The Red Realm is ruled by a large noble class. As an aristocratic society, the nobility is extensive and organized, with standard titles and precedence.
Precedence of Titles
For state occasions and when meeting other nobles, there is a clearly defined precedence of titles. For example, all hereditary titles (the peerage) outrank all non-hereditary titles. Those with higher rank will be seated nearer to the Monarch at state dinners, for example.
In addition to prestige, the titles of the Red Realm grant the holder particular rights and responsibilities. Generally speaking, a titleholder answers to a noble with a title directly above theirs. The exception are March and Comte titles, which both answer to the Duke. Every noble is entitled to an audience with the noble above them, but must travel to their court. In the event of war, each noble is responsible for some levy of soldiers or for serving themselves.
Titles are listed in three forms: masculine/feminine/neutral
- Monarch of the Red Realm
- Prince/Princess/Prime
- Duke/Duchess
- Marquess/Marchioness/March †
- Count/Contessa/Comte
- Baron/Baroness/Baronet
- Sir/Dame/Sai (Knight of the Realm)*
- Sir/Dame/Sai (Knight of the Duchy)*
- Lord/Lady/Lory*
- Lord Esquire/Lady Esquire/Lory Esquire*
* Titles marked with an asterisk are not hereditary. These titles are granted by the crown in recognition of significant responsibilities or service, or as courtesy titles.
† As a title for military leaders, March is not technically hereditary. In practice it is almost always inherited.
Occasionally, a lower-ranking noble is granted greater precedence by royal proclamation. For example, the Royal Magician and High Arcanist possesses the title of Lory, but falls behind duke and above march.
History
Feudal Origins
Initially, all noble titles were associated with land grants. The monarch of the Red Realm assigned stewardship of tracts of land (fiefs) to a select few, who (with consent of the monarch) issued portions of that land to those below them, and so on. These landowners granted the peasantry protection and labor rights for the land, in exchange for the fruits of their labors and loyalty in conflict. As sovereign owner of all land in the realm, the monarch could strip any subject's land and title, but the majority of these titles were hereditary by default. In fact, they were often explicitly hereditary for as long as the holder swore fealty to the monarch.
A Tool Beyond Land Grants
The monarchy saw this as a useful tool in the allocation of power in the realm, and over time began to use titles to confer responsibilities or honors without associated land. Today, the majority of noble titles are not landed. Many important royal offices confer a noble title on appointment. For example, today the Chamberlain for the royal family is granted the title of Lory.
Knighthood's Privileges
While knighthood is not hereditary, it does confer courtesy titles on immediate family members. The knight's spouse(s) and their children receive lory titles. Further generations do not inherit nobility, so it is common for the children of knights to aspire to knighthood or other offices themselves. In absence of this, they make an eligible pool for marriage into noble families.
Heredity Reforms
Originally, titles were inherited by the holder's eldest male heir. Only when there was no male heir did other heirs become eligible. During the reign of King Galvyn IX the Reformer, the king issued a proclamation removing gender from consideration in succession. Since then, titles have passed to the eldest child, regardless of gender.
Elimination of Archbishop
Until 1500 GS, the Archbishop and High Cleric of
Redacre was a position held by the senior-most priest in the capital, as chosen by the clergy. This cleric's precedence fell just after any Primes. However, with the murder of Bishop Elias Loederr in the religious purge under
Galvyn XII and
Archmage Otto, state recognized religion was abolished. Under the concordance, the Council of Peers determined that the meddling of godly folk was at the root of their catastrophe, and chose not to re-establish the position.
Under the Council of Peers
With the throne vacant, the
Council of Peers agreed that issuing noble titles was a responsibility to be shared among them, rather than granted to the
Archduke Regent.
Under this arrangement, duchy holders are permitted to issue lesser titles (Baron or lower) at their discretion. Higher ranking titles are granted by 2/3 vote of the council. Knighthood granted by a duke is styled "knight of the duchy", and ranks below "knight of the realm" in precedence order.
Marches and Comtes are entitled to issue lory titles with approval of their duke, though these lesser lords are known as lords esquire, and rank lowest in precedence.
