. Often included with “service of writs.”
Levy of Royal Debt: Whoever collects the king’s money gets a little bit of it for his trouble. Little bits add up.
Forest Liberties
The wild and semi-wild woodlands hold many valuable resources. Residents of royal Forests must pay extra to whomever holds the Forest Rights (usually the king) to take advantage of these liberties, which are categorized into minutia to squeeze every penny out of renters. The most important are:Hunting: The right to take deer and, if specified, other animals. It is the most desirable for lords, providing food and sport.
Warren: The right to take smaller animals like rabbits, game birds, or other hawk’s prey.
Two liberties in particular normally provide half the fees collected.
Pannage: Fee for pigs to eat acorns on the ground.
Agistment: Fee for allowing livestock in the woods.
Others show some of the peasants’ difficulties if their hamlet is in a Forest. They regularly pay fees for the rights of:
Herbage: Cut grass and bear it away.
Champiage: Graze horses.
Glandée: Collect acorns from the ground.
Faugne: Collect beechnuts from the ground.
Ramage: Take boughs to use for fences.
Underbrush: Pick up fallen wood for firewood.
Effeuillage: Thin leaves from certain trees.
Abranchage: Cut branches for fodder.
Timber: Whole, healthy trees are sold individually, even if in large numbers. Contracts allow “ten oaks as large around as two men reaching,” or “eighty pine trees suitable for house building.”
Trial at the King’s Bench
The first special right is the right to plead at the King’s Bench. Any baron who receives a writ to appear at the hundred or county court because they have been accused of a crime can instead send a representative who pays a fee to have the case referred to the Court of the King’s Bench. This circumvents the agonizingly slow process that commoners experience in the judicial courts.Trial by Combat
All knights, including nobles, have the right to settle legal issues through Trial by Combat. Knights who have a common liege generally follow the rules of gentlemanly combat, which means “no killing your foe on purpose if you could have spared him.” However, insults to personal honor or a deep hatred may cause such restraint to be laid aside. Also, a defeated knight may beg to be spared, complicating things for the victorious knight. Trials of Combat between stranger knights are usually unrestrained.Champion
Barons and priests may choose a warrior to stand in for them in duels of justice. God is just, after all, and the same justice that allows a knight to trial by combat allows nobles to appoint champions.Right of Revolt
Barons have a right to lawfully rebel against their king. All feudal obligations are reciprocal, and if a king breaks faith with his barons, they have the right to make an end of their loyalty and quit the king’s service. The vassal is obliged to make a formal statement of defiance (called diffidatio) to the king, and to publicize it. Some say that barons are actually obliged to resist a king who has lost his way and abuses the Ancient Law and Custom.The Right of Revolt is extremely volatile and must be invoked with the greatest caution. A failed revolt proves the rebels were wrong in the eyes of God, resulting in a judgment of treason and a very grisly (and public) execution. Every effort must be made to advise the king before revolt is invoked. The danger of expressing this right results in the nobles protesting against a king’s advisors rather than the ruler himself. While unsavory, such actions are not automatically considered treasonous.
Regal Service
Noblemen sometimes have obligations to perform special duties for their monarch. These are much sought after for two reasons. First, they confer Glory. Second, they involve monetary compensation. Many similar services exist for commoners, but only those for barons are described here. Many others exist too, and almost anything can become a baronial right. Clerics cling to their special duties as much as the laymen do.Royal Crown-wearing
The king’s most regal appearance is at a crown-wearing. These special events normally occur every Christmas and Easter — and whenever else the king wishes. Uther is stingy and, does not don his crown often outside of the customary feasts. Noblemen serving the king on these occasions might pour the king’s wine, cut his meat, bring him dainties, or announce his presence. These duties reward 15 Glory and £1 income each.Coronation
Kings are coronated only once, upon their first acquisition of royal office. To serve at such an occasion is a great honor that is jealously guarded by the families who are selected. These grand occasions net up to 50 Glory and £3 income.Baptism, Marriage, etc
Nobles serving at these rare events net 100 Glory and £1 income each.Advowson
Advowson is a special type of right applied to religious properties. It allows the secular landholder, instead of the church, to appoint the religious tenant. Most British Church holdings are of this type. In the Roman Church, the abbey’s founder or builder (in the case of a smaller church) often holds the advowson. The Roman Church does not like this arrangement, and while they could refuse it, they usually don’t protest because the institution is still under their control — payments from the abbey are still sent to the local Roman bishop.Territorial Administration
To fully understand the feudal system, one must first understand the way the land is organized. Warlords are a key part of the system, the primary purpose of which is to make war. The king grants various lands and other rights to his warlords. They, in turn, raise, equip, and train a unit of armored horsemen. Such a grant is called an honour. An honour is composed of a central estate and outliers. Each piece of territory has a value that is a monetary assessment of its parts and parcels.Kingdom
A kingdom is land that is ruled by a king. In King Arthur Pendragon, kings enjoy varying levels of power. The ruler of Logres commands a great land, while tribal and feudal kings lord it over smaller domains. All kings have rules — which they must obey — that define the relationship between them and their followers. King Uther is very powerful, enjoying near-absolute rule, with few limitations.In smaller kingdoms, the gap between ruler and subject is much smaller. Tribal kings often depend on their people for their status. The ruler of a very small kingdom is often called a pennath.
County
A county is a contiguous body of land that is overseen by a sheriff and which has its own county court. The terms county and shire are synonymous, though county is preferred in King Arthur Pendragon. Logres is divided into 24 counties. Counties are steps in the royal administrative hierarchy used mainly to collect the royal taxes.Each county has a county town, which has a royal castle from which the sheriff administers the king’s interests. Each sheriff is appointed by the king, and serves at his pleasure. The sheriff collects taxes and holds them safe between his twice-yearly deliveries to the crown treasury. His castle also has several administrative facilities including a gaol (jail) to hold prisoners until trial and a pound where animals seized from lawbreakers are held. In Uther’s reign the sheriffs are usually also warlords. Sheriffs are treated more extensively elsewhere .
Counties should not be confused with the noble rank of count. Counts may have once ruled entire counties, but in the feudal world which is the game’s setting they do not. Even the Count of Salisbury’s holding does not encompass all of County Salisbury.
Hundred
A hundred is a subdivision of a county defined for tax and judicial purposes. The sizes vary so much that they appear entirely arbitrary. In general, the value depends entirely upon the fertility of the land. Rich valley bottoms tend to have smaller hundreds in size, but often with a greater value than average. The hundreds in Cornwall are huge but still impoverished by comparison to other counties. The typical hundred contains 10-20 settlements, and 2-3 towns, perhaps one of which is large.Most of the agricultural property in Logres is called champion land, which designates rich, high quality land with bountiful yields. “Champion” is derived from champs (Fr. “fields”). In ancient times the hundred was an organization of one hundred hides — a parcel of land capable of supporting a family. This formal definition has been lost, however, and the hundreds of King Arthur Pendragon vary incredibly in size and population.
Hundreds are traditionally named after the moot site, the place where the local court meets. It is usually held out of doors in the shade of a great tree or some other prominent landmark, although moot halls are sometimes raised to provide shelter for the proceedings.
Each hundred has a lord — either the king or another — and sufficient administrative apparatus to uphold the law. Hundreds held by the king are called royal hundreds, and are overseen by a royal bailiff who reports to the local sheriff. Private hundreds are held by a lord other than the king, and overseen by his steward. Even in the private hundreds the king continues to hold many, most, or all of his royal rights, which are called liberties.
The hundred court is the primary seat of local government. It meets every three to four weeks on a wide range of business and judicial matters
Honours
An honour the whole collection of lands and rights that a king bestows on a warlord — a barony. This bundle of lands and other rights is considered a whole and indivisible unit, even though its constituent parts may be scattered all over Logres.Each honour has its own particular and peculiar local nature. The honour is usually named after its caput major (“chief house”), that is located on the largest piece of the holding, commonly called the estate. Here too is the lord’s castle, if he holds one.
Barons are often called by this title, e.g. “the Lord Behind the Water.” An honour also includes lands outside of the central estate, called outliers, or parcels. A baronial honour is usually valued between £100-£500 per year, averaging about £300.
An honour’s parcels are always kept together as long as the honour exists. It may be dissolved only if it returns to the king, and he is the only one with the authority to do so. A typical honour has:
An estate that holds the caput major (chief manor), which is the primary residence of the honour holder.
A hall, or perhaps a castle, at the caput major, the upkeep and defense of which is the warlord’s responsibility. The king has the right to enter any castle in Logres any time he chooses to do so.
A priory or small abbey, which is closely associated to the local ruler. It is probably an advowson, which means that the baron gets to appoint the abbot. Warlords patronize the religious order of their choice.
Private hundreds, which provide additional income needed to maintain the warlord and his lifestyle, usually without an obligation to provide knight-service. Many of these are Fee Farms (ferms).”
Named manors — usually outliers.
Other possible resources such as liberties, natural resources and income from productive industry.
Estate
An estate is the largest type of holding — rarely less than £50, often about £100, sometimes even more — and the core of the honour. It is the warlord’s chief house, a great manor centered upon a castle or ancient holding. An estate often comes with additional hundreds or various liberties , like a nearby lake, mine, forest, or chase.Manor
A manor is a single holding. The typical knightly manor provides £10 (£6 in earlier editions of King Arthur Pendragon that use the “money you never see” approach). This is the minimum income aknight needs to maintain a lifestyle appropriate to this station. Landlords are reluctant to grant away their income, so knights rarely get more. However, due to changes over time or simply exceptional circumstances, manors can range from £2 to £20 or more in Annual Income.Historically, any land held directly from a king was a “manor.” Thus there were sargeantry manors of small value, even as small as £⅛. In the game, the term is generally used to designate a knight’s holding.
Free Manor
A Free Manor is a holding that has certain privileges, especially those which are normally held only by the king. These are different from normal manors in that the holders do not answer to the county sheriff, but have a direct relationship with the king (and his institutions). Although labelled a “manor,” it is often the size of an estate.Outliers
Parts of an estate or honour that generally lie outside of the immediate vicinity of the caput major, are called outliers. Smaller parcels may be scattered across many counties. Outliers are a matter of surety — if a noble rebels, half of his income can be easily seized. They typically include some scattered manors, perhaps an unfortified estate, as well as miscellaneous benefits from local resources.Settlements
Collections of human habitations that house only commoners of various ranks are called towns, villages, hamlets and clusters. The difference between them is their population: Towns have around 500 people, villages around 250, hamlets around 75, and clusters have fewer than that.Market Town
Market Towns have obtained a charter for special rights from the king. Market Towns are where merchants set up shop and visiting traders can come to sell their wares.Importantly, they pay taxes only to the king. Each Market Town has its own royal bailiff to collect it, and he pays it to the sheriff. Importantly, Market Towns must pay in coinage. Some have their own mint to make coins. All Market Towns are walled.
Market Towns are almost always outside of a baron’s jurisdiction. They are all under royal protection, and warlords are not responsible for fortifying or garrisoning them. In periods of weak or absent royal rule these towns must seek a protector, usually the strongest local warlord.
The advantage of these centers of commerce is that local and regional trade benefits the neighboring lands by making it easier to acquire outside goods, so they are cheaper. This general and widespread savings is expressed as income. Each hundred that includes a Market Town gains a variable bonus to its render, depending on the Period, which is income that is paid to the lord. This is gained by each holding within the hundred. This means that whomever holds an entire hundred earns an additional 10% on its Assized Rent (in the Uther and Boy King Periods). Round to the nearest decimal, so that £3.44 becomes £3.4, etc.
Cities
Cities are settlements ruled according to ancient Roman law. Additionally, they are really big Market Towns, being larger in both area and population than smaller settlements and offering more products and services as well. They also have special privileges, including a mint for coin-making, their own court of justice, and the privilege of self defense. Cities are well protected, having maintained their old Roman walls.Landholdings that are in the same county as a city gain a bonus of 10% to their incomes.
Ports
A Port is a place where foreign goods are sold. The definition of “port” has changed in modern times. Some ports in Britain are actually located far inland, so the word does not necessarily designate a coastal settlement. Places on the coast that are not designated by the king as Ports are called harbors. Harbors cannot import goods. If they do, they are smuggling.A Port grants an additional bonus of +10% of Assized Rent for landholdings in the same hundred. Given that they only appear as part of Market Towns, the total bonus is +20%. Round to the nearest decimal, as always.
Latifunda
A latifunda is an old Roman institution that is a remnant of ancient Roman civilization. These are worked by slaves, and owned by the remaining urban senators. They are less efficient at production — the render is 25% less if the slaves are anything but Roman slaves — but the senators of Londinium, Durnovaria, and Venta would not think of changing the Roman way. When a latifunda is destroyed or changes hands, these institutions are lost. Thus some areas even around the conservative Roman cities have the more common rural villages and towns.Tenure
Tenure — land holding — defines lordship. Landholders are tenants. Both commoners and lords can be tenants, but we are concerned here only with noble tenure. Several distinct kinds of tenure exist depending on the terms of the landholding.Tenure imposes obligations collectively called the servitium debitum (“debt of service”). Everyone who holds a fief of any kind must provide service. Some services are non-military in nature, but barons mainly provide soldiery. Baronial tenants must provide a number of knights and other soldiers either from his household, his vavasours, or even mercenaries. They must protect their holdings, house and feed the king when he visits, and provide advice to the sovereign.
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