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//-->%RRN ,,,221RELOLW\ 2LVLOORQBRETONNIA–PROJECTD"2I-!2N.2By Rory NaismithThe power of the nobilityhe political power of Bretonnia isconcentrated in the hands of thenobility; a large body of oftendecadent aristocrats who dominatethe landscape of the kingdom.Virtually the entire country is underthe rule of one noble or another,excepting some of the towns and a few regions underclerical jurisdiction.Aristocratic power in Bretonnia derives from onething: land. Those who own the land have the power, andsince it is the nobility who still hold most of the land, theyconstitute the most important group in the land.At the time of the first conquest and settlement ofBretonnia some 1500 years ago, the kings needed toestablish their authority by placing great warriors andmagnates in charge of their newly-won territories. Theserulers had to be tough and self-reliant in order to protectthe peasantry from the many enemies that still stalked thedarker corners of the land. The lower orders, bothpeasants and other nobles, swore binding oaths ofallegiance and service to their local lord in return for hisprotection; from this custom arose the feudal system and,ultimately, modern patronage.At first, these regional rulers held their power directlyfrom the King, but over the years titles and holdingsbecame hereditary and, eventually, more or lessindependent of royal influence. For a long time (fromabout 1300 years ago to around 300 years ago) theregional nobility ruled unchallenged in their domains,with many great modern clans such as the De Semblancyrising to prominence in this period. Starting about the year2100 IC, however, the crown began to win back much ofits power in the provinces, using persuasion and intrigueas much as cold steel to win dominion over recalcitrantComtes and Ducs. The slow process of rebuilding royalpower is far from complete, with the nobility still beingextremely wealthy and important; at times they are stillperfectly willing to act against the crown, though suchopen disobedience is rare. In general, Charles III de laTête d'Or has far greater power over his lands and nobilitythan, for example, the Emperor does over the Empire, andcan normally count upon the nobles to rally to his cause,if only in the hope of gaining royal favour. It is throughthe nobles that Charles is able to summon armies andcollect some of his taxes from the provinces; there, thepower of the King is not yet firm enough to bypass theirancient privileges.There are over a thousand noble families in Bretonnia,ranging enormously in wealth and power from almostimpoverished knights desperately clinging on to theirdecayed estates, up to the lavish and opulent magnates,leaders of the greatest families in the land such as the DeSemblancy and the Capucinet. In between lie manyBRETONNIA–PROJECTdifferent grades of nobility, regulated by the titles of Duc,Comte, Viscomte and similar, giving a general idea of anaristocrat's standing. Just to make the situation even morecomplicated, many of the greater nobles hold more thanone title and estate; some of the most important mighthold up to a dozen titles, and will dish them out torelatives as favours.The upper echelons of the clergy are also under nobledominion, and it is common for younger noble sons to gointo one of the various priesthoods whilst the heir inheritscontrol of the ancestral lands; in this way huge powerblocs spanning spiritual and worldly spheres of interestare forged by acquisitive households. The Cardinals, inparticular, are nearly always of noble parentage; theirconcerns are all too often more political than theological,but only they can command enough money and support tobe able to win 'election' into these influential posts.Perhaps the most successful example of this upstandingtradition is Henri Armagnac Dumourieux, Cardinal of thecult of Shallya, Prime Minister and currently the mostpowerful man in Bretonnia after the King.Organisation of the nobilityPatronage:Patronage is no new concept amongst theBretonnian nobility; it has been in existence in one formor another for at least 1500 years, and grew out of thesystem instituted by the very first Kings in order to bringsome semblance of order to the turbulent society of theera. A major change that has taken place over the lastthree centuries, however, has been the growth in prestigeand power of the monarchy; now, the greatest nobles fightfor the favour of the crown as well as with each other.Essentially, patronage consists of lower-level nobles(the 'clients') agreeing to serve a superior noble family. Inreturn for this military and political support, the greaterfamily (the 'patron') provides favours and protection fortheir clients, which might take the form of money, land,government posts, advancement at court or anadvantageous marriage. The terms patron and client arevery rarely used in public, as directly referring to anybodyas one's vassal is an affront to the pride that exists at alllevels of Bretonnian society. Indeed, the whole system isin most cases unspoken, based on ties of blood andhonour (oaths are taken very seriously by the Bretonnians,and accusing someone of breaking a promise causesintense outrage). Documents affirming arrangements arebecoming more common, however, along with the slowrise of a bureaucratic class. Important land transactions,marriages and other deals are now usually committed towriting and sealed by numerous witnesses, but most moretraditional nobles (who, given the conservatism ofBretonnia, are in the majority) still prefer the 'personaltouch' and greater sense of control offered by direct verbalpromises. The peasantry, who are for the most partilliterate, have a deep awe and fear of paperwork. It isseen as one more trick of the nobles and landowners toget the better of them; but even so, whenever a farmer isforced into any sort of important deal, he will obtain awritten record of the conditions whenever possible toincrease his standing amongst the neighbours - neverBook III - Nobility and Oisillon2mind the fact that he can very rarely make any sense ofwhat the document actually says.Patronage and warfare:The nature of patronage meansthat when the gauntlet is cast down and great familiescome to blows, the conflict is extended far beyond theirown relatives and lands, dragging in large swathes ofterritory across Bretonnia and turning into a bloody civilwar - often with the King having virtually no control overthe matter. In the past, great ducal armies roamed the landburning and pillaging with impunity, whilst the Kingswere able to raise barely enough men to hold their owncastles against the marauders. The situation for the crownhas improved somewhat over the centuries, but whilstCharles II de la Dure did try to enforce non-militaryresolution of quarrels (if only to preserve militaryresources for his own campaigns abroad), other Kingsbefore him took a more lenient stance and allowed theleading aristocrats to expend their energies in feudingagainst each other rather than against the crown. There aredozens of regions across the land that have been ravagedby these 'petites guerres' and in one famously violent,feud in 2379 IC almost the entire city of Quenelles wasburned to the ground in riots caused by competing nobles.More constructively, patronage networks of noblesand their dependants provide a framework for royalmilitary forces and expeditions. The banners of thenobility form the backbone of the Bretonnian battle-line,with the King still enjoying the time-honoured right ofordering the nobility to aid him in warfare by bringingtheir retinues into the field on his behalf. However, if anespecially arduous campaign seems likely the nobles willdemand some sort of extra favour from the King in returnfor committing more of their forces. This might beexemption from tax this year, or perhaps control over anyconquests that may result from the campaign.Apprentissage:Bretonnian nobles are introduced to thepatronage system from an early age. Sons and inparticular heirs are customarily despatched to theirpatron' household for their 'sapprentissage'in the arts ofwar and graceful life; that is, hunting, fighting, gaming,drinking and carousing, amongst other enticing activities.Another motive for 'apprentissage' to instil respect andisloyalty to one' patron (accounting for the immense valuesplaced on traditions and continuity by Bretonnians),which often counts for more than that due to the King -but few nobles envision this sort of eventuality, and haveno problem whatsoever with serving both King and patrondiligently. In recent years, few situations have arisen inwhich these two sets of ideals have come into conflict; ifthey were to do so, the very foundations of Bretonniansociety would be shaken to their roots. One such crisisarose in the 'Affair of the Lonely Maiden'when a disputeover the inheritance of Jeanne de Beaumanoir in 2234 ICbrought the then-powerful Mignon family into open revoltagainst the King, prompting a long and bitter civil waracross eastern Bretonnia. Bourgon still bears the scars ofthis conflict, and the Beaumanoir lands to this day are acause for consternation.The lower classes and patronageNot only the nobility partake of the benefits andpitfalls of the patronage system; the vassals of eachBRETONNIA–PROJECTmember of a client network indulge in a much smallerscale version. For instance, the peasant farmers on agentleman' land will expect favours and support fromstheir landowner, who in turn will receive aid from thelocal noble. A great deal of rivalry takes place amongstthose on an equal footing, who bicker and scheme forminor privileges and petty advantages. Farmers willobsequiously beg for exemptions and rights to more land;gentlemen will strive to win blood-ties to the lowestlevels of the nobility.The system works because both parties need the otherboth to maintain their current position and to competewith their fellows; gentlemen rely on their tenants'goodwill and support to keep up the supply of goods andmoney which guarantees the favour of the nobility.More directly, the oaths and services of patronagecement Bretonnian society. It is very hard for anyone torise above his or her station, or at least to do so easily;from the divinely-ordained King down to the lowliestserf, everyone is assigned their own place to work at andstick to. Quite simply, trying to change this order is adirect challenge to the accepted social system and senseof public propriety; anybody with pretensions of grandeuris severely disapproved of, and lowly peasants ormerchants who do have such unpalatable ambitions canexpect to be executed or sent to the slave galleys, ifthey' lucky. Social mobility is thus rare and difficult;rejust about everyone considers tradition and consistency tobe vital aspects of life. Anybody who does upset theexisting system arouses deep mistrust and suspicion.Attempting to better one' equals, though, is a favouritespastime at all levels of society: peasants argue over whosecabbages are biggest and submit them to the local gentryfor arbitration, whilst Comtes try and construct the mostelaborate chateaux.Academics, professionals and wizards in Bretonnia'stowns and universities count their customers'loyalty as akind of patronage, and taking one' custom elsewhere issseen as rather insulting and ' on'Important works andnot .great publications also require large scale investment onthe part of wealthy patrons, typically guilds and nobleswho wish to put their name to the latest and mostdistinguished cultural achievements; vicious contests takeplace as competing scholars and artists try and prove theimportance of their project - or take out the opposition.Patronage even extends to the urban classes ofBretonnia, which work as their own little (often veryarrogant) worlds isolated from the rural majority;gangland leaders have networks of client thugs, whilstleading 'bourgeoisie'merchant families hold lesser tradersin their thrall and may in turn seek to join the ranks of thegentry or even the aristocracy. Despite their wealth fromtrade, these merchants still see the nobility and land-ownership as the real ticket to power and prestige inBretonnia, and rightly so; wealth from trade is bothinsecure and sneered at by the all-powerful nobility.Individuals who have achieved this dream of buying in toland are known as 'noblesse de robe'and attract the scorn,of more established members of the upper, landed class.The 'true' aristocracy' attitude to the urban elite issambiguous, though, with many aristocrats formingtreaties with merchants and guilds for the regulation oftrade and the supply of raw materials, to the profit of bothBook III - Nobility and Oisillon3parties. As involvement with trade of any kind is seen as'gauche'by the nobility, such involvements are usuallyvery discretely organised and rarely discussed. Themerchants, however, take immense pride in any dealingsthey have with gentle-folk.It is the inability of the lowliest members of urbansociety to gain any sort of patronage that often leads tounrest in the towns; they simply have nothing to offer therest of society apart from one more mouth to feed, or, atbest, one more fist and yell in the mob. It is consequentlyvery easy for the big players in a city to bring togetherenormous crowds of short-term clients through offers offood or work.It should be remembered that patronage exists not as away of affirming the existing hierarchy by binding thedifferent classes together through oaths of service andallegiance from top to bottom; not as a ladder for socialclimbing. People can only get out of their place in thesystem with great difficulty; and most get just enough outof it to stay where they are in relative peace and comfort.This fundamental respect for security, establishedtradition and a well-defined structure dominatesBretonnian society.Shifting allegiance:It is possible to shift one' allegiancesfrom one patron to another - and patrons are equallycapable of withdrawing their aid from a client. However,unless very unusual circumstances are involved, changesof this sort are only common at the highest levels, wherethe land' most powerful families struggle (oftensviolently) for the dominance of important heirs, townsand estates, or for the King' attentions. Lower down thessocial hierarchy, it is seen as bad form to shift one'sallegiance without a very good reason, such as treachery,rescinding on an oath or failing to fulfil one' expectedsduties.Peasants, not surprisingly, have the most difficult taskin changing their patron; the gentry and local nobles canusually bring overwhelming legal forces to bear on anyfarmer who thinks he has sufficient grievance to want tobecome someone else' client. Fear and innatesconservatism make these cases rare. However, sometimesthe potential new patron offers his aid to a prospectiveclient in the legal process, with great struggles takingplace in local courts over the control of fertile orotherwise desirable territory. The complications,ambiguities and queer ancient precedents make all casesof this type exceedingly interesting, and they are closelyfollowed by everyone in the locality.Frequently wills leave the patronage of certain farmsor lands to others, resulting in the splitting of estates andshifts in client networks. In fact, it is in this matter that themost crucial difference is seen between ' peasants andfree'serfs, or 'villeins'Free peasants are those who work their.own land but hold it as a fief from a landowner or noble,and are, at least in theory, able to join another patron ifthey have a grievance of some sort; they have amarginally higher status in the courts. Serfs, however,farm the land owned directly by a noble or gentleman andhave virtually no rights or freedoms to change theirallegiance or even leave their lord' lands; they can besbought, sold or given away by their masters with impunityand are only marginally more highly regarded than trueslaves.BRETONNIA–PROJECTThe extent of patronage:The landscape of Bretonnia isdominated by the patronage networks, with everyoneultimately holding fealty to the next person above them.Generally they are in a geographical pattern, with greatfamilies holding large tracts of both their own privateestates and neighbouring nobles'lands through patronage.The King, despite the profligate favour-granting of recentcenturies, is still the richest and most powerful patron inthe land; he not only has enormous estates in the royal'domaine'(mostly situated in Breton), but also receivestax payments from across the nation (though exemptionfrom some or all taxation is a common boon granted toleading nobles and towns).Women and patronage:Women' place in the patronagessystem is an uncertain one. Bretonnian society as a wholeis very chauvinistic, and the legal status of women isconsiderably lower than that of men. It is forbidden underthe earliest and most fundamental Bretonnian laws forland to be inherited through the female line, femalescannot vote in town elections and in most other respectswomen are faced with an uphill struggle. However, ifthere is no alternative the law does grudgingly respect thepassage of land to a female heir, though it is expected thatshe will remarry again and the lands pass to her husbandand later her sons. In spite of this, there have been manycases in the past of strong and wilful females who havetaken on and beaten everything male society has thrownat them; the men of Bretonnia have a healthy respect forthe hidden wrath and persuasive abilities of the fairer sex,and it is not uncommon for sheepish men to waive theirlegal rights and dues under the gaze of a stern-faced wifeor mother.An example of patronageBelow is described a typical chain of patronage,showing how the commonest peasant is linked,eventually, to the King in the overall scheme of society.At the bottom of the heap is Jacques Morin. He is afree peasant living in Flandres in the small village of Boisl'Ortui; his lands are just sufficient for him to keephimself, his wife and his seven children comfortable.Currently he is petitioning his patron for rights to becomewarden of his parish; a post which would grant him somevery minor but competitively sought privileges over hisneighbours, such as the power to forcibly remove peskyfences like the one that encroaches onto his north field.Next up the ladder is Lucien d'Ivressy, the locallandowner and a member of the gentry. Unlike thenobility, the gentry do have to take an active interest inthe management of their lands for the sake of economy,and their existence is far from as secure or comfortable asthat of the nobility. Nevertheless, they jealously guard thewealth and power allowed them by their elevated status.Lucien controls five villages in Flandres, includingJacques Morin' home of Bois l'sOrtui. Although now wellinto his sixties and too susceptible to cold to venture outfrom his fortified manor house except in summer, Lucienmakes sure that his lands are run strictly and by and largeefficiently; his bailiffs are notoriously uncompromisingand ready with their fists. Just as he receives demandsfrom Morin and his like for small advantages, Lucien isequally keen to press the interests of the d'Ivressy familyBook III - Nobility and Oisillon4to those above him, and genealogy is a favourite hobby ofhis (he claims to be able to trace a tenuous link to theroyal family, and will gladly and proudly explain the linkto anyone who has a few hours to spare). At present, hismain preoccupation is the marriage of his son, Armand;he hopes to gain the hand of his patron' daughter,sfurthering the bloodline and, hopefully, the power of thed'Ivressy clan.Baron Antoine Romier del'Estat is the noble patron who islucky enough to be the subject ofLucien' attentions. Romier issquite a minor noble, who hasabout half a dozen clients ofgentry status and a reasonablylarge (though, it has to be said,not especially well-run) estate ofhis own. By and large, Romier istoo busy with honourable andcourtly pursuits to worry himselfabout little things like landmanagement; this onerous dutyis left to his stewards. Once aweek, Romier brings himself tosit through an afternoon ofaudiences with his clients andtenants, listening to pleas andgrievances. Normally he is boredout of his wits after about half an hour, and is forced toadjourn proceedings because of a headache. He has alarge number of children; five by his current (that is,third) wife Marie and at least eleven by various 'femmesde la nuit' towns and villages across Bretonnia, one orintwo of whom he supports with surreptitious pensionsevery few months. The near-constant bootlicking ofLucien d'Ivressy amuses and irritates him; Lucien iscertainly the most dutiful and efficient of his clients, whoopenly vie to present him with the choicest tribute in thehope of the greatest compliments and most lucrativefavours. What Romier has not told d'Ivressy is that he hasalready got husbands lined up for his three daughters; heplans to keep Lucien and Armand on tenterhooks for aslong as possible, though, to ensure the best service.Romier' patron is the extremely powerful CardinalsHenri Armagnac Dumourieux, the King' leading advisersand master of a very substantial court faction. However,Romier is in this case one amongst a great throng ofnobles who are beholden unto the Cardinal; in fact, it isunusual for there not to be another level of patronagebetween a Baron of Romier' standing and a figure likesDumourieux. Of course, direct dealings between the twomen are rare; it is unlikely that the Cardinal wouldremember more of Romier than a name, or perhaps thelevel of contribution he is capable of making to his cause.Although Romier takes every opportunity he can to visitthe household of the Cardinal (which is situated at theMaison Verte in Couronne) and even, once or twice, theroyal court in the Oisillon Palace, rising out of the crowdis not easy; at both establishments he is outshone by themany Ducs, Comtes and nobles of higher rank who alsowish to secure the favours of the great magnate. This doesnot stop him trying, though, and Romier cherishesambitions of winning direct influence over the Cardinal,BRETONNIA–PROJECTconnections to his family and, eventually, grants of landand position from the crown. Whether or not the Baron'spolitical skills are up to the challenge or not is anothermatter entirely; just one inopportune word or gesture isenough to end any chance of advancement, and couldresult in something far worse and, almost certainly, farmessier.Cardinal Dumourieux is in theory the King' client;safter all, there isn' really anyone more powerful for himtto turn to. The relationship at this level is not so verydifferent as that lower down; the major change is themagnitude of any actions and decisions taken. Now, notonly single estates and villages are at stake, but entireprovinces and thousands of lives. Also, the King himselfonly sees fit to engage in the most vital of matters,making his patronage all the more sought after; but fewwould dare to openly press their case upon Charles III,who is notoriously changeable in his moods. Dumourieuxis engaged in hardball intrigue with the King and theother leading noble families; he is versed in decades ofshady dealing, and has no qualms about using underhandmethods to win pre-eminence over his greatest rivals,especially the De Semblancy clan. To prevent theopposition gaining any sort of advantage over him, theCardinal is obliged to spend most of his time inGuisoreux and at the Oisillon Palace and leaves themanagement of his own lands and clients to his capableelder brother Henri-Philippe; the Cardinal maintains alarge faction at the Oisillon Palace composed of his andhis brother' leading clients. The precise makeup of thissfaction at the Palace is in part rotated, with a few constantcompanions of undoubted ability and influence standingalongside lowlier companions who take turn about to visitthe royal court and at least have a whiff of some sort ofadvancement to reward their support. In return for thisattendance and political aid, the Cardinal is able to grantfinancial benefits, organise advantageous marriages andsometimes put forward his own candidates for importantgovernmental positions. The Cardinal' own relations withsthe King are at a more instinctual level; loyalty andservice to the King is implicit, and since Dumourieuxalready has a position of such power his major concern ismaintaining it. He and the greatest nobles see the Kingand his wishes as malleable and open to interpretation,partly because Charles himself does not often dealdirectly with people where government is concerned; theytend to do their own thing and then fit it into someinterpretation of dutiful service to the crown, or persuadethe King to do what they want rather than perhaps whatmight be best. In other cases, they prefer to just cover upmore salubrious activities; but the fundamental sense ofloyalty to the crown found even at the highest levels ofsociety prevents open rebellion. At least, it has up tillnow; no-one has ever enjoyed such prominence andpower as Cardinal Dumourieux, or at least no-one withhis comparatively obscure background. In his rise topower, the Cardinal has raised many grievances that maycome back to haunt him.Thus, everyone from King Charles III de la Tête d'Ordown to Jacques Morin are joined up in the greatpatronage networks that form the basis of Bretonniansociety.Book III - Nobility and Oisillon5 [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]