Seigniorial Rights and Duties

The advantages and responsibilities attributed to a lord in possession of noble sovereignty. Lordship confers a symbolic, fiscal and judicial right over the lands and subject of their domain.

• Amober - A marriage fee paid to the noble to marry within their domain. Some nobles have interpreted a jus primae noctis right as a waiver for this fee, but this is not actually an established right of a feudal lord.

• Appenage -WIP

• Corvee - Nobles have the right to unpaid labour on their lands by serfs, usually for public works projects like road construction. This is generally limited to a set number of days.

• Deference - Nobles have a right to enforce proper respect for their hierarchical position, such as removing hats, politeness and following orders. The enforcement and severity of punishment of this right varies greatly from noble to noble.

• Dovecoat - Nobility has an exclusive right to build dovecoats to house pigeons. This right also extends to the ownership of other birds, such as falcons as well. The nobility is frequently at odds with the Southern Church over this right and has successfully defended against ecclesiastic usurpation. This exclusivity has been less successfully defended against the Sidhe and Re Vihan.

• Heraldry - Nobles have the exclusive right to hold a Coat of Arms

• Hunting - Nobles have an exclusive right to hunt in selected domains.

• Taxation - Nobles are responsible for the collection of taxes within their domain to maintain their holdings and support their liege. These come is several (independently small, but larger together) forms. Census - A small, symbolic amount recognizing lordship.
  • Justice -See Seigniorial Justice
  Overcharge - Attempts to increase the census. Generally low. Champart - a tithe in kind, proportional to the harvest. Generally between 16 and 1/12 (with an additional 1/9 tithe to the local priest). Rights Casual - Irregularly paid, a transfer tax on the sale of land. Banalities - The lord is required to maintain technical services (monopolies), such as mills, ovens, oxen and wine markets. This tax goes to the operation and upkeep, in exchange for use and benefiting from these services.