Greater Xavax/Laws

The Codex of Laws of the Greater Xavax Imperium

Preface	Praefatio
To enshrine the laws of the Greater Xavax Imperium and the privileges bestowed.	Quia continere leges Xavacis et beneficia dantur.
On Governance	De regimine
1.1.1
The Greater Xavax Imperium governs the lands of Greater Xavax, the lands surrounding Xavax proper and the cities which are deemed vassals of the Imperium.	Imperium Xavacis territoria Xavacum, Xavax, et urbes serviens regit.
1.1.2
The Imperium is governed by the Xerarch, elected for life from the high peerage of the Imperium, until death or abdication.	Imperium per Xerarch regitur, quod electus ad vitam per patricii Xavacum usque ad mortem vel abdicatione.
1.1.3
The armies of the Imperium are directed by the Strategos, appointed at the leisure of the Xerarch.	Legiones imperi per Strategos regitur, quod addictus per Xerarch.
1.1.4
The laws of the Imperium are upheld by the Arbiter, elected quarterly by the high peerage of the Imperium.	Leges imperi per Arbiter regitur, quod electus quibusque trimestribus per patricii Xavacum.
1.1.5
The grain and trade of the Imperium is managed by the Xenophon, elected quarterly by the high peerage of the Imperium.	Messis imperi per Xenophon regitur, quod electus quibusque trimestribus per patricii Xavacum.
1.1.6
Titles of landed nobility are distributed as seen fit by the suzerain. High peers are free to establish their rule of law within their demesne.	Honores imperi per domini datur. Patricii dominia regit.
On the Imperium	De imperio
1.2.1
The Imperium exists to administer the lands of Greater Xavax.
1.2.2
The Xerarch holds demesne over Xavax, and by extension Greater Xavax. The peerage of dukeship is appointed at the leisure of the Xerarch.
1.2.3
The Greater Xavax Imperium holds Xavax and the corresponding duke as first amongst equals.
1.2.4
The dukes serve as stewards of the Xerarch, as the Xerarch deals with matters of concern to the whole of the Imperium. They are empowered to bestow fiefs in the name of the Xerarch and collect taxes and military service from those sworn to fealty.
1.2.5
The special positions of governance, the Strategos, Arbiter, and Xenophon, are retainers of the court of the Xerarch and hence are above the dukes of the Imperium in respect and peerage.
On the Xerarch	De xerarcha
1.3.1
The Xerarch holds undefined power over their demesne.
1.3.2
Matters of importance to the Imperium are handled directly by the Xerarch. Other correspondence with foreign powers regarding the Imperium is strictly unofficial, a subversion of the will of the Xerarch, and treasonous. The Xerarch may appoint ambassadors to serve at leisure.
1.3.3
The direct vassals of the Xerarch are subject to taxes at the leisure of the Xerarch.
On the Strategos and Armies	De strategine et legionibus
1.4.1
The Xerarch may declare a special levy, summoning the Armies of the Imperium. These armies are officially sponsored and led by a Marshal and Vice-Marshal, appointed at the leisure of the Strategos.
1.4.2
In case of such a levy, vassals are obliged to fight for their suzerain in exchange for pay and in lieu of taxation.
1.4.3
Knights are obliged to raise as many men as they are able from their estates. These knights are to serve in officially sponsored armies under military direction of the Imperium.
1.4.4
Lords are obliged to raise both their knights and able bodied men from their direct demesne. The lords are to serve in officially sponsored armies under military direction of the Imperium.
1.4.5
Dukes are obliged to raise their levy to the satisfaction of the Xerarch. Failure to do so will be punished.
1.4.6
The Strategos manages the Armies of the Imperium with the authority of the Xerarch. If the Strategos is dead or unable to serve, the most senior Marshal will assume the office temporarily. If the most senior Marshal is similarly unable to serve, the Xenophon will assume control temporarily.
1.4.7
The Imperium is governed by the Xerarch, elected for life from the high peerage of the Imperium, until death or abdication.
1.4.8
A Xavax Military Tribune, created by the Xerarch and Strategos, will decide strategy. In the event there is no Strategos to serve, the Tribune will issue orders to the Marshals by consensus.
1.4.9
In case of a complete break in military command, the suzerains will lead their levies in defence of the Imperium.
On the Arbiter and Arbitration	De arbitro et arbitrando
1.5.1
The Arbiter will administer justice according to proper noble decorum and laws of fealty.
1.5.2
At the level of the Imperium, the Arbiter will investigate direct threats and issue punishments accordingly. These will be regarded as high treason and expected punishments will be execution and banishment. Collusion, conspiracy, and incitement to commit high treason will be treated the same as committing an act of high treason. Foreign nobility committing crimes in Greater Xavax are subject to the laws of the Imperium.
1.5.3
A break of decorum will be dealt with according to severity.
1.5.4
Insubordination and a break of feudal oaths will be dealt with taking into account the suggested punishment from the offended suzerain.
1.5.5
In case of a quarrel between nobles of equal peerage in the same fief, they will duel to surrender or death according to severity. If they do not duel, their suzerain will judge the case and the Arbiter will issue the punishment. If the suzerain does not elect to judge the case within three days, it will be submitted to the Arbiter for arbitration.
1.5.6
In case of a quarrel between nobles of unequal peerage in the same fief, the common suzerain will judge the case and the Arbiter will issue the punishment. If the suzerain does not elect to judge the case within three days, it will be submitted to the Arbiter for arbitration.
1.5.7
In case of a quarrel between nobles of equal or unequal peerage in different fiefs, their case will be submitted to arbitration.
1.5.8
Any case may be dealt with via duel in lieu of arbitration. Arbitrations may demand a duel take place. Refusal of a duel shall be punishable according to a breach of decorum. A duellist may petition the Arbiter for a champion to take their place. Death of the champion will see them fined a wergild to a designated person as well as loss of their case.
1.5.9
Any case may see the suzerain officially request an escalation. Escalating a case means the suzerain views it as a personal offence; consequently, they become the primary party and afford their peerage and seniority to the case.
1.5.10
Arbitration is a binding judgement. Breaking the arbitration is to be regarded as treason and dealt with accordingly. The judgement of a suzerain may be appealed by submission to arbitration. Failure of the appeal will see a further punishment for breach of decorum.
On the Xenophon	De xenophone
1.6.1
The Xenophon will be considered paramount in trade and distribution of grain.
1.6.2
The Xenophon is empowered to deal directly with foreign nobility to trade for grain, which is not a subversion of the Xerarch.
1.6.3
The Xenophon may, in the interests of grain distribution, expedite special cases to arbitration. Even in lieu of an offended suzerain, the Xenophon may attest to violations of fealty and submit their accusations to the Arbiter.
On Peerage, Landed Nobility, and Fealty	De patriciis
1.7.1
High peerage shall be regarded as knights, lords, and dukes of the Imperium.
1.7.2
Knights hold estates, ruling a tract of land and peasants as determined by their suzerain. They may be titled Baron(ess), or according to local non-Xavax customs such as Thane or Reeve.
1.7.3
Lords and dukes hold fealty over other estates. They may choose a manor or estate as their demesne if desired.
1.7.4
Laws of Fealty are paramount. They will be judged by the suzerain and punishments accorded by the Arbiter. Cases will be submitted to arbitration as outlined in 1.5.
1.7.5
All high peers are entitled to tax their vassals. In the case of knights, their suzerain will dictate a tax to be levied upon the peasantry. Suzerains may also tax their sworn vassals an amount agreed to upon the swearing of a feudal oath.
On Decorum and Duelling	De decore et duello
2.1
Nobles are expected to maintain proper decorum including usage of proper titles and respect. Slander, libel, insults, and other breaches of decorum are punishable by the Arbiter.
2.2
Acceptable forms of public address include the highest ranking proper title followed by full name, highest ranking proper title followed by surname, respected epithets, highest ranking proper title. For example: Sir Kepler Kepleri, Count Kepleri, Bane of Evilstan, Duke Keplerstan. Outlaws and unknighted nobility shall be referred to as Master or Mistress. Knights may be referred to as either Sir/Dame or Baron(ess) of their Estate without offence.
2.3
Duelling is a respected art and a valid judgement of legal cases. It shall not be restricted in any sense.
2.4
In the event of an unlawful death, wergilds are payable to the suzerain in the following pieces: retainers of the Xerarch, 30000 gold; dukes, 14400 gold; margraves and equivalent, 4800 gold; barons and equivalent, 1200 gold; huscarls and gentry, 200 gold; peasants, 1 gold 8 silver.