Peerage Ranks in the Kingdom

Peerage titles of the Kingdom of Axylus in descending order of precedence with terms of address

King/Queen: your majesty. Status 10. Monarch with absolute authority. The consort of the monarch holds the corresponding title and social rank, but far less authority. In the Kingdom, only the king may serve as monarch.

Prince/Princess: your highness. Average status 8-9. Direct offspring of the monarch and other direct relatives. The king’s heir is referred to as the crown prince.

Duke/Duchess: your grace. Average status 8-9. A great lord and head of a mighty house, answerable only to the king himself.

Marquis/Marquess: your excellency. Average status 7-8. The second son or daughter of the previous duke, typically the younger sibling of the current duke. An important part of the great house, often a high commander of its military forces though this is by no means always the case.

Count/Countess: your excellency. Average status 7-8. A powerful lord. Though the houses they are the heads of are called lesser, this is misleading. The lands they oversee are home to between one and two hundred thousand souls. They answer to the duke who is their liege lord.

Viscount/viscountess: your excellency. Average status 5-7 Much as Marquis, but for the count.

Baron/baroness: my lord/lady. Average status 5-7. The head of a petty house, in service to a count. This is the least degree of lord that still has the right to administer judgement to those who live on his lands.

Baronet: Sir/ma’am. Average status 4-6 As marquis and viscount but for a Baron.

Knight: Syr. Average status 4 (though knights may hold other higher titles) Knighthood will merit its own extensive entry at a later time. Suffice to say however that it is a rank of nobility that cannot be inherited and must be earned. Nominally it is the lowest of titles bestowed, and certainly the most common, but one that carries much respect. Knights are often born noble but many have been raised from the commons.

Nobles without titles: by name. Usually with status 2 or three points below the head of house. A somewhat tricky catch all category, this refers to those of noble blood who have not inherited any lands or titles and who have not become knights. Though they may wield significant power and resources as members of a noble house, this is not guaranteed. Often the best they can hope for is to be married off to the scion of another house, or to pursue the life of a priest or scholar.