Weldic Knighting Tourney
Since the time of Edvar V and his Proclamation on the Knighthood, the creation of Weldic knights has become a legalistic, administrative process highly regulated by the Weldic crown and the Duxi. The moment, however, still has supreme importance for the man to be knighted - and so flourishes and new traditions have emerged, even while one eye must be kept on the rulebook.
The Knighting Tourney is a wonderful adaptation of the rulebook into a festival and display of honour and prowess. For one day a year, each Dux may create as many knights as they please - provided that the day be announced, the candidates be tested, and the whole of the proclamation of the knighthood be read to the aspiring knights before the ceremony.
This one day of the year is thus transformed into a week a celebration, tournament, and ritual usually lasting seven days. The regulations state that each knight must have proved his valour and good living - the tourney is designed to allow this to happen in a social and entertaining way, which also reinforces the social relations between different ranks of nobles, and displays the honour of the knighthood to the people.
Each day it thematic, and culminates on the sixth day at a solemn court held by the Dux (often in the open air) where the formal inductions are made. Thereafter, the sixth day is given over to feasting and partying. The seventh day is not only a day for recovery, but includes a ritual sending off of the new knights on the required journey to Calthor for their enrolment as knights.
While strictly only the man to be knighted must attend, it is traditional for a large portion of family to attend. The father - if able - will almost always support his son. Older, knighted, brothers may also attend if they are able, as well as any younger brother nearing the time for knighthood (but often not young boys). It is not normal for young men to be married or betrothed before knighthood, and their fiancés would rarely attend. Older married men who are to be knighted, however, would likely bring their wife. Sisters seeking a marriage partner may well attend (for the social occasions), though younger sisters would not attend. The aspiring knight is also likely to be attended by a mentor figure (perhaps the castle's master of arms) and his first squire (a younger brother may play this role before a squire is chosen).
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