Imperial Court of Velikograd
The Imperial Court of Velikoslavia is the official title for the primary method in which the Tsar of the Velikoslavia exercises executive power over the nation. Court is held two times a year; once in the spring and once in the winter for a period of two weeks. During this time nobility of proper rank, foreign ambassadors, dignitaries, favored commoners, war heroes, decorated soldiers, members of certain orders, and other foreign dignitaries and guests gather and reside in Velikograd, the old district of Kollavik. Those who are offered Imperial Apartments within the palace are automatically allowed to attend court no matter their rank. Food and entertainment are provided for free to all of the guests for the duration of the session.
History and etiquette
History
The first Court of the Principality of Kurev was held shortly after Dagan I was crowned in 956. Initially started as a party for the nobility, the court began to be more focused as the years passed. By the rule of the Ralinov Dynasty, court had become a significant part of the governance of the realm.
Etiquette
Traditionally when court is not in session, the Tsar is not regularly approached or petitioned except for emergency situations. This rule of etiquette was established early on even for foreign ambassadors from differing realms. Only for certain situations are exceptions made to this rule. During one court session a year, the custom eventually emerged to allow a select number of commoners to petition the Tsar on their behalf as well. This remains a popular event today.
Customs
That night, a feast is held to commemorate the opening of the court. Foreign ambassadors, special guests, and other foreign guests are greeted first followed by honored commoners and other local honored guests. Following the feast, the sitting Tsar gives a speech commemorating the opening of the court and laying out the main issues that are to be addressed for the two week long session. The successive weeks are divided up into threes with a communal meal held in the grand feasting hall each evening. Three days of feasting and entertainment are followed by three days of business and petitions before the cycle starts over. There is a docket that is managed by the высокий писец, or master of scribes, in which issues are brought before the Tsar. Historically, this was done in the throne room but several Tsars have broken the trend sometimes taking petitions outside, in the palace library, and even in their own personal study. Arbitration agreements between parties can also be brought before the Tsar provided neither party wishes to go through the courts. Each foreign ambassador in attendance is also permitted time to negotiate and present diplomatic entreaties before the monarch. Traditionally, court has also been used by other nobility to arrange marriages and conduct their own business with other members of the aristocracy and the public. At the end of a session of court, another feast is held in which the Tsar officially declares court to be over and issues invitations and summons for the next court in two months time. Periodically throughout history, the monarch may choose to cancel a session of court due to some circumstance and may do so at his discretion.
There are two court sessions a year with each lasting for two weeks. The courts are named, Court of Winter and Court of New Life.
Procedure
Court follows a fairly regimented procedure with little deviation in the years since the practice was established. On the first day of the month, dignitaries arrive and are shown to the various apartments of the palace.
Court of New Life
The Court of New Life is held in the spring during the last two weeks of the month of April. It has several unique events that occur.
- Grand Parade - The first day of court is marked by an event called the Grand Parade, where dignitaries arrive at Velikograd Palace in various modes of transport. Smaller automobiles are permitted in the Old City on the single large central road, which is large enough to support cars, that leads to the palace. More traditional guests may utilize carriages on occasion. Guests who are staying in the palace are shown to their accommodations while those who are not wait in a prepared reception hall and receiving area. Traditionally, guests who are not residing in the palace arrive last so as not wait all day for the festivities to begin.
- Procession of Glory - In the evening, court attendees gather in the Hall of Feasts, where they are seated by rank, closest to furthest from the Tsar, at multiple tables. A procession from the second floor of the palace to the Hall is held where the Tsar, his wife, their children, and any other family in attendance descends the stairs in ranked order and enters the Hall, proceeding down the open center isle to the main table placed at the front of the room. Once the ruling family is all seated, the Tsar gives a speech of welcome to welcome the spring season and calls the session of court to order. The Bishop of Velikograd also leads the court in remembrance of the prior year, blesses the meal, and thanks God for another year survived.
- Feast of Velkommen - The Feast of Velkommen, which translates to Welcome in Old Telerian, is held in the evening at the conclusion of the Grand Parade. It is traditionally for welcoming and entertaining guests and no business is handled. This event is always held in the Hall of Feasts. Live entertainment is always present, which is generally either live music or dancing, and guests are served a spread of dishes.
- Homage of the Generals - Named for the Nine Generals of old Telerian tradition. The morning of Day 2 is the time when the upper nobility pay homage to the Tsar and present requests. This is done by rank, with the children of the Tsar receiving first priority should they wish it. Next, the Grand Princes and Princesses of the ruling family are permitted to entreat the Tsar and offer a gift or some sort of homage to him. Directly followed behind them is the eight Grand Dukes for the same purpose, ordered by order in which they were ennobled down to the hour. Their families may next entreat the Tsar, but only those who are direct descendants of either the current, past two, or future title holders.
- Feast of Decrees - The remainder of the second day is where business begins and is reserved for the Tsar to present
Court of Winter
Members and entrées
There are three types of membership to the Court; members-by-right, members-by-courtesy, and entrées. Members-ex-officio are by far the largest group and attendance varies as the attendance requirement was dropped in 1935 during budgetary restructuring. Despite this, many of the higher ranked nobility attend. Higher ranks are permitted apartments within the palace itself during court and the highest ranked lords have year round apartments. Members-by-courtesy attend regularly and oftentimes attend more often than ex-officio members. Entrées are in attendance to court solely by invitation and may be invited in two ways; invitation as a result of the position they hold or invitation by a member. The ability to invite is regulated based on the rank of the inviter.
Members-By-Right
Those who are Ancient Nobility, Titled nobility, Hereditary nobility, Personal nobility, or Estateless nobility are members as a result of the noble title granted to them. Not all ranks of noble are invited by default and lower ranks who do not possess full rights to attend are invited to individual events within each session of court. These are notated on the Table of Noble Privileges.
| Rank | Court Privileges |
|---|---|
| Tsesarevich |
|
| Tsarevich/Tsarvena |
|
| Grand Prince/Princess |
|
| Grand Duke |
|
| Askemann |
|
| Duke |
|
| Margrave |
|
| Count |
|
| Viscount |
|
| Baron |
|
| Noble |
|
Members-by-Courtesy
Members-by-courtesy is a group that is made up primarily of those who do not hold titles within Velikoslavia but have either a position based reason or recognition that permits them to attend court consistently. Those in this class almost always are present. Primarily, this group is made up of foreign exiles granted membership and sanctuary (usually royalty or nobility), foreign diplomats and other dignitaries who have been granted more permanent permission to attend, and resident nobility from foreign countries. These resident nobility typically are not serving in a capacity as diplomats but have a rank in another nation that is recognized in Velikoslavia. Member-By-Courtesy is also extended to brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and first cousins of every offical ranked Duke or above, though these relatives typically do not get to stay in the palace without special permission.
Entrées
Entrées are those who are personally invited by court members to attend court. Only those who hold an official title may attend and all invitations are subject to approval by either the Grand Chamberlain, the Tsar, or the Tsaritsa. Invitations are typically issued by the palace to those who are either receiving or deserving of recognition.