Makkal Charter
The Makkal Charter (Eastern Kpondi: Sebina Makkal) was the constitution of the Dauru Empire and following the Lagonan annexation, the Giskirate of Dauru. It was written by an assembly of nobles and freeborn merchants alongside the first Mansa of Dauru, NAME, to create a system of government for the new empire, outlining how the empire would operate, more strictly defining the laws of trade first established in the great pre-imperial market assemblies, and establishing the laws by which the Dauruan people would live. It is one of the oldest documents of its kind in Lagona, predating the founding of the Lagonan Empire by nearly 300 years.
Contents
Article 1 – On the Authority of the Giskir
The Giskir stands as chief among chiefs, guardian of the land and arbiter of disputes. His authority derives from lineage and recognition, and is exercised for the preservation of order and prosperity.
Article 2 – On the Rights of Subordinate Rulers
Each chief retains authority within his domain, provided that tribute is rendered and obligations fulfilled. No chief may act in a manner that endangers the peace of the wider realm.
Article 3 – On the Assembly of the Siyara
The Siyara shall convene at appointed times and in times of crisis. Its members shall deliberate upon matters of law, tribute, and governance, and its counsel shall be heard by the Giskir in all affairs of consequence.
Article 4 – On the Sanctity of Agreements
All contracts sworn before witnesses shall be binding. The breaking of an oath is an offense not only against those wronged, but against the order of the realm itself.
Article 5 – On the Protection of Merchants
Merchants traveling under recognized authority shall be granted safe passage. Their goods shall not be seized, and disputes concerning trade shall be judged according to established custom.
Article 6 – On the Regulation of Trade
All exchange shall be conducted according to measures recognized by the Charter. Weights, values, and obligations shall be observed consistently across the realm.
Article 7 – On Foreigners and Guests
Those who enter the realm in peace shall be received as guests and treated with fairness. Their persons and goods shall be protected under the law, provided they respect the customs of the land.
Article 8 – On Tribute and Obligation
Subordinate rulers shall render tribute in goods, labor, or coin as required. Tribute sustains the order of the realm and binds its parts together.
Article 9 – On the Order of Society
The divisions of society shall be maintained according to custom. Each caste shall fulfill its duties, and no man shall abandon the obligations of his station without cause recognized by law.
Article 10 – On the Freeborn
The Horonma shall govern, trade, and hold land. They bear responsibility for the welfare of those beneath them and for the maintenance of order.
Article 11 – On the Craftsmen
The Nyamaka shall practice their crafts according to tradition. Their skills are necessary to the prosperity of the realm, and they shall be protected in their work.
Article 12 – On the Keepers of Memory
The Jeli shall preserve lineage, law, and reputation. Their words shall carry weight in matters of record and dispute.
Article 13 – On the Enslaved
The Kombari, taken in war or tribute, shall serve as labor within the realm. Do not ill treat the Kombari. We are the master of the slave but not the bag he carries.
Article 14 – On the Conduct of War
War shall be waged only under recognized authority. The seizure of captives, goods, and land shall be governed by established practice.
Article 15 – On the Treatment of Captives
Those taken in war may be incorporated into the realm as laborers or dependents. Their treatment shall reflect the needs of the Giskir and the customs of the people.
Article 16 – On the Settlement of Disputes
Disputes between individuals, lineages, or polities shall be brought before recognized authorities. Judgment shall be rendered according to the Charter and the customs it preserves.
Article 17 – On the Stewardship of Land
Land shall be held and cultivated under the authority of the Giskir and his subordinate rulers. Its use shall serve the prosperity of the realm.
Article 18 – On the Instruction of Children
Children shall be raised within the customs of their people and instructed in the duties of their station. The knowledge of lineage, law, and craft shall pass from elder to youth, so that no generation stands ignorant of what it inherits.
Article 19 – On Lineage and Inheritance
Lineage shall be reckoned through the father, and inheritance shall pass accordingly. Lands, goods, and obligations shall descend from father to son, or to the nearest male of the line, so that continuity is preserved.
Article 20 – On the Continuity of the Realm
The Charter shall endure as the foundation of law. Its articles may be interpreted in accordance with changing circumstances, but its principles shall remain binding upon all.