The Council of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia
by Don
Jean-Michel Parasiliti di Para, Duke of San Pedro de Hueyusco
From The Steel Crown No. 8 -- Copyright 1998 NAARS
On November 17, 1860, His
Majesty King Orelie-Antoine I promulgated the Constitution of the Kingdom of
Araucania and Patagonia.
This Constitution was
extended to Patagonia after its union with Araucania on November 20, 1860, as a
result of the favorable response of the Tehuelche Indians to Orelie-Antoine's
proposal of a new state.
Title V of the 1860
Constitution details the composition, function and spheres of activity of the
Council of the Kingdom. Following are those Articles of Title V which regulate
the Council of the Kingdom.
Article 16. "The
Council of the Kingdom will be composed of citizens chosen by the King. The
number of its members will be proportional to the burdens of its duties."
Article 17. "The
Councilors of the Kingdom are named for life, but they may be discharged by the
King for crimes, attempts and plots against the internal and external security
of the State or the person of the King and members of his family, and for all
infamous acts."
Article 18. "The
President and Vice President of the Council are named by the King and chosen
from among the Councilors who have served at least one year."
Article 19. "The King
convokes the Council of the Kingdom and can extend its sessions. He establishes
by ordinance the length of its sessions."
Article 20. "The
meetings of the Council of the Kingdom are open to the public and the press can
report on the meetings. In cases of inaccurate reporting, however, the
President of the Council or the Prefect may request corrections based on the
report given by the official journal,1 subject to the penalties stipulated in
the law on the press."
Article 21. "The
Council of the Kingdom is the guardian of the fundamental pact and public
liberties. All laws must be submitted to it before promulgation."
Article 22. "The
Council of the Kingdom will oppose the promulgation of any law 1) which would
attack the constitution, religion, morality, freedom of worship, individual
liberty, equality before the law, and the inviolability of property; and 2)
those which would compromise the integrity of the territory."
Article 23. "The
Council of the Kingdom rules by a decision approved by the King in 1)
situations not foreseen by the Constitution and necessary for its development;
and 2) situations where the meaning of the Articles of the Constitution admit
of different interpretations."
Article 24. "The
Council of the Kingdom can propose bills, but before all deliberation, the
bills must be transmitted to the Council of State, in conformity with Article
30."
Article 25. "The
Council of the Kingdom may propose modifications to the Constitution. When
these proposals are accepted by the Council of State, the proposal is
implemented by a royal ordinance."
As a constitutional
monarchy with a Council of the Kingdom and other bodies of the State (Council
of State and Legislature), the new Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia had all
the attributes of a powerful, modern and well-structure democracy.
The bicameral system
established by the 1860 Constitution guarantees the optimal functioning of
State institutions. The role of the Council of the Kingdom is similar to the
French Senat or the British House of Lords.
Reign of Achille I
During the reign of King
Achille I, the Council of the Kingdom was called the "Privy Council."
The functions of the Council of State were also performed by the Privy Council.
The Honorary President of
the Privy Council was Baron Anatole Arthur Textor de Ravisi. The President was
Dr. Antoine Cros, Duke of Niacalel, who would later be King Antoine II. Eugene
Mahon de Monaghan, among others, was a member of the Council.
Reign of Antoine II
During the extremely brief
reign of King Antoine II, the Council of the Kingdom changed its name again to
the "Council of the Royal Orders." The President of this Council was
Georges Senechal de la Grange, the Vice President was Count Gaston Dugnelle de
Montnoir, and the Secretary was Baron Henri de Gaugler. Members included Count
Alphonse O'Kelly de Galway, Baron Louis Girardot and others.
After the death of King
Antoine II, the Council of the Kingdom fell into disuse for three-quarters of a
century.
The Reconstituted
Council
In 1978 H.R.H. Prince
Philippe of Araucania reconstituted the Council of the Kingdom. The Council
resumed its important work and permanence and has not flagged in its efforts
since.
The Council was
reconstituted to promulgate an amendment to the Constitution -- the first and
only amendment to the Constitution established by King Orelie-Antoine in 1860. The
amendment was drafted to definitively establish the conditions of a
non-hereditary succession to the throne and to regulate a possible regency --
two situations the Constitution did not foresee.
Prince Philippe named Chev.
Roland Vergnaud, Count of Catiray as the President of the reconstituted
Council. The Prince named Baron Raoul de Lavalette, Prior in France of the
Royal and Noble Order of the Star of the South, as the Council's Vice
President. The other members of the Council named by Prince Philippe were: Chev.
Pierre Castang, Count of Queilen-Cura, Mr. Diego Reyes Silva, Count of Ocisto,
Chev. Paul de Montaignac de Pessotte de Bressoles, and Chev. Jacques
Savin d'Orfond.
The inaugural meeting of the reconstituted Council of the Kingdom was held
at La Cheze, the boyhood home of King Orelie-Antoine I, on September 17,. 1978,
the 100th anniversary of the death of the first King of Araucania and
Patagonia. After an introductory statement by President Vergnaud, the
Counselors of the Kingdom donned the insignia of their offices and ranks, such
as are defined by article 2 of Ordinance No. 118-78, given by Prince Philippe
on June 6, 1978. These insignia consisted of a sash composed of the colors of
the Araucanian flag -- green, white, and turquoise blue -- with a gold tassel
at the end. The oaths of office were administered, in conformity with Article
65 of the Constitution. Then, the following document was signed by each
Councilor:
"I swear obedience to the Constitution and fidelity to the King and
promise to fulfill my duties with dignity and probity."
These signed oaths were received by the President of the Council of the
Kingdom. Prince Philippe, himself, administered the oath to the President of
the Council.
The proposed amendment was read. After deliberations, various modifications
were made to the proposed amendment upon the request of Prince Philippe.
The Council of the Kingdom then approved the minutes of its discussion of
the amendment and these were transmitted on the same day to the Council of State.
The Council of the Kingdom reconvened for further deliberation and concluded
their work with this statement:
Chev. Roland Vergnaud, Count of Catiray, President of the Council of the
Kingdom, has received the deliberations of the Council of State, in conformity
with Article 30 of the Constitution. The Council of State has informed the
Council of the Kingdom that it has declared satisfactory and transmitted the
amendment and minutes to Prince Philippe who, by the terms of Article 25 of the
Constitution is invited to rule on the subject of this amendment by a royal
ordinance.
Made at La Cheze, Commune of Chourgnac d'Ans, Dordogne, France, September
17, 1978 at 5:30 p.m.
The same day, the Prince issued an ordinance2 fixing definitively the rules
of the succession to the throne of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia.
The role of the Council of the Kingdom as defined in this amendment to the
constitution is very important. In what follows, we cite the sections of the
amendment which discuss the Council of the Kingdom.
Article I of Title I, The Succession to the Throne, stipulate that "the
heir to the throne is designed by the legitimate and legal Head of the Royal
House of Araucania and Patagonia. This designation is sovereign. This
designation is done by means of an act, open or secret, made known to the Guard
of the President of the Council of the Kingdom and to the Vice President of the
Council of State. The designation is written in two original examples."
Article 6 requires that an oath be pronounced by the natural or designated
successor at his or her accession before the President of the Council of the
Kingdom. Once this oath is pronounced, the heir immediately becomes the
sovereign of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia.
Article 9 of Title 2, The Regency, states that "if the late sovereign
did not establish a Council of Regency before his death, the spouse -- if there
is one -- of the sovereign becomes the Regent and the President of the Council
of Regency. In default, the President of the Council of the Kingdom becomes the
Regent."
Article 10 says: "In the first case foreseen in Article 9 of this
amendment, that is to say, if the sovereign dies without naming the members of
the Council of Regency before his death, and his spouse succeeds him as Regent,
the President of the Council of the Kingdom and the Vice President of the
Council of State are the two Regent Councilors foreseen in Article 8 of this
amendment."
Article 14 says that: "The Council of the Regency can nominate only to
vacated positions and can replace its numbers only following their death or
dismissal by agreement of the absolute majority of the members, with the
express accord of the majority of the members of the Council of the Kingdom and
the Council of the State."
And Article 16 says that "This amendment to the Constitution of 1860
becomes an integral part of the Constitution. The Council of the Kingdom is
charged with watching over its application, and is its guarantor, along with
the Ministry of State."
Thus, at the end of the 20th century, the Council of the Kingdom remains one
of the fundamental bodies of the Araucanian monarchy and watches over the
durability of the crown at the dawn of the 21st century.
After the death in 1995 of Chev. Roland Vergnaud, Marquis of Maipu and Count
of Catiray, Prince Philippe named me as President of the Council by Royal
Ordinance 160-97.
The current composition of the Council of the Kingdom is:
President -- His Excellence Don Jean-Michel Parasiliti di Para, Duke of San
Pedro de Hueyusco.
Vice President -- His Excellence Baron Raoul de Lavalette de Saint Genies,
Duke of Bora. Members: Miss Auguette Drutinus de Montaigne, Chev. Paul de
Montaignac de Pessotte de Bressoles, Mr. Pascal Beer Demander, Mr. Oliver Levy.
In the process of nomination are Commandant Robert Juteau and Mr. Jean-Marie
Levrier.
1 This "ordinance" is the Acte Additionnel a la Constitution du
Royaume d'Araucanie-Patagonia of September 17, 1978. This Acte Additionnel is
actually longer than the Constitution of 1860. While the Constitution has 66
Articles divided into nine Titles, the Acte Additionnel has only 16 Articles
divided into two Titles, plus a preamble. The Articles of the Acte Additionnel,
however, are generally longer than Acts of the Constitution.
Editor's Note: In the European Biographical Directory (1997) we learn
that the President of the Council of the Kingdom was born in Aix-en-Provence on
March 26, 1942 to Andre Basile Desire Sauveur and Micheline Baraud. He received
his first and second university degrees [bachelor and master in the US system]
in applied social and human sciences. He received an advanced diploma in social
work and then completed his education with a doctorate degree in the history of
civilizations from the University of Aix-Marseille.
He began his career in 1969 as a teacher of handicapped children. In 1974
he became chief of educational services; in 1978 director of establishment, and
in 1984 general director. The Duke retired in 1997.
In 1992, the baron married Sheila-Rani Baichoo. He has two children,
Florian and Aurelien.
He is Baron of Capri Leone and Castell Umberto. He is a knight of the
Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus of Savoy, the Constantian Order of St.
George of Two Sicilies. He has received several French national honors,
including the National Order of Merit and the Academic Palms.
Prince Philippe granted him the title Baron of San Pedro de Hueyusco on
the occasion of the birth of his son, Florian, which coincided with the 133
anniversary of the founding of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia. The Title of Duke
was granted to him by Prince Philippe on August 25, 2007
North American Araucanian Royalist Society