The Duke and Duchess de Cavalier

In my Region 12 there are several high society Houses that I never told anyone about previously. There's no King and Queen, but a Duke and Duchess in a castle is not bad, either!

Up there on old Hound's Head rises the Chateau Cavalier.

(Y220) House of Duke de Cavalier is currently the most prominent family of my entire game. They reside the large Chateau Cavalier located on the height previously called Hound's Head, Brindleton Bay's largest lot with a great view to the lighthouse. In addition they own two smaller lots (Dachshund's Creek and Hindquarter Hideaway). They have a Butler as well as a live-in Cook, occasionally also a live-in Governess.

Over the years they developed the most spectacular castle garden terraces and those few days when the garden is open to public visitors, it attracts garden enthusiasts and tourists from far and near. The bone shaped castle spans 2 full floors and has the rare 4-split tower. I will post more about both castle and garden later!

This family plays a very important role in Brindleton Bay's history, but it's actually not that many generations since they first settled here.


1. Clauss Nicolai Ross of Rossie (Y58-146) & Agnéz Brienda (von Klasse) (Y63-147)

They both hailed from the Rossie district of Region 11, pretty close to my focused Region 12. Clauss Nicolai was son of Benedict Demitris Ross, Duke of Rossie.

With 2 older brothers (Clemet Augustin and Sophus George) Clauss Nicolai had practically no chance of ever getting first in line to anything from his father, Duke Benedict. This made Clauss Nicolai focus the more on his Military career. Aged 40 (Y98) he was rewarded the entire Cavalier Cove landscape by the King of Mazaloom, a result of heroic efforts during several war battles. He now was introduced with the new peerage, and given the peerage Brindleton Dukedom and this way he became the Duke de Cavalier. He married Lady Agnéz Brienda von Klasse and moved to Brindleton Bay to benefit from his new land. The area was still untouched, except from a small long abandoned convent on a height, and a small fishermen hut down by the shore. The convent was replaced with today's Chateau Cavalier, while Clauss Nicolai Ross himself kept leading a successful Military career.

Clauss Nicolai and Agnéz Brienda had 3 sons, but two were killed in battles and only the youngest, Lord Leophold Demitris de Cavalier, lived long enough to inherit the peerage and found a family.


2. Leophold Demitris de Cavalier (Y102-184) & Mera (Deepdop) (Y106-162)

Leophold Demitris obtained the Duke title aged 29 (Y131). Like his father, he showed braveness and skills at war. He was not a traditional Military, but a Captain on a big ship.

Duke Leophold Demitris de Cavalier was the first locally born Duke.

Leophold Demitris and Duchess Mera had 2 children: Aquess Benedict (Y146) and Arléna Marina (Y148, married into Brindleton Bay's other noble family; de Sür-Blyth).

Several myths spin around this family. Elders of Brindleton Bay are quite sure that Duchess Mera was of mermaid origin, and that she died early (only 56 years) due to dehydration. They said that the young Lord Leophold had spent days and nights out at the Light House, because he once saw a mermaid that he could never forget. At the time of their marriage, a pool was built in the castle garden, but the Duchess shortly got disabled and could no longer make use of it. This story could also explain why their daughter, Arléna Marina, Lady de Sür-Blyth, who once was a great swimmer, died at 51 after spending 13 years in a wheelchair because of trouble walking after giving birth to her only daughter, the current Lady de Sür-Blyth. Are the women of this family cursed? Or, are they cursed only after giving birth to a girl? And the ring that the reigning Duke often wears - how come it is turquoise and golden, while purple is this family's heraldic main color?


3. Aquess Benedict Ross, Duke de Cavalier (Y146- ) & Claudine Beatrix (of Lunderclam) (150- )

Aquess Benedict, Baron de Cavalier, inherited the peerage aged 29 (Y175), and is still the reigning Duke de Cavalier. He is now retired from a successful Military career, and has taken up writing. His main hobbies are literature and nectar.

He married Lady Claudine Beatrix Roxenfox, oldest daughter of Baron Lunderclam, a small landscape on Sim City's outskirts. Duchess Claudine Beatrix spends most of her time on charity, gardening and raising the 3 children who are currently all teenagers.

Duke Aquess Benedict de Cavalier's family of 5 - currently residing Chateau Cavalier.

Duke Aquess Benedict and Duchess Claudine Beatrix had 3 children: Baron Charlopold Demitris (Y191), Lady Merielle (Y193), and Lord Leon Demitris (Y195). Baron Charlopold will grow up in Year 220, it's decided that he will become the next Duke, but not what year he will take over. The norm is that a Duke can not retire, but due to his poor health an exception might be admitted. Duke and Duchess are both elderly by now.

The titles Duke and Duchess de Cavalier connect to the Cavalier peerage, and according to its letter of patent, these high nobility titles can only be used while staying at Chateau Cavalier. The oldest son will be first in line to inherit the peerage, when the old Duke dies. The Duke carries a spectacular turquoise and golden ring that is handed over to the next Duke during a formal ceremony taking place in the castle's purple room.

This House follows the normal naming practice, but has additional traditions when it comes to naming children. All sons get a 2nd first name, that is either Benedict or Demitris (in the memory of Duke Benedict Demitris of Rossie). The same name is given to all sons of a generation, and will then skip one generation. Daughters don't get an extra name, and will become head of the house only if she has no actual brother, but she can not inherit the dukedom.

The Duke's sons are titled Baron (oldest) or Lord, and daughters are titled Lady. These are courtesy titles added to their name at birth and will only change if obtaining a higher grade later in life. The oldest Lady of the house resides the 4-split castle tower. She will normally move up there on her Young Adult birthday, unless it's already occupied. She will stay there until she marries, normally assisting the House. Locals still say that as long as there is light at night in the Lady Tower, there's hope for their unmarried sons.

This is just a tiny excerpt of the lovely chateau gardens.

Dukes have regular careers, such as Business, Politics or Military. From old days the Duke lead big military battles, but those days are long gone. They used to have plenty of money, but today they don't necessarily make it to the region's "top 5 wealth list". Still, when it comes to finding high society spouses, a title combined with a top social status rank, still trumps money with ease.

The members of the House de Cavalier are of course famous in the entire region. Fame level is according to title, regardless of being the peer of just a courtesy title:
Duke/Duchess: 3 stars. Baron/Baroness: 2 stars. Lord/Lady: 1.

Their fame level is frozen while they reside the castle, but will decay as soon as they no longer resides the main seat of the House connecting to the title.