Holy Roman Empire
A realm where local lords hold nearly all the attributes of sovereignty, yet remain subject to imperial law and tribunals.
The Holy Roman Empire provides the overarching political and legal framework for the world of Manor Lords. A territorial lord (German: Landesherr) was a ruler in the period beginning with the Early Middle Ages who, stemming from his status as being immediate (unmittelbar), held a form of authority over a territory known as Landeshoheit. This authority gave him nearly all the attributes of sovereignty. Such a lord had authority or dominion in a state or territory, but this fell short of sovereignty since as a ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, he remained subject to imperial law and supreme authority, including imperial tribunals and imperial war contributions. The territorial lord was generally a member of the high aristocracy or clergy, who was the title bearer or office holder of an existing or constituent state through the custom of primogeniture or feudal law.
Lore & Background
In the Holy Roman Empire, the lords of the individual member states, the imperial states or Reichsstände (excluding the Holy Roman Emperor), were the territorial lords of the regions ruled by them. During the High Middle Ages, the system was further expanded through a complex process of territorial consolidation, involving inheritance, purchase, marriage, and political maneuvering, rather than simply reclaiming territories and granting jurisdiction. It is also suggested that this development has led to the freedom of the peasants, since there were instances where they were granted freedom and, in practice, ownership of the land. The territorial lord usually had the rights of coinage and jurisdiction over his domain. A prerequisite for being a territorial lord was the combination of property and estate ownership, as well as sovereignty, in one person as a unified legal concept. The lords' economic domination, particularly in the Central European territories of the Empire, can be demonstrated in the way ownership of the mill was vested in their hand. This ensured the dependence of the peasantry, since they were forced to grind their grains in their lord's mill.
Reader's Guide
Players operate as a territorial lord within the Holy Roman Empire, a ruler who holds authority over a territory known as Landeshoheit. This authority grants nearly all the attributes of sovereignty, but you remain subject to imperial law, including imperial tribunals and imperial war contributions. You are generally a member of the high aristocracy (Hochadel) or clergy, holding your title through primogeniture or feudal law. As a territorial lord, you have the rights of coinage and jurisdiction over your domain. A key economic tool is the mill—ownership of the mill is vested in your hand, forcing peasants to grind their grains there and ensuring their dependence. Your economic domination is a unified legal concept combining property, estate ownership, and sovereignty in one person. The system also offers opportunities: during the High Middle Ages, lords reclaimed territories by granting vassals jurisdiction over acquired lands. This development sometimes led to the freedom of peasants, who were granted freedom and ownership of the land. Additionally, your claim to dominion can protect forests—they become a foundation of political power, protected rather than cleared, which is significant against the increasing appetite for wood from the mining industry, particularly in Germany.
More in Lore & History
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