Ruling Titles
King: Ruler of a country, all of it's lands, territories, and holdings. The King is supported by the Barons, who are in turn supported by the Lords and Knights within his or her domain.
Regional Rulers
Presides over a vast region of a country. Ardrigh has four regional rulers, as well as a Duke that oversees Croshother as a city.
Archduke: Rules below the King over one of several regions of the kingdom.
Duke: Either the ruler of a small region, or someone who rules under an archduke over a major portion of a region.
Provincial Rulers
Each region is divided into provinces. The title of the ruler of a province has as much to do with political ties as actual land power.
Marquess: For the most part, Marquess are appointed as field marshals over the regional armies.
Count/Earl: Counts and Earls are of equal political power, although the title of Count generally holds more prestige.
County Rulers
Counties are the basic division of land possession in Ardrigh. All county rulers hold the position of Baron, although some may hold a higher title. County boundaries do change over time, and some areas do not fall under the control of any county seat. A Baron's power comes from the strength and production of the town itself, as well as the number of hamlets and other settlements that support it.
Viscount: Uncommon, but may be used as the title for the monarch of a county that is larger than normal, or for a Baron who rules a cay county. Viscounts may occasionally be provincial rulers, but that is the exception rather than the rule.
Arch Baron: Essentially the same as a Viscount, but may also be used to give a Baron a larger domain surrounding a cay county.
Baron: Title for the ruler of a county. Typically holds direct domain only over a city, and land within a mile or two to the city walls.
Visbaron: Rare in the extreme. Used as an insult for a Baron, most often for poor management of his realm. A Baron is far more likely to be replaced by his superiors, or murdered by his subjects, before such a title is "bestowed".
High Lord: Title given to the ruler of a very large settlement or small village. A High Lord's realm usually does not extend beyond the limits of the town or village. Generally, a High Lord will actually hold fief over over the village or settlement, and not merely control.
Hamlets
The area surrounding a city often has several small settlements called hamlets. Hamlets are generally ruled by a petty noble or powerful freeman, and are the largest incorporated area a spellcaster may legally rule. A hamlet's Lord owes fealty, and pays tributes, to the local Baron.
Noble Lord
Lord Ruler over a small domain (such as a hamlet or other settlement), typically (except in exceptional circumstances), no larger than a few square miles. Occasionally, a Lord may be given domain over an area with no settlement or population whatsoever.
Knight Official title of a landholder without lands. Someone with all of the duties and obligations that attach to a landholder with none of the benefits. Occasionally used as a title for a Lord with a land grant before a settlement has been established.
Hierarchy
Nobles
Nobles (whether hereditary or titled) belong to the highest levels of society. They are allowed to lawfully own land (in perpetuity), levy taxes, raise a standing army, and can be called upon by nobles above their station to serve in the military.
Freemen
Anyone entitled by birth, privileged admission, or admission by payment; to enter a craft or merchant guild, and freely practice a craft or buy and sell within the town. They may buy land leases from from the nobility or other freemen, and may travel without permission of their Lord.
Gentry: The wealthiest of freemen, they often own and operate a large guildhall or merchant business. Virtually all gentry hold lands sufficent to provide food and/or resources for their entire household.
Sokeman: A freeman without actual lands, but support themselves through craft or trade.
Yeoman: Yeoman are often farmers or journeymen who work for a master craftsman.
Men-At-Arms: These people are essentially of the same class as a yeoman, but are serving as a professional soldier, whether that is in the Royal Army or Navy, or City Guard.
Vassal: Lesser farmers and senior apprentices tend to be vassals.
Husbandman: A freeman at the lowest level of society, and are generally poorer than than either a villein or dreng.
Serfs
Peasant burdened with week-work, merchet, tallage, and other obligations. A semi-free peasant who worked his lord's demesne and paid him certain dues in return for the use of land, the possession (not ownership) of which was heritable. These dues, usually called corevee, were almost all in the form of labor on the lord's land. Generally this averaged to three days a week. Generally subdivided into classes called cottagers, small holders, or villeins although the latter originally meant a free peasant who was burdened with additional rents and services.
Villein: The wealthiest class of peasant. Villeins usually cultivate 20-40 acres of land, often in isolated strips.
Dreng:
Bordar or Bondsman: Any peasant without sufficient lands to support themselves and their family.
Vagabond: A peasant without lands, house, or regular employment. These often are limited to day-work, scrounging for saleable materials, or reliant on providence alone for their support.
Slave: A peasant without the even the normal rights of regular serfs, and by law may not have or own possessions greater they can carry upon their back. This is the class of convicted criminals, those without documents or vouchsafes, and others who must depend upon the mercies of the Lord and the Church for their existence. They are the only class of person that may be "owned" by any except a noble. Slaves may become so for the following reasons:
Conquered armies
Those freed from unjust imprisonment
Criminals
Settlement of substancial debt
Military desertion and runaway apprentices
Those serving under indenture
Minor Officials
These are the minor officials and appointees who administer a rulers' authority.
Bailiff - Manorial official, overseer of the manor, chosen by the lord. (serf)
Burgess - the holder of land or house within a borough. (freeman)
Castellan - Governor of a castle. (freeman)
Chaplain or chancellor - Priest or monk in charge of the chapel and of the secretarial department of the castle. (freeman)
Hayward - Manorial official in charge of the haies, or hedges, especially in haymaking or harvest times; assistant to reeve. (serf)
Knight - A noble or titled man-at-arms, a professional military noble. (noble or wealthy freeman)
Justice
Justiciar - The head of the royal judicial system and the king's viceroy or regent when absent from the country.(freeman)
Marshal - Household official in charge of the stables, later a royal officer.(freeman)
Messor - An official appointed to oversee the manorial reapers or mowers; assistant to reeve. (serf)
Moneyer - A person licensed by the crown to strike coins, receiving the dies from the king, and keeping 1/240 of the money coined for himself.
Provost - Feudal or royal magistrate.
Reeve - Manorial overseer, usually a villager elected by tenants of the manor; Principal manorial official under bailiff, always a villein. (serf)
Seneschal or steward - Manager of an estate or a household.
Sheriff - The official who is the chief administrative and judicial officer of a shire. Many of his jobs were taken over by the itenerant justice, coroner, and justice of the peace. He collected taxes and forwarded them to the exchequer after taking his share. Also responsible for making sure the king's table was well stocked while the king was in his county. (freeman)
Squire - Knight-aspirant. (noble or freeman)
Steward or Seneschal - Chief official of an estate, supervisor of the lord's manor.
Tithing - A company (originally) of ten householders in the system of frank-pledge.
Tithingman - The chief man of a tithing.
Wardens of Autumn - Officials appointed by the villages to help supervise harvest work. (serf)
Woodward - Manorial official in charge of the lord's woodland. (serf)
Military Titles
In general, cavalry units are seen as higher rank than infantry ones, which are above bow ranks. Ranks are not strictly clear cut, and certain awards and medals can "raise" the percieved rank.
Officers
King
the Nobility
Grand Marshal
Field Marshal
General (Milinar)
Captain (Milinar)
Captain (Centenar)
Cavalry Lieutenant
Lieutenant (Vintanar)
Esquire
Ensign (or Standard)
Warrants
Enlisted
High Sergeant
Lance (Field Sergeant)
Cavalry Sergeant / Infantry Sergeant / Bow Sergeant
Cavalry Corporal / Infantry Corporal/ Bow Corporal
Piper / Drummer
Cavalryman
Infantry Private / Bow Private
Infantryman / Bowman
Awards & Medals
Medals of Honor
Distinguished Crosses
Medals of Valor
Medals of Gallantry
Medals of Bravery
Star Medals
Unit Campaign Commendation Medals
Campaign Medals
Unit Commendation Medals
Medals of Service
Comments