FROM:

PRINCIPLES OF REPRESENTATION:

PART 1: As Regards the Co-Monarchs & the Viridian Crown

The Co-Monarchs shall exist in a state of partnership with one another, standing together, face to face, or back to back, during their entire reign. This is regardless of any other partnership, friendship or marriage they might have with one another, or with another person.

The Warrior Monarch shall be called the Sword of TorHavn, in token of that Monarch's stance on those issues which are appropriate to the warrior's way. Such matters which shall be within the Warrior Monarch's jurisdiction include those of defense, justice, law, diplomacy and education (for knowledge can be a weapon).

The Green Monarch shall be called the Shield of TorHavn, in token of that Monarch's stance on those issues which are important to the protection of the nation & the Earth. Such matters which shall be within the Green Monarch's jurisdiction shall include those of ecology, economy, parental & familial issues, artistic & cultural issues (to protect TorHavn's national heritage).

And also:

Article 5.1: Procedure of Succession

The Monarchy of TorHavn is not born of privilege, but of ability & power. As this is a warrior nation (in the oldest sense of the word); no Monarchs is born into rulership, but must win it by test & trial. Nothing shall, however, prevent any Prince or Princess born to either Monarch from becoming a Candidate for Monarch, but requirements for rulership shall remain the same, regardless of the rank or position any child of either Current Monarch.

In no fashion shall both Monarchs abdicate at the same time, but allowing for the death of both simultaneously, the Prime Minister shall sit the throne until there be at least one Monarch-elect. However, the Prime Minister shall NOT make any decision during his or her tenure, but simply keep the seat for the new Monarchs-to-be.

No Candidate shall be considered who is not a Citizen of the Realm, that no usurper shall be made Monarch, and who has not been a citizen for at least one year.

Article 5.2: "By Test and By Trial!"

There shall be a Test of Intelligence (I.Q. test) and a Test of Knowledge.

There shall be a Trial by Combat (using the traditional melee weapons of the Kingdom, but not to the death, and also by winning the game of kings). There shall also be a Trial by Survival (for no Monarch shall rule who cannot survive).

The Procedure shall be as follows:

the Trial by Survival. Candidate shall face the wilds of the Kingdom, and shall be graded on (1) quality of survival, (2) ability to track without maps;

the Test of Intelligence. Such test shall be created specific to the era and situation of the Kingdom, and Candidate shall be graded on a percentage basis;

the Trial by Combat (in the manner of the Crown Lists in the Society of Creative Anachronism, save that: (1) Each Candidate shall face three knights of the Vermillion Blade or such martial order as appropriate, chosen entirely at random, and must hold their own against all three, or be disqualified. Those who do, shall be graded one to ten (1-10) on technique (both offensive & defensive), tactics, discipline, sportsmanship, and endurance.

the Test of Knowledge.(of the history & government of the Realm, of current events, and of certain subjects important to the running of the Realm). Candidate's character shall be judged by the asking of questions designed to expose flaws and weaknesses to the light. Test's particulars shall be kept secret until the day needed.

The Final Trial of Combat shall be chess: the "Game of Kings," where each Candidate shall hold their own against one another, tournament-style.

If only one Candidate appears to face the Challenge, Candidate must still face all four Ordeals and win out.

WHOSOEVER SHALL HOLD THEIR OWN IN A SUPERIOR FASHION, WHOSE PERFORMANCE AND CHARACTER IS OF UNRIVALED AND UNPARALLELED CALIBER, AS PROVEN BY THESE TESTS AND TRIALS, SHALL BE CROWNED. FOR ONLY IN THIS WAY SHALL THE EXTRAORDINARY NATURE OF THIS KINGDOM BE SAFEGUARDED AGAINST ITS FOES.

Thereafter, for the whole of their tenure, or until he or she (they) is (are) Crowned, an Heir shall be styled "Crown Prince/Princess" and shall be entitled to be called "Royal Highness" or "Your Royal Highness" and shall live in the Palace, along with their Spouse (whether by Marriage or by Partnering), and may sit in on sessions of the Privy Council and the House of Peers. However, (an) Heir(s) may not vote in the Upper House of Council, unless he (or she) already has a seat due to being a Knight or a noble or a member of Privy Council.

Article 5.3:

While it is always possible that the two heirs for the Twin Crowns shall not be qualified, and chosen until the time when the current Co-Monarchs surrender their Crown(s) (whether by death, abdication or Challenge), it is always to be preferred that both heirs have been qualified and chosen before there is a need to issue the Call for Candidates. If no one has applied during that year, a general call for able-bodied & able-minded Candidates shall issue forth.

Anyone who feels himself or herself fit and able to win may submit his or her application as a Candidate for the Crown at any time of the year. The Candidates will be announced on every Founder's Day, and the schedule for the tests & trials shall be declared during the State of the Realm address before the Twin Councils and the People on Founder's Day.

When applying, the Candidate shall declare for which Crown they are applying, and shall be present at the Call for Candidates on Founder's Day. Then they shall submit themselves to the pleasure of the Courts. All people of TorHavn are invited to attend the Crown Trials, to ensure the integrity of the testing process.

Article 5.4: "In Case of a Tie ..."

After the process of testing, if there is a tie for either Crown, and if there are not two positions open, the two who are equally qualified shall state their case before the Two Monarchs (if possible), the Privy Council, with representatives (chosen by lot) from the Upper & Lower Houses observing.

Article 5.5:

After Heirs have been qualified and chosen, every five years hence, each Heir shall once again be Tested, as a sign that he or she is still qualified to bear the weight of the Viridian Crown. Any who fail all five tests & trials shall quietly step down as Heir, but will not lose any other position he or she may have gained.

Also: once both Heirs are chosen, anyone (else) who feel they are better qualified may challenge for the position by competing directly against the Heir in the Tests & Trials for the Heirship. Should both end up equal, then both shall make their case (as in: I'm better qualified because ...) before the current Monarchs and the Privy Council, and shall be accompanied by representatives from the Upper & Lower Houses of Council who are chosen by lot, at random.

Article 5.6: IN THE INSTANCE OF REGRETTABLE CIRCUMSTANCES:

At any time, for reasons of senility, permanent disability (whether physical or mental), infirmity, criminal activity, gross disservice or dishonour to the Kingdom, one Monarch may declare the other unfit, and upon proving these accusations, may require the removal of that Monarch. BUT THE PROCEDURE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS UNFIT MONARCH SHALL REMAIN AS ABOVE, FOR SUCCESSION.

Also: the House of Peers may, for the same reasons, and by way of the Prime Minister as their Representative, declare any one Monarch unfit, in the same fashion as above (by examination, by criminal trial), and call for the removal of that Monarch.

In both cases, the replacement of that Monarch shall proceed as above, re: succession.

It is to be herein noted that the failure of the the fit Monarch to call for the removal of a Monarch who is unfit shall result in the legal investigation and close examination of the remaining Monarch for reasons of dishonour but such must be provable according to normal criminal investigation & procedure), for it shall obviously appear that this Monarch shall be attempting to rule alone (while pretending to co-rule). This violates the Pact between Monarch and Kingdom.

Article 5.7: A Final Note on Succession:

Let it be known to all peoples that the Principles & Procedure of Succession shall not be enacted until such time as there is land (either by ownership or by grant or by Challenge or by Chaos). Until that moment, the Founding Monarchs shall hold the Virdian Crown by virtue of the fact that theirs is the vision that made TorHavn, in the same way that no future Monarch may change the Principles by which TorHavn remains a Kingdom, and by which TorHavn remains the world's first "green" country, and a warrior nation (in the oldest sense of the word). Only by death or by voluntary abdication shall either Founding Monarch set down the Viridian Crown, and the remaining Monarch (should there be one) shall determine if any Contender for the Crown be worthy of it.

And if, for any reason, the two Co-Monarchs both either die or abdicate voluntarily, before there is land to cede to the People of TorHavn, then those who remain in the Viridian Realm may determine for themselves TorHavn's fate. At this point, and only at this point, may any Candidate for Succession come forward, at their own will, to contend for the Virdidian Crowns. And if there is only one Contender, he or she shall still compete for the Crown, and only one Monarch shall then be Crowned. And if, for whatever reason, no one comes forward to contend for the Viridian Crown, then all the citizens of the land shall come together and come to a consensus as to the fate and future of TorHavn.

 

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