The Grand Tribunal of 1195

Boundaries of Tribunals

The grand tribunal ruled that the Theban Tribunal had legitimate claims on vis rights on the island of Cyprus. As such, the new covenant located there, the Eastern Breath, will be retained under the borders of the Theban Tribunal.

This decision came as a shock to some Hermetics, as it followed on hard politicking and the surprise showing of force by dissidents within the Levant Tribunal who did not want another crusader covenant within their borders. The impact of this Latin covenant on the delicately balanced politics of the Theban Tribunal remains to be seen.

Enemies of the Order

The grand tribunal ruled that Loch Leglean Tribunal's declaration in A.A. 1333 (1194 AD), that the Hospitallers were enemies of the Order, was too broad and overreaching. The declaration was amended such that only those Hospitallers from Torphichen Priory need be held as enemies by other magi.

Rights of House Mercere
The grand tribunal ruled that the Provencal Tribunal had overlooked evidence in rendering judgment on Bellaquin Covenant. In light of all of the facts, they were guilty of interfering with the duties of a Redcap. Bellaquin was ordered to pay 70 pawns of vis to House Mercere.

Tribunal Rules
Avarret, Primus of House Bonisagus, proposed that tribunals only conduct their meetings in Latin, and not in local mundane languages. The grand tribunal criticized Loch Leglean Tribunal for often conducting its business in Gaelic, but refused to coerce tribunals into using Latin only. (Note that members of House Guernicus must use Latin to conduct official business.)

The Theban Tribunal gained the support of Loch Leglean representatives by their effective rhetoric against this position. Of interest to many was the way they managed to avoid being condemned by Avarret’s statements.

Sponsorship of New Covenants

The grand tribunal ruled that patronage of a new covenant on the boundary of a Tribunal does not automatically place the new covenant in the tribunal of the patron.

The effect of Tribunal boundaries

The grand tribunal ruled that the Levant Tribunal has no right to restrict covenants from other Tribunals from all activity within the bounds of their Tribunal (as fixed at the previous Grand Tribunal).

This ruling brought together a wide consortium of magi, especially of House Jerbiton.