Fealty: History and Application

The main model for our Power Exchange Relationship is the Special Forces model. It suits Us quite well on a number of levels. What it lacks from Our perspective is the personal touch and the explicit flow of duties in both directions. The slave swears to serve, but the Commander has duties to them as well. We addressed this by the notion of being The Prince’s Own, with the oath of service becoming an oath of fealty.

Our primary hobby is medieval re-enactment, which presented Us with a number of challenges in terms of title. Sir and Master are both in common use as titles. We joked about me being God Emperor of the Universe. We settled on a different science fiction reference and she calls Us “My Prince”, a Barsoomian usage. All of this makes fealty a natural development within Our model of Power Exchange.

Fealty has two parts. The offer is made by the subordinate and lays out the base of what they will provide to the superior. It has no mention of reciprocity but may have conditions, including things that would terminate the oath. The acceptance is an explicit acceptance of the submission and explains what the superior will do in exchange, usually some variation of listening, guiding and protecting. It may also include exit clauses.

My unit has several different templates for fealty oaths that can be customized to fit the individual involved while acknowledging the different scope and type of responsibilities of the different positions.

• Oath of Enlistment: Taken after the recruiting and application process. Marks the entry to the Prep course phase. The recruit swears loyalty, honesty, discretion and timely response. We accept and swear honesty, discretion, transparency, and timely response. It does not include sex or personal service, nor does it exclude them. They remain optional. Exit clause for both parties, no fault.
• Oath of Sincerity: Taken to mark the transition to Assessment and Selection. Candidate offers essentially full control of their life to Us, for the purpose of finding out if this is for them. We acknowledge the purpose of the submission and add that We will do nothing intended to be permanently injurious to them, specifically mentioning body, mind, spirit, finances, and social standing. Sex and personal service are included. Exit clause for both parties, no fault.
• Oath of Erudition: Taken to mark the acceptance in principal of the candidate and their entry into the Qualification Course. The oath is almost the same, but the goal is skills acquisition and integration to the unit. The exit clause remains, but We are unlikely to exercise it except in the case of extreme misbehavior or a serious life disturbance. We would not expect a candidate to exercise it except for similar reasons. We know that 23 SF members may leave to seek a closer relationship elsewhere and We hope they found their time with Us valuable and enjoyable.
• The Oath of Commitment: It marks graduation and full entry into the unit. 22 SF Members offer Us everything. We accept full responsibility for them and agree to use them wisely. 23 SF members offer Us everything, with the conditions we have worked out to match their degree of separation. We accept full responsibility for them with matching caveats. Exit clauses as above.
• The Oath of Service: This skips the entire training sequence. It is for someone who wants a specifically service arrangement but not the complexity or commitment of the full training and unit membership. This oath is unique for each case and lays out exactly the expectations and obligations of both parties.

References and research assignments:

Read the provided definition and some examples of fealty.
1a : the fidelity of a vassal or feudal tenant to his lord
b : the obligation of such fidelity The vassal vowed fealty to the king.
2 : intense fidelity the fealty of country music fans to their favorite stars— Nicholas Dawidoff
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fealty

10th century England
Form of fealty in the Laws of Alfred, Guthrum, and Edward the Elder, from Thatcher: The Library of Original Sources, Vol. IV: The Early Medieval World (online source)
Thus shall a man swear fealty oaths.
By the Lord, before whom this relic is holy, I will be to ____ faithful and true, and love all that he loves, and shun all that he shuns, according to God’s law, and according to the world’s principles, and never, by will nor by force, by word nor by work, do ought of what is loathful to him; on condition that he keep me as I am willing to deserve, and all that fulfil that our agreement was, when I to him submitted and chose his will.

7th century Antrusian
Acceptance of fealty, from Roziere: Collection de Formules, No. VIII, Vol. I (online source)
It is right that those who offer to us unbroken fidelity should be protected by our aid. And since such and such a faithful one of ours, by the favor of God, coming here in our palace with his arms, has seen fit to swear trust and fidelity to us in our hand, therefore we decree and command by the present precept that for the future such and such above mentioned be counted with the number of antrustions. And if anyone perchance should presume to kill him, let him know that he will be judged guilty of his wergild of 600 shillings.

This is one offer and an acceptance. Follow the link for more examples and note some of the things included and excluded.
http://www.dragonbear.com/fealty.html

Read the military oath of service and note the differences.
I, (state name of enlistee), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Armed_Forces_oath_of_enlistment