Barony of Crest extinct by mistake?

(Year 226) Crest is the old name for today's Newcrest. The northern hood was the original center, often referred to as Old Crest, and the Barony of Crest was created by King Rupert of Mazaloom to protect the land from invasion by war enemy, as late as in year 50. This lead to the expansion of the hoods Crestville and Rivercrest. The Baron of Crest resided at Crest Hall in Old Crest, and unlike most high nobility peerages of the time, this peer was encouraged to focus on Business rather than Military.

Old-Duchess Claudine de Cavalier still resides with her husband, the Old-Duke, at Chateau Cavalier.

The person currently digging into the Crest history, is Duchess Claudine Beatrix (Roxenfox) de Cavalier, or should we say Old-Duchess as her new formal title says now that her oldest son inherited the dukedom. Those peerages are normally not inherited until the peer dies, but the Royal Chamber approved this early switch. These days she prepares leaving Chateau Cavalier.

- I may not be a local by blood, but Newcrest always felt like a dear flower to me, as it was my ancestors, the House of Roxenfox, who got the Crest barony back in year 50. The first Baron of Crest, Clozal Roxenfox, was my father's grand uncle. My family held the Lunderclam Barony in Sim City from year 10. My father Bendel Charloman Roxenfox was the last Baron Lunderclam, as he had only 3 daughters and not even a brother or nephew to replace him. I was 12 when he died rather young, and I remember very well how sad he was when realizing that his peerage was forever lost. Just like Crest, Lunderclam was available to male heirs, only. The many rules regarding nobility heritage is probably more important than most people think. These days only low nobility titles accept a successor of either gender, I think. I became Head of House of Roxenfox before I was a teen, so for a few years my mother was the true head and my helper. When I married into House de Cavalier, my sister Gloria handled House of Roxenfox, and when she married into House of Saxor, the leadership was passed on to a distant branch o the Roxenfox family.

Here in the chateau's Grand Hall. She will shortly retire to family's private property, Hindequarter Manor.

Claudine and her sisters left Sim City and all three married well. She married Duke de Cavalier and got to live in a much bigger castle than the Sim City manor where she grew up. Her sister Gloria married to Duke Meadows, San Myshuno. The third sister, Anthebe, married Ericco Rab-Saxor, Lord Lykke in Windenburg, but she died many years ago.

- What upsets me the most about Crest is that the Roxenfoxes were not treated according to heritage law! They were dismissed before the revolution, meaning the Royal Chamber was still around. They were seen as the experts, but it's hardly a shock suggesting that politics played a big role, in this matter. Maybe the House of Panter, who was chosen to continue the Crest peerage, had a more powerful network? Things like that, you know.

I don't think it will be possible to research how it could happen, but I've now decided to pay a visit to the archives. I've read that the reason for Hector Roxenfox being dismissed was his age, as he was only 4 when his father died. But how could they stop him from getting his late father's peerage just like that? Law says, for high nobility at least, that as long as an heir is between birth and death at the time a peer dies, it's all fine! Back then a peerage could even be set on pause for up to 25 years while waiting for the heir to grow up, allowing for a newborn heir, even! Investiture could happen no earlier then age 25 (today 20), and while Hector Roxenfox was a child, there must have been relatives who could reign the barony in his name. I think there must have been other reasons why poor Hector lost it all, and I intend to find out!

The old painting of the very first Baron Crest is still decorating the hallway at Roxenfox Manor.

It's only 38 years since the Crest Barony went extinct, but then it had already been dormant for 25 years. It's much longer since Hector Roxenfox was dismissed, though - all back to year 82 (that's 142 years ago). Then the House of Panter had the peerage only until year 156, before House von Donnersmalt had it for only 4 years. How could this case not be too old?

- The Panters and the Donnersmalts both lacked heirs, but my point is that the Roxenfoxes actually had a male heir, 21 years from taking his rightful position! Besides, the population of Newcrest still celebrates the annual Roxenfox Memorial day. Reinstating the Crest peerage with a Roxenfox peer would simply add greatly to the local culture.

Crest Hall in Old Crest was turned into a community service house long ago and will no longer be available to the peerage. Has the Duchess reflected on that?

- Excuse me! *shrug* Nobility is no longer about living in castles, you know. Look to San Myshuno, both Duke Meadows and Baron Myshuno reside apartments despite being among the wealthiest peerages of the kingdom... so be they are exclusive penthouses, but still no traditional castles. Many peers reside quite ordinary homes, with just a little extra space for meetings and historical heirlooms etc. A full size town hall is not needed, though.

If Old-Duchess Claudine succeeds waking up the expired Crest peerage, finding a new Baron might get even tougher. Are there any descendants from the House of Roxenfox?

- There is one old man, Hector's grandson, actually. He has no son, but I'm sure there will be found a legit heir, eventually. My youngest son, Lord Leon, could also be a candidate - I'm not saying that he will be interested, after all his focus is unfortunately not on aristocracy, but I'm sure there are quite a few persons like him out there who gladly would switch to their mother's maiden name if they were offered to become the next Baron of Crest!