Hereditary Monarch of Crathlia
This is the king or queen of the Kingdom of Crathlia who is a direct descendant of Alden Ó Flaithrí, or, more properly, a direct descendant of King Matthew Alderley the Great, the first Alderley king. He or she has the ultimate authority in Crathlia.
Requirements
Outside of extreme circumstances (i.e. the former king and queen's death before their children were old enough to display power), the Hereditary Monarch was formerly named as the Hereditary Crown Prince(ss) of Crathlia. Thus, he or she must, at minimum, be of the Alderley Clan, a direct descendant of the first king of Crathlia, King Matthew Alderley the Great. Except in extreme circumstances (such as, Creator forbid, a king and queen being unable to bear children), he or she is the child of the former king and queen, determined to be the most powerful of their children through power level.
An Alderley may not ascend to the throne if he or she has married a foreign national. This law was put in place by nobles who wanted to ensure that it was their interests that were being furthered by the royal family, not the interests of the mainland or other royal families. Similiarly, a Hereditary Monarch may not marry a non-Crathlian after ascending to the throne. His or her spouse must be selected from the Crathlian nobility.
Appointment
The coronation is carried out by the High Priestess of Crathlia in the national cathedral in the presence of represenatives from as many High and Noble Clans as can be gathered. It takes place at sunrise the day after the previous Hereditary Monarch's death; the land must not see a sunrise without a Hereditary Monarch. The funeral of the previous king or queen is traditionally held that evening at sunset.
The Crown Prince or Princess, wearing plain white clothes with bare feet, hands, and head, is presented to the assembled nobility. His or her full lineage of royalty is recited up to King Matthew the Great. He or she then must swear an oath on each of the nine Saints to rule Crathlia with the power and wisdom given by each of them. If the Crown Prince or Princess is childless at the time of his or her ascension, a final oath is sworn to provide an heir to continue the unbroken lineage of Alderley royals.
At this time in the ceremony, any siblings of the Crown Prince or Princess, who are equal in lineage to their sibling, may challenge the throne in a duel to the death, as long as they have not married foreigners. If they do not challenge, they must renounce their claims while their sibling still lives and swear to protect their sibling with their lives. Today, this part of the ceremony is merely ceremonial; no royal siblings have dueled to the death in 300 years.
The Crown Prince or Princess then kneels at the alter underneath the prism representing the Creator, and the High Priestess places the crown on his or her head. The coronation is complete.
Written by Cordelia Colbreak Evenbrook
Type
Nobility, Hereditary
Form of Address
His/Her Royal Majesty
Alternative Naming
Hereditary King or Queen of Crathlia, often shortened to "King" or "Queen"
Equates to
Lumen Empress in the Lumen Empire. Other heads of state and government.
Source of Authority
The power in his or her blood.
Length of Term
Lifetime.
First Holder
Current Holders
Past Holders
Related Locations
Related Organizations
Comments