SC - Re: sca-cooks V1 #1894-Mundane Nobles

[Kay Loidolt]

> Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 11:24:51 -0600
> From: "Michael F. Gunter" <michael.gunter at fnc.fujitsu.com>
> Subject: Re: SC - just a question

 has there ever been, either as a member of the SCA or as a guest, 
someone with a mundane title playing with us? wajdi

Johann von Metten/Marcus Loidolt humblely responds:

 Ah, well, ah, um, yes, there are mundanely titled people living among 
you. Until this past year I was titled 'Baron von Gussen'. There are 
others I know of, at least 8 knights, English and French, 2 German 
Princes and an Italian Count. Oh, yes, and an English/Scots Laird, 
though I can't remember his name right now. (Though I suppose as English 
he scarcely really counts as noble does he?!?) 

 The title was given to me when I inherited it from my great uncle on my 
fathers side.It was established in 1140 by the Emperor to sustain those 
members of the Hapsburgs who entered into the secular clergy, thus it is 
passed down to the next ranking clergyman in the family and then the 
state of Liechtenstein. 
 I resigned the title in favor of my cousin because I was becoming a US
citizen and no longer felt 'called' to fulfill the office. Besides, 
after 1998 the Diet and Prince had 'relieved' the Baron of land and 
judicial power and had made it merely an honor on the highest ranking 
clergyman in the Principality,regardless of family. 

 Several year ago, when I was still titled, I took my great-aunt, Maria 
Terese, Grafin von Schellenburg, to a Drachenwald Coronet Tourney, in 
Cleves,(Ivarr was Prince) I think, and she enjoyed herself immensely!! 
Though she never really 'joined' on her own, she did pay for a 
membership and all. She never did develope a persona, but retained her 
mundane title and simply 'dressed up in period clothes' she even made 
her retainers (secretary, page, ladies maid, and chaffeur) dress up in 
antique livery!! I think we went to 5 events before she became too ill 
and died a while back. She remembered those times happily! 

Johann von Metten/ (of late, Baron Ritter) Marcus Johannes Karl Franz
Josef Loidolt,(von Leichtenstien, von Gussen XVII)