Okay, so not being familiar with the real life historical Austrian precident, I won't be too far off by thinking of it as a confederation?  In terms of a "font of honour" for granting knighthoods or making someone a baron, that is still the perogative of each individual prince.  If they go to war, the council commissions someone to lead an army, and each principality "voluntarily" supplies troops, and a principality that doesn't do it's fair share might then be excluded from playing any more reindeer games?<br/><br/>I don't really have a specific idea in mind behind the question, just wanted to get a better feel for the setting.  On the other hand, it might be nice to have these little options to spice up the game.  Does Gilberto, because of his mother, hold some minor (or major) title in one of the Reikmarches?  Would this title place some sort of obligation on him to the ruler of that principality?  I know this sounds like it could complicate things tremendously, and I'm really not trying to do that.  I'm just sitting here with nothing else to do and am trying to brainstorm ideas that might provide opportunities (good and bad) for my character's future.<br/><br/>Anyway, don't mind me .. carry on, you two (and your characters, also, may<em>carry on</em>if they wish)   ;)