Curious Pastimes - The Kingdom of Teutonia "Steel in Hand, Steel in Heart"

The Laws of Teutonia

Please find below, in accordance with a directive issued by The Senate, The Laws and Ordinances of our beloved nation of Teutonia.

Read, learn, and obey!

The Laws and Ordinances of Teutonia

Treason

Any act, physical, written or spoken, against the Kings person or will, is punishable by death.

Murder

Murder the act, or intention to act, with the aim of causing a life to cease.

Murder, regardless of nationality of either perpetrator or victim, is considered an offence, punishable by death.

Amended in 07 by King Arun to allow a Teutonically registered Slaughterman to perform his duties, after a number of cases were brought for the killing of domesticated animals; considered of equal status in the Constitution.

Law Repealed in 125 by King Boris the butcher, effectively making Murder legal.

Law reinstated, with all prior amendments after King Boris death at the hands of an angry mob in 126.

Amended in 261 by King Gottfreid to allow for freedom of speech regarding the intention to act.

Amended in 341 by King Gretchen due to the Amnesty Act (C) of 341

Punishment for murder is at the discretion of the Crown Court.

Assault

Assault the act, or intention to act, with the aim of causing physical harm

Assault, regardless of nationality of either perpetrator or victim, is considered an offence.

Punishment for assault is at the discretion of the Crown Court.

Kidnapping

Kidnapping the act, or intention to act, with the aim of taking away or asportation of a person against the person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority.

Kidnapping, regardless of nationality of either perpetrator or victim, is considered an offence.

Punishment for Kidnapping is at the discretion of the Crown Court.

Theft

The act of theft, regardless of nationality of either perpetrator or victim, is considered an offence.

Punishment for theft is at the discretion of the Crown Court.

Interference of Constitutional Rights

Interference with Constitutional Rights, perpetrated against any citizen of Teutonia by any member of any nation will result in financial reparation, due to either the victim, their immediate relatives, Church or State.

Such reparation is the discretion of the Crown Court.

Forgery

The forgery of any official Teutonian document or monies regardless of nationality of either perpetrator or victim, is considered an offence.

Punishment for Forgery is at the discretion of the Crown Court.

Corruption

Corruption by or off any members of the Reichsstand, advisory council or Synod who takes bribes of any sort, be they money, power, favours or goods in return for favour in the empire of Teutonia regardless of nationality of perpetrator, is considered treason, punishable by death.

Military Disorder

Any member of any military organisation, deemed to be both drunk and disorderly by the Nobility will be confined to barracks and fined one days wages.

Amended in 1108 by High Steward von Hapsburg. Interference perpetrated by any third party, causing interruption to the effective accomplishment of The High Provosts duties, is considered an act against the King himself; Treason.

Duelling, Brawling and Gladiatorial Combat

Duelling is the sole proviso of the Nobility. Any member of the peasantry caught undertaking in this most honourable of settlements will be subject to immediate execution, to be carried out by a member of the Nobility.

Brawling is the sole proviso of the peasantry. Any member of the Nobility caught undertaking in this most dis-honourable of settlements will be subject to total disgrace in the eyes of their peers. In addition to official and public deformation of their character.

Gladiatorial combat, to the death, is also considered the sole proviso of the peasantry. Such contests are only to be conducted for the pleasure and free entertainment of the Nobility. Any such contest being held without the expressed permission of a member of the Nobility will result in the execution of all combatants.

Amended in 923 by King Ludwig II to allow for the spectating of such contests by the peasantry, subject to an entrance fee being paid.

Amended in 1106 by Lord Protector Duke Kainom to repeal the above 4th Amendments of Duelling and Gladiatorial combat.

Amended in 1106 by Lord Protector Duke Kainom to allow Teutonian citizens to apply to the Teutonian Council for the right to Duel during the hours of sunlight. The challenger of the duel must declare to the council whether the fight will be to the death or the dishonour of the loser. The King will set the terms of the duel.

Amended in 1109 by King Hapsburg to allow a Prince Elector of Teutonia to set the terms of the duel in the absence of the King.

Tax Collectors Protection Act (Law) 256, King Dieter

As established within the Constitution, being Taxed is considered a basic Constitutional Right. As such, Royal Tax Collectors are to be considered an extension of the Kings will. Interference perpetrated any third party, causing interruption to the effective accomplishment of a Royal Tax Collectors duties, is considered and act against the King himself; Treason, punishable by death.

Cartography

All Teutonian citizens, once considered to have gained adulthood for their race, are subject to compulsory cartography practice, (minimum one hour) to be undertaken once every seven days.

Spillage Act (Law) 1096, Lord Protector Hariata Humaktson

If, during the act of consumption, any alcoholic beverage is removed from a drinking vessel and not immediately consumed, Spillage Law requires that the holder of the beverage must immediately consume the remainder of the vessels contents. Failure to do so will result in financial reparation, not to exceed the value of the beverage itself, payable to the Teutonian War Chest.

If, however, such spillage is caused by a third party, the remaining beverage must still be immediately consumed by the said drinks holder, but the financial reparation is paid by the third party, directly to the said drinks holder.

Law Ratified in 1100 by King Hariata Humaktson on ascension to the throne.

Petition made by the Evil Sunz to exempt the individual identified as Tankred, Ex-Castellan of Teutonia, from compliance with the Spillage Act (L) 1096, due to self-inflicted physical harm as a result. Petition upheld by Hariata Humaktson.

Teutonian Synod (Law) 1109, King Hapsburg

Membership of the Synod is restricted to those individuals who can show sufficient abilities such that they are able to commune with and/or speak to the Gods directly.

Admission to the Synod is by invitation from existing Synod members.

The Synod will be responsible for the implementation of the following laws:

Heresy, specifically, but not exclusively, the action or intention to act by any individual or individuals who are Teutonian or on Teutonian sovereign lands or territory, in contravention of the teachings or accepted beliefs of a Teutonic God or Goddess.

Blasphemy, specifically, the denial of the existence or divine nature of any of the recognised Teutonian Gods or Goddesses or any action that is derogatory, insulting or offensive to any Teutonian God or Goddess by any Teutonian or any individual on Teutonian sovereign lands or territory.

Interference with religious ordinances, specifically, the interference by any individual of a representative of the Synod during the execution of written instructions or orders, this can include, but not be limited to, prevention of access, resisting arrest, attempted evasion, suicide.

Failure to Observe, specifically, any Teutonian who fails to undertake and observe the recognised religious practices for their religion, fails to recognise Teutonian high holy days in accordance with the wishes of the representative appropriate church shall be guilty of Failure to Observe.

Members of the Synod and its agents are immune from prosecution. In order for immunity to be granted, any member or agent of the Synod must have written orders, signed by the Synod on their person. Any individual claiming to be acting on behalf of the Synod who does not have written orders on their person will be arrested until the veracity of their claim can be established.

Anyone accused of Blasphemy, Heresy, Interference or Failure to observe will be tried by full court, presided over by the Synod with guilt or otherwise determined by three nobles of Teutonia. The court will then impose any sentence it feels necessary on an individual, case-by-case basis. Precedent will not be recognised as a mechanism of either appeal or defence. Appeals will be heard by the head of the Synod. An appropriate monetary mechanism to cover the additional costs of appeals will be implemented. There is no right of ultimate appeal.

The Synod’s income is non-taxable and a stipend of 24 gold pieces per annum is available from the King to implement Synodic law and policy. All donations to the Synod will be receipted for tax purposes.

The Synod is responsible for the compilation of the Teutonian religious calendar and holy days and is responsible for advising the populace on their observance.

The Synod is responsible for the issue of licences for the provision of religious artefacts and services. Any Teutonian or anyone on Teutonian sovereign territory or lands who is found providing religious artefacts and/or services without a licence will be subject to arrest and charge.

The Synod is to commission, fund and provide support to quests to recover important religious artefacts and to fund the provision of ritual magic to empower and enchant these items, where appropriate.

The Synod is responsible for the creation and maintenance of a theological college, which is tasked with bringing enlightenment to the world.

A member of the Synod will act as spiritual adviser to the King at meetings. As part of this role, the Synod’s representative will compile reports, which will be made available to the King and the Synod.

The Synod has the right to grant sanctuary to any individual, irrespective of all other factors. To claim sanctuary, the claimant must be within the church, home or, if with the warhost, the tent of a member of the Synod with that member present. Sanctuary from all malevolent acts can be granted so long as the appellant is within the company of the Synod member or within their province, be that church, home or tent.

The Synod shall have a titular head. The term of office shall be for no longer than six months, with a new Synod leader being elected at each solstice. Kalir will serve as head of the Synod until the winter solstice.

The Synod will comprise Kalir, Isileth, Mallus, Siegbert, Bill Taylor and Horace Cope. Additional Synod members may be invited to join the Synod, providing they meet the requirements of Synod membership