[Artemisia] Royal 'We' and Collective 'we'

[Sean Oppenheimer]

Greetings Artemisia

 

There have been several instances recently where directions in matters pertaining to our upcoming reign have been attributed to ‘His Highness Sean’.  In an effort to dispel any unintended errant myths, and with the deepest respects for my lady, Her Royal Highness Nisa, I wish to point out that Her Highness is intimately involved in all of the matters of the Crown.  
 
In consideration of this minor correction in etiquette, I would like to share some brief thoughts on the difference between ‘Royal We’ and ‘Collective we’.
 
In the SCA, many Crowns use what is called the Royal We.  This is seen mostly in writing where ‘We’, ‘Us’, ‘Our’ etc are capitalized.  This is also seen where either the Sovereign or Consort are present without the other and referring to themselves as ‘We’.
 
The Royal We is lifted largely from period practice.  In the Middle Ages the Royal We was understood to include the King and God, as Royal birth and lineage was thought to be divinely inspired.  For my purposes, I have always considered that the Royal We means the King or Queen and their Crown.  For me, the Crown is the embodiment of the people of Artemisia.  Those people have entrusted me (by their sworn fealty and by the fact the Artemisia treats their Crowns ridiculously well) with the well-being of the Kingdom.  As cliché as it may seem at times ‘You rule because they believe’ is very much on my mind when I wear the Crown of Artemisia.
 
The Royal We is only used by the Sovereign and Consort of a Royal throne.  This includes Kingdom and Principality monarchs.  The Royal We is not appropriate for the Baronial thrones as the Baronies are in fealty to the Crown.  As such, the ‘We’ pronoun variants at the Baronial level are not capitalized.  And when there is a single territorial Baron or Baroness, scrolls and writings will include the individual pronoun references.
 
As Crown Prince and Princess, Nisa and I have not yet been entrusted with the Crowns of Artemisia.  As such, we are not entitled to the use of the Royal We.  All of our correspondence is meant to portray a Collective We as in ‘Sean and Nisa’. 
 
This is not meant to been a stern judgment upon those who are so diligently working on behalf of ourselves and the Kingdom.  There have been many instances in which Her Highness Nisa seems to have been neglected in the decisions of our reign.  While you are more likely to receive such direction from me, I wish to make it very clear that she is an essential part of our reign.  
 
I offer this all for your consideration and in the interest of educating the populace.
 
Sean
Princeps Gryphus
 
 
 

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