insignia

Description

The High Warrior is the supreme head of the Order of the Crown, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Crown (5 Divisions, about 15.000 knights). Along with the High Clerist and the High Justice, he is part of the Knightly Table of State Major, and he takes orders only by the Grand Master, title to which, by the Measure, he could ascend by election. His insignia is the Morning Star surmounted by the Ring of High Knight, (an ancient bronze ring, embedded with a star emerald with a Crown engraved on the gem) which he wears as a symbol of rulership over the Order.  Ascension to this title means very often the resignment of other political and feudal duties: the rulership of family lands is often taken over by a close family member, who gains the title of Viscount.

Often the feudal ruler of a County, the Lord Warrior is  overlord of several lesser ranking knights and feudal lords, and when the Army of Crown is gathered he is endowed with the command of a "Division", composed by 5 Battalions (approximately 3.000 knights). His rank insignia is a badge portraying the morning star and the symbol of the Knighthood.

Often the political ruler of a large barony, the Master Warrior is the commander of a “Battalion”, composed by 5 Brigades. Under his livery may serve a dozen Knights of Crown, and three to five units of commoner men-at-arms, which he can deploy in battle in support of the 600 knights he commands. His insignia of rank is a morning star entwined with a bronze dragon.

This title is bestowed upon knights of proven valour and experience, which are often feudal rulers of small baronies (about five towns and one or two castles) and have a small number of vassals. They retain the title of “Sir” but are more commonly addresses to as “Lord”. When the Army of the Crown is gathered, they respond to the summons of the High Warrior bringing their own vassals and some support troops (usually a unit of archers and one or more of infantry, all commoner men-at-arms which wear their livery) and they command one “Brigade”, composed by 10 Squadrons (about 120 Knights). Their insignia is a badge portraying the symbol of Knighthood surmounted by the Crown.

This rank is bestowed over feudal lords of small territories (no more than two or three villages and some small keeps). When the Army of Crown is summoned, they are charged with command of a “Squadron”, composed by 2 Shields. The Squadron takes their own family name while they’re in charge. The insignia of this rank is the Shield surmounted by the symbol of the knighthood (sword, rose and kingfisher).

Knights of this rank are the leaders of a Shield, composed by other 4 Shield Knights; when they aren’t summoned by the High Warrior, they reside in the town or keep which they rule. Their insignia is similar to that of Shield Knights, but the great helm is replaced by the crown. The Shield Knights under them are usually minor feudatories of knightly rank that hold small retinues and owe them fealty as vassals.

Knights of this level are often in command of a small village or keep. In times of war, they form the backbone of the offensive branch of the Army of the Crown: the basic unit is, in fact, called “Shield”, and is composed by 4 such knights, commanded by one Shield of Crown, whose family name gives the name to his unit. The insignia of this rank is a great helm surmounting a banded shield (the red band is symbol to the primary loyalty of the Shield Knight, that goes not to his own family and coat of arms, but to the Order of Crown and his fellow knights, even to death).

Only knights of proven valour ascend to this title. They're the appointed leaders of small groups of lower ranking knights, who often wear the Scepter Knight’s coat of arm while in his service. Scepter Knights are often charged with the ruling of a small village or town. The symbol of their rank is a panoply of a great helm and a sceptre. Scepter Knights are rarely summoned when the Army of the Crown is gathered, for they primary duty is to defend their own positions in case the enemy would break the lines.

After serving for one year or more as infantry soldier, if he has proven himself well, the member of the Order of the Crown is finally bestowed with the title of “Sir” and ascends to the rank of Knight of the Crown. From this time on, he can bear his own coat of arms on his shield, coat, mantle, horse trapping, and so on. If he doesn’t belong to Solamnic nobility yet, he can now choose a coat of arms that will forever belong to him and to his descendants, and ascends to the social status of Created Nobility. He now serves in the Army as Cavalry, usually medium. He can also be in service of a higher ranking knight who is lord of a feud in Solamnia (in this case, he often wears his liege's coat of arms, possibly quartered in his own). His insignia of rank is a brooch with a great helm surmounted by a crown.

After the period passed as a Squire, the member of the Order of the Crown is assigned to a infantry unit, and serves as defender or patrol in strongholds, castles or cities under the control of Solamnic Knights, contemporary completing his formal training. A large number of young Solamnic knights are of this condition, which forms the backbone of the common troops. The insignia allowed to Defenders of Crown is a brooch with a crown and a morning star. They must wear the armour provided by their liege lord, whose escutcheon they bear, or the best they can afford.

Squire of Crown

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This is the lowest rank of the Knighthood. The squire is mostly appointed to the service of a Knight, who must provide for him food, dress, lodge and training, in exchange for the care of his horse, armour, weapons. Squiredom can be long and onerous, or brief and profitable, depending on the nature of the knight whom the squire serves. The average duration is three years, beginning at the age of seventeen. When the Tutor Knight feels the squire is sufficiently trained and able in feats of arms and of honor, he officially releases him from his service (often with some gift) and recommends him to some high ranking Knight, who will officially engage him in military service. The end of the period of squiredom is often celebrated with a feast organized by the family of the squire or by the Tutor Knight himself. The Measure admits exceptions to this rule: once beknighted, a Squire of Crown can make request to become a “Knight Errand”: in this case, if the petition is accepted, he must fend for himself and he is assigned a quest he must fulfil in order to advance in rank. During war, this exception is not so rare. A squire can dress normally (and modestly, except in rare official occasions), and the only insignia of rank he can display is a small, simple crown embedded on a brooch. In ancient times, the only approved vestment was a simple white coat or tunic, embroidered with the crown. He can also wear a ring with the sigil of his family, if he's of noble birth. He is expected to fight with his tutor in times of need, and to accompany him in battle if deemed necessary, so the squire often wears the (usually simple) armour given to him in the day of investiture, and he always carries his sword, which is the symbol of his acceptance in the Knighthood.

The Order of the Crown is the first step in the Knighthood, the Order any Knight must petition entrance to, in order to advance in the ranks. The Crown is commonly used as a symbol of feudal power, so it may seem strange that the "lowest" of the three Orders should have it as its standard. Legends provide several motivations, some practical, some mystical.

Having completed his Quest of Honour, King Vinas Solamnus was encharged by Paladine, Kiri-Jolith and Habbakuk to found three Knightly Orders, one for each god, and every Order had to uphold a high ideal of divine suggestion. Habbakuk suggested Loyalty and Obedience, and Vinas Solamnus chose the Crown as symbol of this Order: in his intentions, the Crown should personificate any superior power to which the Knight owed allegiance and fealty, and epitomize the strong feudal network that would help govern and protect Solamnia, network that had to be based on the Knighthood itself. The Knights of the Crown learn to serve, and eventually, if they prove worthy, even to rule, so the Crown gains a further meaning, that of personal power and social advancement, that can be rightfully and honourably gained by means of loyal service and obedience. Personal power, so, is only another form of service to the whole Knighthood and to the population of Solamnia, that needs ruling and defence.

Legends also maintain that Vinas Solamnus chose the Crown because, being the starting point for any Knight, it echoed his own Quest of Honour, that began when he was King of Solamnia, and momentarily left his crown to pursue wisdom and the help of the gods.

The Royal Crown of Solamnia, symbol of supreme temporal power, was destroyed at the death of King Vinas: in his testament, he ordered it to be done, because he feared someone could be tempted to self-proclaim as his only successor, while the whole order had to be his rightful heir. From the Royal Crown, the biggest gems were settled in the three Rings of the High Knights and of the Grand Master, and its gold was used to forge the Golden Globe of the Grand Master, and the Crown Hilt of the Sword of the High Warrior. While the blade has been changed many times over the centuries, the Hilt has been passed on from High Warrior to High Warrior. The knighthood lost trace of it at the eve of the Cataclysm.