New Aristocracy
The ultimate reward for loyal service: elevation to nobility.If the collapse of the Roman Empire made one thing clear, it was that life would never – could never – be the same as it had been for centuries prior. The barbarian kingdoms that swept away Rome's remnants assumed much of its workable infrastructure, particularly that relating to the organisation of the armed forces. Of course, this also gave them a means of controlling the young, educated class who might otherwise fight against the new regimes; by offering status – and maybe, eventually, power – via conscription into in the army, their loyalty could be secured. The kingdoms of the late Dark and early Middle Ages were still very much warrior societies at heart, and therefore membership of the warrior class was something to be aspired to. Members were obligated to fight for the king, and provide troops from their own retinues, whenever he called them to do so. In return, they were given lands and titles under the proviso they enforced the king's laws and offered protection to the peasants who worked them. In real terms, this was a license to behave in almost any way they liked - the vassals had the weapons and the training to make any point they so chose; the serfs, on the other hand, had none of those things, and therefore no chance to rise up and change their situation.
Node Set Civil Tier 12 |
research_points 0 |
cost_per_round 0 |
Effects
Loyalty: +1 (faction_to_character_own_unseen)Requires | |
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Requires Technologies | Land Grants |
Enables | |
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Enables Technologies | Feudalism |
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