The Sword And The Crown - The Twelve Families

The Royal House of Albion:-

Fitzgerald (MacGhearailt) - Kings of Albion, Dukes of Stonehold, Earl of Moray and Laird of Skyehaven. (Heir to the kingdom is titled Prince of Oakmont.)

Noble Houses of Albion

Below is a list of the twelve families that make up the noble houses (excluding the royal house) that inhabit the lands of Albion and their titles, in a time of crisis the King calls upon the noble houses to form an army. Each noble house has its retainers (lesser houses) as well as their bondsman (oath taken servant) that make up the core of its forces:

The Twelve:-

McEwan (MacEòghain) – Laird of Kilkaern

Sinclair (Singleir) – Laird of Glenkilly

Sutherland (Sutharlainn) – Laird of Ruthers

MacNair (Mac an Fhuibhir) – Duke of Aubrey (elevated to Duchy from previous Earldom of Athervale combined with the Lairdship of Norsay.)

Douglas (Dùghlasach) – Baron Highclere

Gordon (Gòrdan) – Laird of Lockherald*

Ross (Ros) – Duke of Ashwood (elevated to Duchy from previous Earldom of Carrickloft)*

MacCabe (MacCàba) – Laird of Quakershill*

Lennox (Leamhanach)– Laird of Inness*

Bruce (Bruis) – Laird of Riverswell*

Munro (Mac an Rothaich) – Laird of Falkkyre*

MacDuff (Dubhach) – Earl of Kirkloch

*These families seceded from the kingdom creating the Confederation of Five along with the Ross family forming the Iron Kingdom.

The Kings Council:

King Malcolm Fitzgerald (Gille-Caluim MacGhearailt) before he was betrayed by Godfrey Ross formed a council that helped in the governing of Albion. The Council consisted of five positions given to the heads of the twelve families, they are:

The King’s Treasurer – Held by the Head of the Sinclair family.

The King’s Justice – Held by the Head of the Douglas family.

The Earl Marshal of Albion – Held by the Head of the Ross family.

The King’s Equerry – Held by the Head of the MacNair family.

The King’s Confessor – Held by the Head of the Lennox family.

The Council Elector/Lord Steward – Held by the Head of the McEwan family.

The King would choose the Council Elector (the selected person was unable to be involved in the voting process for these positions and his name were withdrawn from the ballot) he would preside over the voting for the various offices under a secret ballot.

The Elector would wield significant influence during and after the voting process was completed and be considered the King’s Right Hand (unofficial title) chairing the council meetings and acting as Lord Steward for the Royal Household.

A House Divided – The Tribal War.

The seed for civil war was planted at a rather vocal council meeting after the war had been won, the Earl Marshal Godfrey Ross had anticipated a reward for riding to the King’s aid when the Averdi High Chief Vertigoryion and the Rus Hetman Pavel Karazov had decided to form an alliance to invade Albion, the King’s Justice Murdoch Douglas agreed with Ross claiming that under law because of the amount of arms and men he had brought to the King’s side as was the custom under an old Albion tradition. Murdoch requested that the scrolls on which the laws had been written on brought forth to the council chambers, when it was laid out it was recited aloud “Those who bring the greatest arms to bear against the foe of their King when their liege calls for aid are entitled to request whatever they wish for the sacrifice they bear in return for securing the throne.”

The call to the other noble houses had gone unanswered due to the tribal invasions throughout the land making it impossible for them to react. The King therefore sent out messengers after he had received word of the other nobles whereabouts with orders to either hold where they could or when they have driven off the enemy to rally to join his army, the King’s army before the Ross contingent joined comprised of The Fitzgerald’s, the MacNair’s and the Sutherlands, which was a combined strength of six to eight thousand men at short notice. The other noble houses were unable to join the King at this time for the following reasons:

The Sinclair’s along with their bondsman and their retainers guarded the royal vaults and the trade routes as dictated by their position as Royal Treasurer.

The Lennox, Munro and Bruce’s had combined to repel the eastern and southern borders.