Kingdom of Contenaro

# **KINGDOM OF CANTENARO**

* Inspired on the Kingdoms of Sardinia, Two Sicilies (Sicily and Naples), Grand Duchy Tuscany, Duchy of Parma and Duchy of Modena

## ***The Kingdom***

### Creation:

In 1523, because of the problems the church was under with the protestant reformation, they decided to raise the rank of the Grand Duchy of Cantenaro in order to put pressure on those who were willing to change their official religion. The Grand Duchy of Cantenaro was only together for about 5 decades, after many years trying to unificate the many Duchies that were around there the last Duke of Armatti finally was able to do so in 1471. The elevation of the kingdom in such an early time brought questions, and it was hard for them to find matches for their princes and princesses and to have more power in the continent.

### Religion:

The whole creation of the kingdom was based on the church and on catholicism and never changed.

### House of the Royal Family:

After the unification in 1471 the Duke of Armatti decided it would be better to create a new name for the kingdom instead of using his duchy, but he kept the name of his family, staying with the Royal **House of Armatti**. Because of the Salic-Law the house kept the same within the years.

### Order of succession:

Since the unification and the creation of the Grand Duchy of Cantenaro, it has been implementing the Salic-Law, only allowing male-line descendents to inherit the crown.

## ***The Royal Family***

### Names for royal children:

#### Girls:

Maria, Margarita, Anna, Beatrice, Isabella, Luisa, Carlotta,

## ***Titles***

### Royal Titles:

In order to not create problems in the new Grand Duchy, the Grand Duke decided to keep the titles of the old Dukes and name them Princes, so then they could still have power and it would help him to rule. The duchies do have land, they did not change, the only difference is that, now, they would answer to a higher governator, but they had a lot of freedom. After it rose to a kingdom the titles kept the same. They are six, and are numbered after the name of the Prince, as like a king, and not the title:

#### *Duke of Armatti*

The **Duke of Armatti** was recreated after the unification, in 1471, and given to the younger brother of the then first Grand Duke of Cantenaro, because of that they are from the same house as the monarchs, the **House of Armatti**. They have a lot of influence in the court and many marriages between the royal family and the princes of Armatti happened.

#### *Duke of Gioia*

The **Duke of Gioia** was a small Duchy, the first one to surrender to the Duke of Armatti as they did not have enough power to win them. Because of that they helped from the beginning and became something like a sidekick to him. They are from the **House of Zago**. After the unification was complete they were the second duchy to receive the title of Prince, in 1473, and their lands were expanded as the duchy of Rostar-Eslla refused to sign the peace treaty in the beginning, causing them to lose lands. They ended up having a close relationship with the **House of Luzemar**, from Astério, and many of their descendants married each other.

#### *Duke of Bianchinne*

The **Duke of Bianchinne** is a member from the junior branch of the **House of Armatti**, the **House of Armatti-Carglio**. Prior to the unification the Duchy of Armatti divided part of its territory between the two sons of the Duke. Both of the boys were politically involved and great warriors, which made their father decide to give a fraction of his lands to the younger man too. This happened in 1266, during the unification they sided with Armatti and thus were the third duchy to receive the title of Prince, in 1473. The name of the house was the junction of the name of the Duke, Carlo, and the word “figlio”, as the new Duke was the son of Carlo.

#### *Duke of Luigia*

The **Duke of Luigia** is from the **House of Grattenelli**, a family who rose to power with a lot of hard work. They were mostly generals and admirals, and, in 1103, **Emanuele Grattenelli** killed the Duke in an act of treason. Emanuele did that with the help of many supposedly loyal men of the Duke, and proclaimed himself the new Duke. He was accepted because during that time the Duchy was suffering extremely with hunger and poverty, and he, a wealthy and smart man, helped the people and did what the Dukes from the **House of Spagnaci** never tried to. He also paid more to the men who worked for him and made the Duchy grow in wealth. During the unification they refused to unite with the others and to be made a smaller ruler, when they lost and kept refusing to sign the peace treaty like Rostar-Eslla they lost territory, after accepting their fate in 1476 ⅓ of their lands were given to the Duchy of Piasde, whom had sided with Armatti from the beginning. They are on friendly terms with the Kings of Cantenaro, but, in state matters, they always side with Rostar-Eslla, and normally it means they are against the King's decision.

#### *Duke of Rostar-Eslla*

The **Duke of Rostar-Eslla** is from the **House of Pellegri**, a matrilineal descendent from the old **House of Spagnaci**. For centuries they were declared enemies of the Duchy of Luigia and would call them usurpers, but, during the unification, they sided with them as they refused to lose control over their territories. They also refused to sign the peace treaty in the beginning, making them actually lose lands to the Duchy of Gioia. Neither them or the Dukes of Luigia were going to lose territory as it was not the idea of the Duke of Armatti, but the refusal of peace made the new grand duke change his mind. They were the last territory to sign the peace treaty in 1480.

#### *Duke of Piasde*

The **Duke of Piasde** is a member from the **House of Ledrini**, been known since prior the unification as a neutral Duchy, it was shocking when even before the invasions they declared to be on Armatti’s side. The truth is that they were running out of gold and about to start a succession crisis as the Duke was the last male descendent and not able to father a legitimate male heir, and, after the Grand Duchy was established, the Grand Duke allowed the Duke’s only daughter to pass down to her son the Duchy and keep within the **House of Ledrini**, and not his father’s, the **House of Grattenelli**. The fact that the Duchy of Luigia was on bad terms with the Grand Duke also helped the situation. But, after all that, they were back to being a neutral duchy. In state matters they normally are the one who puts a final decision on the affairs, as the Duke of Armatti cannot vote because is from the same House as the King, it’s always Gioia and Bianchinne VS Luigia and Rostar-Eslla, and Piasde is unpredictable towards their decisions.

### Noble Titles:

The only noble title available is of Baron, the titles were normally given to warriors and knights, and, after some time, their descendents became courtiers more involved in politics than wars. The Baronies receive the same as the cities, and each Baron controls them, answering the Dukes and the King.

### Courtesy Titles:

The children of the Dukes that will not inherit the duchy are called “Prince/Princess X of Y”, and it can pass down on male-line descendants. Children of Barons are called “Lord/Lady X of Y” if not the heir, but sons cannot pass down the courtesy title. None of them are allowed to marry commoners, and, if they do, they lose their titles.

X being their names and Y the peerage.