So in the interest of thoughtful discussion, I'll ask about the Lombards.
This post made me do some personal research, as I really had no prior knowledge of the Lombards being passing mentions. Sources are fairly limited, and what caught my attention the most is that the concept of Gastaldates are only sparsely referenced.
Was the title of Gastald actually hereditary? The sources I looked at basically described it as an appointment, not a noble title. I'm asking in the hopes that, as an Italian, you have more sources on the subject.
So in the interest of thoughtful discussion, I'll ask about the Lombards.
This post made me do some personal research, as I really had no prior knowledge of the Lombards being passing mentions. Sources are fairly limited, and what caught my attention the most is that the concept of Gastaldates are only sparsely referenced.
Was the title of Gastald actually hereditary? The sources I looked at basically described it as an appointment, not a noble title. I'm asking in the hopes that, as an Italian, you have more sources on the subject.
Exactly, the gastalds were appointed and werent exactly considered as counts or dukes, they were magistrates with civil and military power appointed to counterbalance the huge power of the dukes as the gastalds answered directly to the King. It wasnt an hereditary role because the Kingdom of the Lombards, as well as the earlier carolingian era, cant be exactly defined as properly "Feudal". The "Duke" (Dux) title was instead inherited by the first son or a member of the same "Fara" (clan) as the Dux was supposed to be the leader of the fara; at the same time, the Dukes alltogether had the chance to elect the King, it's a very ancient germanic tradition that differentiates the Lombards from the more romanized Franks and it is always the main reason on why the lombard monarchy has always been (or almost always) weaker than the frankish one. In France, at the times, the "Counts" were appointed too. However, it is also true that in some case the "Count" title was often inherited by the son of the former Count (Comes), but this was a rule that the King ALWAYS had to approve, the King had in fact the chance to transfer the title to another one of his shield-bearers or courtiers, or even give the lands to a Bishop (something that happened very often in Italy during the carolingian and post-carolingian era). The idea of the inheritance of the titles and lands is something that will start to take place after Charles the Great when the carolingian monarchs were weak and needed a way to gain their vassals loyalty.
We will need the Capitulary of Quierzy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitulary_of_Quierzy) and then the Constitutio de Feudis (https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutio_de_feudis) to fully enter the proper feudal age as we imagine it.
"These are the ushers of Martius: before him he carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears: Death, that dark spirit, in ’s nervy arm doth lie; Which, being advanced, declines, and then men die."
So in the interest of thoughtful discussion, I'll ask about the Lombards.
This post made me do some personal research, as I really had no prior knowledge of the Lombards being passing mentions. Sources are fairly limited, and what caught my attention the most is that the concept of Gastaldates are only sparsely referenced.
Was the title of Gastald actually hereditary? The sources I looked at basically described it as an appointment, not a noble title. I'm asking in the hopes that, as an Italian, you have more sources on the subject.
Exactly, the gastalds were appointed and werent exactly considered as counts or dukes, they were magistrates with civil and military power appointed to counterbalance the huge power of the dukes as the gastalds answered directly to the King. It wasnt an hereditary role because the Kingdom of the Lombards, as well as the earlier carolingian era, cant be exactly defined as properly "Feudal". The "Duke" (Dux) title was instead inherited by the first son or a member of the same "Fara" (clan) as the Dux was supposed to be the leader of the fara; at the same time, the Dukes alltogether had the chance to elect the King, it's a very ancient germanic tradition that differentiates the Lombards from the more romanized Franks and it is always the main reason on why the lombard monarchy has always been (or almost always) weaker than the frankish one. In France, at the times, the "Counts" were appointed too. However, it is also true that in some case the "Count" title was often inherited by the son of the former Count (Comes), but this was a rule that the King ALWAYS had to approve, the King had in fact the chance to transfer the title to another one of his shield-bearers or courtiers, or even give the lands to a Bishop (something that happened very often in Italy during the carolingian and post-carolingian era). The idea of the inheritance of the titles and lands is something that will start to take place after Charles the Great when the carolingian monarchs were weak and needed a way to gain their vassals loyalty.
We will need the Capitulary of Quierzy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitulary_of_Quierzy) and then the Constitutio de Feudis (https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutio_de_feudis) to fully enter the proper feudal age as we imagine it.
So how does this effect the in-game world of Krenn? Do the same rules apply?
As in, does the Rex of Vlandia have to consent to each new Gastald, and can he potentially strip the title on a whim?
Exactly, the gastalds were appointed and werent exactly considered as counts or dukes, they were magistrates with civil and military power appointed to counterbalance the huge power of the dukes as the gastalds answered directly to the King. It wasnt an hereditary role because the Kingdom of the Lombards, as well as the earlier carolingian era, cant be exactly defined as properly "Feudal". The "Duke" (Dux) title was instead inherited by the first son or a member of the same "Fara" (clan) as the Dux was supposed to be the leader of the fara; at the same time, the Dukes alltogether had the chance to elect the King, it's a very ancient germanic tradition that differentiates the Lombards from the more romanized Franks and it is always the main reason on why the lombard monarchy has always been (or almost always) weaker than the frankish one. In France, at the times, the "Counts" were appointed too. However, it is also true that in some case the "Count" title was often inherited by the son of the former Count (Comes), but this was a rule that the King ALWAYS had to approve, the King had in fact the chance to transfer the title to another one of his shield-bearers or courtiers, or even give the lands to a Bishop (something that happened very often in Italy during the carolingian and post-carolingian era). The idea of the inheritance of the titles and lands is something that will start to take place after Charles the Great when the carolingian monarchs were weak and needed a way to gain their vassals loyalty.
We will need the Capitulary of Quierzy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitulary_of_Quierzy) and then the Constitutio de Feudis (https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutio_de_feudis) to fully enter the proper feudal age as we imagine it.
So how does this effect the in-game world of Krenn? Do the same rules apply?
As in, does the Rex of Vlandia have to consent to each new Gastald, and can he potentially strip the title on a whim?
The King indeed can strip Trasamund of his title, as well as the Dux of Pravend (which Trasamund serves). At the moment no one of them had anything against Trasamunds being elected as Gastald because Krenn is very unimportant and Trasamund is part of a prestigious Fara.
"These are the ushers of Martius: before him he carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears: Death, that dark spirit, in ’s nervy arm doth lie; Which, being advanced, declines, and then men die."
So how does this effect the in-game world of Krenn? Do the same rules apply?
As in, does the Rex of Vlandia have to consent to each new Gastald, and can he potentially strip the title on a whim?
The King indeed can strip Trasamund of his title, as well as the Dux of Pravend (which Trasamund serves). At the moment no one of them had anything against Trasamunds being elected as Gastald because Krenn is very unimportant and Trasamund is part of a prestigious Fara.
Why is the Dux able to strip the Gastald of his title? Aren't Gastalds basically governors of royal demesnes?
The King indeed can strip Trasamund of his title, as well as the Dux of Pravend (which Trasamund serves). At the moment no one of them had anything against Trasamunds being elected as Gastald because Krenn is very unimportant and Trasamund is part of a prestigious Fara.
Why is the Dux able to strip the Gastald of his title? Aren't Gastalds basically governors of royal demesnes?
Yeah, my bad. Just initially, the gastalds historically became very popular among the dukes as well. But yeah, their initial aim was to limit the dukes power.
"These are the ushers of Martius: before him he carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears: Death, that dark spirit, in ’s nervy arm doth lie; Which, being advanced, declines, and then men die."