The Principality of the Northern Forests
Music by Rok Nardin
The Royal Order of Arctic Knights is the lowest Order in the Principality of the Northern Forests. There is no courtesy title for the lawful spouse or children of a member of the Order. The Order uses the title of Grand Skutilsvein from the old Norse system of Nobility which is the equivalent of the post-Viking age title of Grand Cross or Grand Cordon.
Ranks of the Order
There are four ranks in the Order. The Order may be granted as a hereditary award or as a non-hereditary honour. The rank advancements include:
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Grand Skutilsvein
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Dame/Knight Commander
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Dame/Knight
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Squire
Requirements for Admission
Admission into the Order is open to all persons 14 years of age and above who are of good will who exhibit honour, humility and integrity. Considerations in selecting members are: demonstrated good character, documented accomplishments in life, and obvious commitment to the ideals of the Royal House. The Order invests membership upon only those men and women who deport themselves in an honorable and chivalrous manner, who will be committed to the Order´s values and precepts, and who are religiously neutral in thought.
A candidate´s involvement in other charitable, military, and hereditary organizations are welcome to our Order. Not every person who offers a gift can be honoured. The Nobility may recommend and sponsor people to the Order who have performed great service in support and shares our philanthropic works. In addition, any Noble, Royal, or academic honour they possess must be shown to be genuine. The evidence must be capable of being validated or confirmed by accurate and reliable facts. Candidates must be at least 14 years old for the rank of Squire and at least 18 years old for the rank of Dame/Knight or above. The ultimate approval is contingent on the Princess of the Northern Forests.
Disqualification from the Order
The Princely Family will not honour those who are involved in any blatantly dishonourable or sarcastic self-styled orders of chivalry or who claim absurd Noble, Royal, or academic titles that cannot be establish as real, genuine, and authentic. Thus, if you claim absurd titles such as the "Baroness of the Backyard", or having a PhD in Hard Knocks, then please do not apply. At some point in the process, a candidate making a claim to some public honour may be asked to present further substantiation than is required on the application, discard a questionable or counterfeit claim, or have his or her petition rejected. Many "micronational" awards and titles are not considered "legitimate" or "honourable" by the Princess.
Armorial Achievements
All those wishing to gain entry into the Royal Order of Arctic Knights are required to have Coat of Arms that conforms to the Principality of the Northern Forests Heraldic Laws and traditions. If the candidate currently has an assumed, granted, matriculated or inherited Coat of Arms then they will be required to obtain a Confirmation of Arms by the Prince of Arms of the Northern Forests. All Dames and Knights are allowed to use the Coronet of a Knight as stipulated in Our Heraldic Laws and traditions.
Post-Nominals of the Order
The post-nominal for Grand Skutilsvein recipients of the Order is “GSAK”. This stands for [G]rand [S]kutilsvein of the Royal Order of [A]rctic [K]nights. The post-nominal for Dame/Knight Commander recipients of the Order is “DCAK or KCAK respectively”. This stands for [D]ame or [K]night [C]ommander of the Royal Order of [A]rctic [K]nights. The post-nominal for Dame/Knight recipients of the Order is “DAK or KAK” respectively. This stands for [D]ame or [K]night of the Royal Order of [A]rctic [K]nights.
Passage of Hereditary Title and Honour
The Knightly titles and honours of the Principality of the Northern Forests may only pass to another person in strict accordance what is stated in the Letters Patent affixed with the Princess's Royal Coat of Arms in Metallic coloured Wax of Azure (Blue). They cannot be sold, transferred, or otherwise altered. If a grant of the Order is hereditary, the Letters Patent and it alone will state it. Unless the Letters Patent for a particular grantee specifically stipulates another method of transmission, the default method of transmission is bloodline through absolute primogeniture springing solely from the original grantee.
Absolute primogeniture in the Principality of the Northern Forests means the honour and title of Dame or Knight will only pass from a current substantive title-holder to the eldest child of the title holder (or the next in line to the title and honour if there are no living descendants of the current title-holder, but there are living collateral descendants elsewhere who spring from the original grantee of the title and honour) upon the death of the current title-holder.
There may only be one inheritor of the title and honour at any time. The rank within the Order will be retained by transmission. Said another way, a member of the rank of Grand Skutilsvein who passes the title and honour to an heir will have the heir also be at the rank of Grand Skutilsvein. Similarly, a member of the rank of Commander who passes the title and honour to an heir will have the heir also be at the rank of Commander.
Written notice of each transfer of the title and honour should be made to the current Head of the Northerner Royal House so that good record-keeping is maintained and registration occurs of the new holder of the title and honour. A small registration fee might be necessary to record this transfer. However, title passage will occur without the need for official blessing by a future Head of the Northerner Royal House. In the event that the descendant lines of the original grantee of the noble title and honour all fail – that is, that each line eventually has no bloodline heirs left – the title will become extinct, as all possible heirs have died out.
Nobility Conveyance
The title of Grand Skutilsvein only conveys nobility if stated in the Letters Patent and them alone. It will be as either a hereditary or life title upon the grantee unless otherwise stated. Nobility is not conveyed at any other rank in this order.
