Noble Houses of Teutonia

The Noble families of Teutonia are split into Noble Houses, Ruling Houses, Great Ruling House and Royal Houses. Nobility can only be granted to family by the ruler of Teutonia or by the head of the Reichstag. Once granted, the honour is hereditary in all direct descendants of the original receipient of the grant. The head of a noble family is always the eldest of that family regardless of gender. Noble families are usually concentrated within a city or city state. Where a noble family has enough influence to be granted jurisdiction of a city or city state by the Reichstag, that family will add the honorific of that area to their family name and become a ruling house.

Structure

The noble houses of Teutonia are organised in the following manor: 

Noble houses:
There are two ways in which a family can become a noble family. This honour can only be granted or removed by the ruler of Teutonia or by the head of the Reichstag (or someone acting with their authority). This honour is hereditary in that all direct descendants by marriage or birth will be of noble birth. A person of noble birth may be referred to as Lord or Lady. The head of a noble family will be the eldest of that family regardless of gender.

Ruling houses:
Noble families are usually concentrated around cities, areas or city states. Where a noble family has enough influence to be granted jurisdiction of such a city, area or city state by the Reichstag, that family will add the honorific of that area to their family name and become a ruling house.

Great ruling houses:
Ruling houses that have representation on the Reichstag are known as great ruling houses. A seat on the Reichstag can be created or removed with the consensus of a majority in the Reichstag and approval by the ruler of Teutonia. The great ruling houses are: Archangel, Odessa, Hannover, Bad Tolz, Vienna, Stuttgart, Hague, Riga, Orel, Wolfsburg, Lingen, Mons, Freedburg and Queeg.

Royal houses:
There are currently six royal houses that exist within the Reichstag. These are great ruling houses which have sired Teutonian monarchs. Any noble house that aspires to the throne of Teutonia must be of a royal house and must obtain the approval of the major gods of Teutonia. The royal houses are: Murmansk, Berlin, Magdeburg, Vilnas, Koblenz and Munich.

Culture

Most nobles believe in the birth right of the individual and inheritance of wealth, land and title. To disgrace yourself or family name is to disgrace your entire family. Similarly, to disown your birth right is to disown your entire family and its history.
Nobles have a healthy contempt for those of common birth, who they see as lesser due to their lack of birth, education and noble upbringing. Although they recognise and respect individuals who have proven themselves worthy in various fields, they consider these individuals rare.
They respect military rank but expect a certain amount of respect for their noble status in return. They do this despite not necessarily holding any military rank within the warhost themselves. For example, they may still attempt to order others about like servants and expect these orders to be carried out.
Although nobles will gladly follow the chosen ruler of Teutonia, they often find it hard to accept when one is chosen from outside the royal houses. Nobles believe in the monarchy and will actively serve the ruler in order to perpetuate the royal household and the throne of Teutonia.

Etiquette
A noble will refer to themselves as Lord or Lady of their family name.
For example, Ivan and Henrietta Helmutson, twins, born into a noble family become Lord Helmutson and Lady Helmutson.

A ruling noble will refer to themselves with their noble title, followed by their family name, followed by the honorific “of” and the place of their rule.
For example, Lord Helmutson of Dortmund, Lady Helmutson of Dortmund.

The head of a ruling house will refer to themselves depending on their gender. A man will use his noble title, followed by his family name, followed by the honorific “Von” and the place of his rule. A woman will use her noble title, followed by her place of rule.
For example, Duke Helmutson Von Dortmund, Duchess Dortmund.


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