Order of the Holy Lakes Act (Meckelnburgh)

The Order of the Holy Lakes Act (formally An Act to preserve the Independence of the Throne of the Meckelnburghers from the Influence of foreign Institutions) is an act of the Parliament of Meckelnburgh to restrict members of the Order of the Holy Lakes from the inheritance of the monarchy or of titles of nobility in the United Kingdom of Meckelnburgh. It was passed in 1731 AN. The Act responded to the perceived threat of the expansion of the order to reigning houses throughout Micras. It was simultaneously affirmed by an Order-in-Council of Queen Ĉielero III and applied retroactively.

Background

The Order of the Holy Lakes is a hereditary sovereign order of chivalry formed in 1502 AN. It encompasses over 1600 members. In its own right, the order is sovereign over the country of Hurmu. Members of the order include some ten ruling imperial and royal families throughout Micras, and numerous others historically associated with it. Variously, membership can be obtained via induction, descent or marriage. Members of the order are automatically Hurmu citizens.

The throne of the Meckelnburghish people is held by the princes of the House of Meckelnburgh-Serkwais and descendent via King Vilhelmo IV. The monarch holds Meckelnburgh and Branniboria in that right. The monarch of the united kingdom is also Grand Duke of Iselande and, as Lord Protector of the Faith of the Church of Meckelnburgh, sovereign of the Prince-Archabbacy of Salem. The House of Meckelnburgh-Serkwais has never been associated with the Order of the Holy Lakes.

Provisions

The Order of the Holy Lakes Act provides that the monarch of Meckelnburgh may never accept membership in the Order of the Holy Lakes nor marry a member of the order. Either case constitutes abdication de jure. Likewise, any membership otherwise obtained involuntarily must be summarily and immediately rejected.

Similarly, no prince of the House of Meckelnburgh-Serkwais may accept membership into the order, permit membership or marry a member. Doing so results in ejectment from the house and expulsion from the line of succession. No descendent of an expelled prince may be a prince of Meckelnburgh-Serkwais who does not immediately rebuke association with the Order of the Hole Lakes or on their 16th birthday—prior to inheritance.

The Act affects the holding or inherence of a title of nobility in Meckelnburgh on the same grounds. Only knighthoods, which are not hereditary, are exempt.

Reactions

Reactions from the Secretariat of State of the Order of the Holy Lakes were initially muted, with spokespersons saying that the law would change nothing for now.

The ambassador of the United Kingdom of Meckelnburgh was, however, summoned to the Secretary of State for External Relations, to receive an official diplomatic protest. During the meeting, markedly, tea was not served as was otherwise customary at receptions at the Secretariat for External Relations. During the meeting with the Secretary, the Meckelnburghish ambassador was informed the deep sadness of the Secretariat at being singled out as a perceived threat to Meckelnburgh's independence. The Secretary moreover expressed the moral injury this Act had cost the relations between Meckelburgh and Hurmu, and conveyed its indignation. The Act was unfair to Hurmu and did nothing constructive in the relations between the two states, which had been characterised by friendliness and good neighbourliness since 1699. The Act of the Meckelnburghish parliament was in complete contradiction of that same spirit.