Duke
The duke is the highest ranking vassal who serves under a king. A feudal kingdom is divided into a several duchies that are ruled by these dukes. Duke is a prestigious title and more often than not, a duke is a personal friend of the king.
The duke has vassals of his own, called counts.
Duties
The duke is required to do four things:
- He must serve the royal council.
- He must provide the king with soldiers in case of war.
- He must provide food and necessities to the king.
- He must pay taxes and other fees to the king, should the king require it.
Benefits
As a duke, you are granted use of the king's land and those who live upon it. This usually means that you have the right to demand taxes from your underling and you are also provided a certain amount of funds from the king in exchange for managing his land. In addition, the king guarantees your safety, meaning that the king and his vassals will come to your aid in case you are attacked.
Grounds for Removal/Dismissal
A king can retract a duchy should a duke not fulfill his duties. The duke then retains his nobility and status, but has no land to rule anymore. Usually the land is given to a replacement.
Comments