The Edict of Pharos

[Lord Hamilton]

Edict of Government for the Lighthouse City State [Edict of Pharos]

In the name of the Keeper of the Light this Edict is promulgated on this day as given in the eternal city of Lighthouse on the occasion of its refoundation on the island of Pharos, scene of glorious naval battles and of course the everlasting Light. In the face of great difficulty and turmoil, the City State has survived the collapse of numerous countries, from its origins in Baracao, to the massive power of the Grand Commonwealth, unto its present sovereigns in Antica. Given the events which have transpired upon the Antican mainland, the City State has once again survived catastrophe. The Boarding House once again hears the knock of the gavel as the Keeper of the Light comes down from his salty home and sits judiciously as chair of that assembly. Decided by those who live and toil under the throes of daily life, those who make their home on the sea-drenched shores of Pharos, it has been decided to seek our fortunes as free men. Having been given this opportunity to seek new adventures, we will not forsake our destiny, but shall instead hold the torch high and strive ever forward.

By virtue of the Law of the Seas we shall serve the people rightly and faithfully, in fairness and justice, guiding them to a new a glorious future, where our light shines as a miraculous beacon across all of Micras. May this Edict mark the commencement of our island story anew, and in so doing permit our nation the opportunity to go forth into the future and claim for itself the rightful glory that is ours to possess.

We have, by this perpetual and irrevocable edict, established and proclaimed and do establish and proclaim:

[THE KEEPER OF THE LIGHT AND HIS OFFICES, INCLUDING THE BOARDING HOUSE OF ASSEMBLED CAPTAINS]

I. First, it is commanded that the Keeper of the Light has the right of promulgating to the people all acts of state and government. This gives the Keeper of the Light the exclusive privilege of printing, at his own press, or at that of his grantees, all writs, ordinances, proclamations, and orders of council.
II. The Keeper of the Light shall serve as Head of Government for our City State and shall reserve all government, army and church appointments made by statutory instrument, to our own prerogative.
III. The Light Brigade, comprising the Territorial Army, and the Navy shall owe full allegiance to the Keeper of the Light who shall from therein provide instruction to a direct subordinate, titled the Commander of the Light Brigade.
IV. We ordain that the Church and the Anglican Orthodox religion shall enjoy freedom from molestation, taxing, or harm with the domains of the City State. Other religions shall be likewise given the freedom to practice without molestation or injury.
V. The Keeper of the Light shall, by the Boarding House of Assembled Captains, accept the role as protector and defender of the light.
VI. The condominium of Pharos held in conjunction between Babkha and Antica shall be upheld, with the Antican treaty being transferred to the ownership of the City State.

[CITIZENSHIP]

VI. We reserve to ourselves the right to regulate immigration and conduct censuses.
VII. Any natural person, upon application to the Keeper of the Light and the making of an appropriate oath as may be stipulated at the time of application, may, subject to the receipt of letters patent from us, become a citizen of the Lighthouse City State.
VIII. Letters patent in regards to citizenship shall take the form of a contract between the citizen and the Keeper of the Light. Breach of contract may result in deportation or walking of the plank.


[THE CITY OF LIGHTHOUSE AND ITS COLONIES]
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IX. Lighthouse shall comprise of the territory shown at Schedule I divided into four Colonies (administrative districts); the Metropole of Lighthouse, the Coast of Wrecks, Smuggler's Cove, and Plum Colony.
X. The four colonies shall be administered and solely operated by the Boarding House of Assembled Captains.
XI. Each of these colonies if administered by a ranking Captain of the Boarding House Assembly.
XII. Each colony is self-regulating at the discretion of its Captain and/or members and may promulgate a charter. For a charter to be valid it must receive the assent of the Keeper of the Light.
XIII. It shall be a requirement for all citizens upon naturalisation (see VII.) to designate a colony of residence.
XIV. All Captains of the Boarding House Assembly shall come together and in their totality comprise a Parliament of the Lighthouse City State which may vote taxes and make representations unto the Keeper of the Light.
XV. We command that the Boarding House of Assembled Captains shall be responsible for, in the first instance, the regulation of its own commerce, the minting of coin, the appointment of magistrates, the collecting of dues, voting grants of nominal monies to the Keeper of the Light, the building of roads, the laying of sewers, the keeping of streets and waterways free from befoulment, the schooling of minors in a manner useful to trade, industry and commerce.
XVI. The defense of each and all colonies is laid within the capable hands of the Commander of the Light Brigade. With the prior approval of the Keeper of the Light, a colony may raise its own militia of any size under five-thousand men.

[PECULIARITIES]

XVII. The motto of the Lighthouse City State shall be Lux ad infinitum (Light Forevermore).
XVIII. The flag of the Lighthouse City State shall be that shown at Schedule II.
XIX. The motto of the Keeper of the Light is and shall remain Patronus ad Lux (Protector of the Light).
XX. The motto of the Light Brigade shall be Ad victoriam (To Victory).

[SCHEDULE I]


[SCHEDULE II]

[Josephus I]

Great work Lord Bourbon!

Out of interest do you still have any of the old posts containing information on the old LCS Security forces that we developed?

[Lord Hamilton]

I'm note sure to be honest. I re-posted most of the stuff from the old board here.

[Josephus I]

No problem.

Would you like me to put something together for the Light Brigade?

[Lord Hamilton]

Sure, that'd be very helpful!

[Josephus I]

Great.... I shall start cracking on then.

In terms of their formation would you prefer something like a formal regulated Military Force or something more of a Militia made up of the various groups that inhabit the LCS backed up by your personal followers?

[Lord Hamilton]

I've always imagined it as being very minimal on land and air forces, and heavy on naval assets. Land forces are almost exclusively a Marine unit, air force is limited to a few planes, mostly helicopters (can land on ships), and the largest component being a fleet of considerable weight; possibly one battleship, dreadnoughts, destroyers, cruisers, etc. Nothing as big as an aircraft carrier. The only unregulated part would be a number of contracted privateers.

[Josephus I]

No Problem.

I'm currently working my way through this and should have a 'indicative' ORBAT ready in the next couple of days.

In terms of the current ships that would be used by the Lighthouse Navy do you think these should be based on Antican designs (If there are any? Will have to check...)

[Lord Hamilton]

AFAIK, Antica didn't have any indigenous designs. Lighthouse would probably be more New Brittanic than anything else, but I don't know if they had any of their own ship types.

[Josephus I]

NB ships were mainly based on Royal Navy so shouldn't be too much of a problem.