Sovereign Military Order of the Dragon

Sovereign military order of the dragon
Sovereign military order of the dragon
	Flag Insignia of the Order
	; War Flag of the Order
Capital	Duchessgrad
Official languages	Latin; Old Church Slavonic;
Recognised regional languages	English language; Serbian; Hungarian;
Demonym(s)	draconic
Government	Monarchal Chivalric order
• Princess and Grand Master	Nada I of Reynolds-Romanova
• Lieutenant of the Grand master	Position Vacant
• Grand Chancellor	Position Vacant
Legislature	Chapter General of the Order of the Dragon
Establishment	originally 1408, revived 2020
Population
• Census	N/A
Currency	Forint
Time zone	(UTC)

The Sovereign Military Order of the Dragon, more commonly known as The Order of the Dragon, is a micronational Chivalric order in america. It claims to be a continuation of the Hungarian order of the same name that died out in the 17th century, it was revived by the Grand Duchy of Marquette.Though it possesses no territory, the order is a sovereign entity of international law, and maintains diplomatic relations with a handful of nations

History

pre micronational

Background

King Sigismund faced fierce struggles for power leading up to the foundation of the order in 1408. In 1387 the Bohemian royal son, Sigismund of Luxembourg was elected King of Hungary and Croatia, a title which he owed chiefly to his marriage to Queen Mary of Hungary in 1385. During the next decade, he constantly sought support or employed ruthless methods to strengthen his unsteady hold on the throne. His rule was weakened in 1395 when Mary, who was pregnant, died in a horse riding accident. In 1389, the Ottoman Sultan Murad I fought Lazar, Prince of Serbia at the Battle of Kosovo Polje, in which both leaders died, leading to an uncertain outcome of the battle. Two years later, the Turks had taken the Bulgarian fortress of Nicopolis.

In 1396, Pope Boniface IX proclaimed a crusade against the Ottomans, and a campaign was organised to liberate Bulgaria from the Turks, save Constantinople, and put a halt to the Ottoman expansion. Sigismund was nominally in charge; however, in the 1396 Battle of Nicopolis the French leader, John of Nevers, commanded the French half of the forces and ignored Sigismund's entreaties by charging the Turks. About 12,000 crusaders died with only a few leaders, including Sigismund, escaping. Sigismund returned to Hungary in 1401 and, facing a number of revolts, gradually resumed control and re-asserted himself as the King of Hungary. This was achieved by allying himself with the political party of Stibor of Stiboricz, Nicholas II Garay, and Hermann II of Celje, in return for their military support, which enabled him to fight off domestic rivals. Sigismund campaigned against the Croatian nobility which culminated in 1408 with the Battle of Dobor in Usora. In the aftermath of this battle, and events unfolding in what is known as the Bloody Sabor of Križevci, 171 members of Bosnian nobility were also massacred. His pact with Hermann II was secured in 1408, when Sigismund married Herman II's daughter Barbara.

Foundation

On December 12, 1408 Sigismund and his queen, Barbara von Cilli, founded the the Order of the Dragon. Its statutes, written in Latin, call it a society (societas) whose members carry the signum draconis, but assign no name to it. Contemporary records, however, refer to the order by a variety of similar if unofficial names, such as Gesellschaft mit dem Drachen, Divisa seu Societas Draconica, Societas Draconica seu Draconistarum, and Fraternitas Draconum. It was to some extent modelled after the earlier Hungarian monarchical order, the Order of St. George (Societas militae Sancti Georgii), founded by King Charles I of Hungary in 1318, the grandfather of Sigismund's first wife Mary. The order adopted Saint George as its patron saint, whose legendary defeat of a dragon was used as a symbol for the military and religious ethos of the order.

Revival

The order of the dragon was revived by Nada I of Reynolds-Romanova in 2020.

Organization

Governance

The proceedings of the Order are governed by its Constitutional Charter and Code.

The Prince and Grand Master is the head of the Order. They are elected for life. When the Grand Master dies, the Grand Commander serves as Lieutenant ad interim. If it is not possible to elect a Grand Master, a Lieutenant of the Grand Master is elected.

The Sovereign Council is the primary governing body of the Order which deals with regular business. The members are the Grand Master (or the Lieutenant of the Grand Master), the holders of the four High Officers (the Grand Commander, the Grand Chancellor, the Grand Hospitaller and the Receiver of the Common Treasure), and six Councillors.

The Chapter General is the legislative body of the Order which meets every five years. It elects the members of the Sovereign Council.

The Council Complete of State elects the Grand Master or the Lieutenant of the Grand Master.

The Board of Auditors audits the Order's finances. It includes a President and four Councillors, all elected by the Chapter General.

The Government Council is the advisory board to the Sovereign Council in charge of studying political, religious, humanitarian assistance and international issues.

The Order's judicial powers are exercised by a group of Magistral Courts, whose judges are appointed by the Grand Master and the Sovereign Council.

Membership

Membership of the order is divided into three classes, each of which are further subdivided.

First class

Knights of Justice
Professed Knights

Second class

Knights of Honour and Devotion
Knights of Grace and Devotion
Knights of Majesty

Third class

Knights of Honour
Knights of Grace
Knights
Donat
Honourary Donat

Within each class and category of knights there are ranks of Knight, Knight Grand Cross, and Bailiff Knight Grand Cross.

International Status

The constitution of the Order reflects that it "shall be a sovereign entity and exercise the functions of a state"

The Order's sovereignty is also expressed by its issuing of passports, stamps, and currency.

Orders, Decorations, and Medals

External links