Kraliyet Hitap Protokolü

The king is “the most noble lord and mighty prince,” and the noble addressing him is his servant who owes him “humble, subservient, dutiful, and faithful service.” The king addresses the members of the nobility, like all other subjects, condescendingly as “most dear to Us.” While the nobles address the king in the plural, the king normally addresses them in the singular, the exceptions being men who are particularly prominent or close to him, who are addressed in the plural. Such men are also addressed in other formulas that make clear the king’s especial favor. On the other hand, when ordering his men, the king normally uses the term “ask,” although it is plainly implied that it is their duty to perform his “request.” Most probably, this means of address should be read as that of an exalted, gracious lord, so confident in the loyalty of his men that he finds it unnecessary to address them in the language of explicit orders.