KaE Lore: Nobleman Education (Patreon)

A nobleman pursuing his education is a Page, a nobleman or noblewoman pursuing an education in warfare is a Squire.

FYI, from here on, what definitions I use will be intended for Kingdoms and Empires specifically. Do not quote me for historicity lmaooo

A Sponsor is the ranking nobleman that the pages operate under.

A Squire is an apprentice to a knight, that is, someone who is recognized as a warrior and will answer the call of the Archpriestess if she calls for a Crusade.

A Page is a nobleman who is expected to represent his house in the royal (or higher tier) court, while providing companionship to the leading nobleman, in many cases this means a duke, a duke's son, a king, and a prince. Basically, they're part of the sponsor's retinue. In practice though, they are attendants for an equal or higher ranked male peer of the father (or mother), and learn the basics of what it is to be a man from the sponsor.

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In Narethian society, a Page can only be a boy of noble blood. There are expectations placed upon them that requires this type of education to be metted out.

A Page and a Squire are not  the same thing. But, a Page may be a Squire!

In fact, noble boys are heavily encouraged to become squires and then knights.

What does this mean?

A Page is what a lady-in-waiting is, but for boys.

A girl cannot be a page. But she can be a squire.

More on that later.

A Page is to learn how to properly defend himself, how to behave as a nobleman, and how to play the game of courtly intrigue from their sponsor. They can also be a part of many things, including feasts, festivals, balls, and ceremonies expected of men. They must participate more with the community, and this may mean being used as a labor force to build roads, homes, or etc. The main responsibility of the sponsor is to make sure they're upstanding men of the faith and society.

This means practicing things such as penmanship, hawking, a musical pursuit (and mastery), and riding are all hobbies that are in line with what is expected of them in high society.

Remember that the upbringing of a Narethian nobleman, much like his female counterpart, is deeply rooted in the customs and expectations of aristocratic society, no matter it being in the Belthean Empire or the Kingdom of Argent. Thus, his education and training is focused on different areas that prepared him for a life centered around the household, family, and his social responsibility as a nobleman. Much of this, is to be certain he can run his domain effectively.

Though much of his education will be similar to that of a noblewoman, there will be a clear focus on being a warrior. This religious and social expectation will bear heavily on the nobleman, and is by far the main reason for the split in how boys and girls are raised, no matter how similar their educations may first appear to be.

Below, I will detail their education, and what roles they can play.

Education

• Languages: A Page is taught multiple languages, with a strong emphasis on High Belthean, the language of diplomacy and science throughout Narethian courts.

• Administration: The Page is expected to be an effective administrator, one who can collect taxes and run their land well.

• Martial Skills: Physical training in horseback riding, dueling, and the use of weapons is a critical aspect of a Page’s upbringing. This training prepares him for both leadership in battle and ceremonial roles in court. As a nobleman, he is expected to have a passable ability in martial matters.

• Honor and Chivalry: The ideals of chivalry instituted by St. Karvenir and St. Hytera, including bravery, piety, chastity, honor, and loyalty, are instilled from a young age. If the Page is also a Squire, then participation in tournaments and duels is often a part of his life.

• Courtly Manners: A Page is trained in the complex etiquette of court life, including how to behave in the presence of royalty and the peerage, how to engage in courtly conversation, and how to conduct himself in social gatherings.

• Dancing and Music: Mastery of dancing is essential. Music also plays a significant role, both in terms of appreciation and, in some cases, performance. A boy's skill with a musical instrument, his voice, or dance, is considered a proper way to court a noblewoman.

• Religious Upbringing: The Page’s religious education is deeply rooted in the expectation that Blessed men are to be able to defend the faith when called upon.

• Moral Education: Religious and moral teachings are intertwined, with a strong emphasis on chastity. Narethian men are held to a far more strict standard when it comes to chastity, as a loose man is believed capable of bringing about chaos and destruction to his house. A Page should have a guardian that ensures he doesn't hoe around.

• Management: From a young age, a Page is groomed to understand governance, diplomacy, and the administration of estates. This includes learning about the responsibilities of managing land, finances, and the people who live on his or wife's estates.

• Networking: Building relationships with other nobles, royalty, and influential figures is crucial. Social events are not just for pleasure but are opportunities to forge alliances and further secure their family’s position.

• Lineage and Heritage: Preserving and enhancing the family’s legacy is a lifelong responsibility.

• Marriage and Alliances: Marriages are often arranged to strengthen political and social ties. Understanding the importance of these alliances is a key part of a Page’s upbringing.

I seriously cannot wrack out more from my brain to include that could help paint the picture of what this is lmao

Why Would Parents Send Their Sons to Become Pages at other courts or households?

Parents send their sons to become Pages primarily to foster closer relations with the higher-ranked nobleman and his family. The Page becomes a literal representative of his family, known personally by the sponsor, who is usually sympathetic to his family’s interests. A close second reason is the potential for the Page to form friendships with the sons of other noble families, thereby establishing a network of peers who all know each other. On a more cynical note, this role can also be seen as a form of being a hostage, reassuring the higher-ranking family of the lower-ranking family’s loyalty.

Does It Ever End?

A Page is typically under the tutelage of his sponsor until he reaches 20 years of age. At this point, he may choose to stay with the sponsor as a "companion/friend" or return home. Their guardian will also no longer be needed, as the Page is now considered to have reached adulthood and is now a proper nobleman.

Reasons a Page May Want to Stay:

• The original purpose of his role remains valuable.

• By 20, he is more akin to a peer and genuine friend of the sponsor.

• As a senior nobleman, he can mentor younger Pages.

• Sponsors can help arrange marriages for their Pages (and companions), with the family's consent. The sponsor acts as a guarantor of the Page's respectability as a nobleman.

• A Page (now proper nobleman) is considered a member of the sponsor’s household. Harm to him is treated as harm to the sponsor himself.

• There are numerous benefits, such as respect, gifts, and access to court life, that make staying appealing.

Reasons a Page May Return Home Sooner than Expected:

• He might return home to fulfill his role as a husband.

• If he is the family's heir, his presence may be required at home.

• If he inherits rank and land, though he may choose to remain under the sponsor's protection, with the sponsor possibly becoming the Overseer of his lands and incomes, protecting him from ambitious or corrupt relatives.

• A scandal might force him to return home.

Confusing Aspects to Know:

•  A Page or Companion can be married and have children under specific circumstances. This occurs exclusively within the entourage of a king or equivalent, as no noble family would place a married and established nobleman under another peer’s authority, even if that peer were a duke. An Imperial Governor holds a rank equivalent to a king or queen, where this might also apply.

• A sponsor's entourage can be complicated as shit. There may be Pages, and there may be Squires. Thankfully, any girls in a nobleman's retinue serving alongside squires will also be a squire without question. But as all are of noble blood, it is easier and more acceptable to address them all as Lord (or Lady).

• Men who are simply friends with the sponsor are referred to as "Companions." This applies to male friends of Dukes and Kings, who are also called "Companions." These friends may be given official posts, such as Advisors, to formalize their roles.

Why Didn’t You Use Traditional or Historical Names?

I sincerely couldn't write Lords and Gentlemen of the Bedchamber without giggling.

Um, I think you changed what ladies-in-waiting were traditionally...?

Yes! Because it's fantasy -and my world- and I can do whatever the fu-

Joking lol, in actuality, the system made for Pages by me is just to help establish lore, society, and expectations of roles to be played by characters. Because of the Regency War in Argent, the kingdom has been without an established royal court for an entire generation. Worse, young women had no central queen or princess to form a ladies-in-waiting circle. Uriel's generation had a weird timespan where only the boys had the ability to create a social circle, and that was only through the page and squire system. The page system is just for boys, but the squire system allows for young girls who wish to pursue a military education to participate with her male peers as well, which is mostly how Uriel knows some noblewomen, and why most of them are more martially inclined.

For the last two generations, any ladies-in-waiting groups were far more regional and local, and even then, they were separated further by the Blessed and Unblessed political factions within the kingdom.

Thus, the kingdom has to sort of recreate the foundation for a centralized ladies-in-waiting organization or tradition again. This will all happen under Queen Adelina, who brings Belthean high society and fashion with her, and will be continued by a female MC and Julianna, our little sister!

Our father will create a new retinue of Pages and Companions for nobleman as well, which will be continued by a male MC, Aurelian, and Percivel!

Hope you all had a fun time reading this! For me it was incredibly fun to research and create!