Coronation

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A very large kingdom event held twice a year in May and October to crown the MidRealm's new king and queen.


Sometimes one hears the term "de-coronation" used in the immediate entourage of an outgoing king and queen.


Usually characterized by a large tournament and an elaborate feast, as well as two or more courts. Major officer changes and peerage ceremonies often take place at Coronation.

Location

The event is rotated among the many groups in the kingdom who wish to stage the event. Considering the prestige of the event, competition for hosting it can be quite fierce. A recent change to Kingdom law enacted by King Alaric and Queen Noelle in Anno Societatus 40 (2004-2005) allows that the winner of Crown Tournament has the privilege to select where the Coronation will take place which put into law what was already fairly customary; the Tanist wishing to be crowned in his or her home territory.

A Typical Coronation

The following is the basic structure of a typical, traditional final court and coronation:

  • In the morning court
    • Their Majesties conduct what final business they have, ending by dismissing their court attendants
    • until only Dragon Herald (and any assistants), the kingdom seneschal and two guards remain.
    • When Dragon then asks if there is any other with business before the court, the Crown Prince appears in the back of the hall, often in arms, and advances to claim the throne, often accompanied by many men-at-arms.
    • At least three Great Officers of State or representatives of the peerage and traditionally the combatant who fought against the Crown Prince/Princess in the final round of Crown Tournament are then invited to testify that this is the winner of the late Crown Tournament.
    • The king then stands and commands the prince to "kneel and learn the duties of a king", and then to swear the Coronation Oath. When this is done, he removes the crown from his head and places it on the head of the new king (sometimes the prince stands to receive the crown; sometimes the prince crowns himself, in Napoleonic fashion).
    • The former king then kneels before the man he has just crowned.
    • The queen then inquires whether the new king has a consort. Once she is presented, often with great ceremony, either the queen or more often the new king places the crown on her head, and the former monarchs withdraw, although it is not unknown for the new sovereigns to immediately invest them with county or ducal coronets.
    • Court is usually then closed, although occasionally the new monarchs immediately conduct some business.
  • In the evening court (or immediately following the morning court)
    • The former monarchs are elevated to ducal or county rank and the former consort entered into the Order of the Rose if they do not already hold such rank.
    • New Kingdom Champions are usually named

Variations and History

There are many variations and elaborations on this basic formula. For example: King Ronin and Prince Finn played at dice for the throne before one astonished crowd; Prince Dag entered the hall for his first coronation accompanied by smoke, a vast throng of armored men and a force of archers posted in the balcony, followed by Princess Ilsa borne in a sedan chair; Prince Tadashi proceeded down the aisle in Elizabethan garb, unaccompanied and carrying a single rose for his lady, Princess Ariake, whom he immediately married in court in a ceremony presided over by a Master of the Laurel in a Catholic priest's vestments; Prince Osis was rowed to a shoreside court in a Viking longboat, followed by a court magician producing Princess Caitlin in a puff of smoke.

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