As a feudal society, there are many titles and stations in Banteave that the people occupy, from the lowliest of ditch-diggers to the Kings and Queens themselves. Below is a summary of the hierarchy of social rankings in Banteave, where they fall on the ladder, their obligations and their privileges. The roles are, in descending order of power and import:
- King/Queen
- Duke/Duchess
- Baron/Baroness
- Count/Countess
- Knight (Landed)
- Knight (Unlanded)
- Yeoman
- Serf
- Outlaw
King / Queen
Rules over all of Banteave. Primarily interacts with the Dukes and Duchesses of their lands. They rule with absolute authority, able to override written law as it suits them (though they are loathe to do so if opposed by the Church.) The Kings and Queens of Banteave are supported by the Church, who in turn expect favour and lands from the Crown. The laws created by the king are enforceable throughout Banteave.
Duke / Duchess
Rules over multiple baronies. Answers directly to the King. Dukes are often chosen to sit upon the King's Council. They wield impressive influence, commanding vast territories and the resources therein. Each Great House of Banteave commands at least one Duchy. The laws created by Dukes and Duchesses are enforceable throughout the baronies they control. Dukes and Duchesses often control at least one Barony within their domain to act as their seat of power.
Baron / Baroness
Rules over at least one barony and the counts and landed knights therein. Answers directly to a Duke. Barons are responsible for maintaining the safety and security of their lands, ensuring taxes, tithes and levies are supplied to their liege, and to answer the call of battle themselves in times of need (unless they pay scutage to avoid service.) Barons can grant portions of their land to create vassals of their own, known as Counts.
Count / Countess
Rules over at least one manor within a Barony. Counts exert very little influence in court politics at Redehall, but find more influence in the courts of their liege Baron. Counts oversee the serfs that reside upon their land, collect taxes for themselves and their Baron's share, and answer the call to war when summoned.
Knights (Landed and Unlanded)
Landed knights have been granted fiefs of their own as a reward for their service to the crown; their actual influence varies depending on the size of the fief granted; a knight that commands the equivalency of a Barony in terms of land and subjects is, by all intents and purposes, treated as a Baron themselves.
Unlanded Knights serve a liege lord in the hopes of one day being granted land and titles themselves. They still have rights and privileges as a result of their service, and can act as representatives of the lord that they have sworn service to.
Hedge Knights are another type of knight, though they lack a liege lord to call their own. They travel Banteave seeking gainful employment or a liege they can serve. Many are quite poor, and work as mercenaries to support themselves during their mission to find a noble that will open their doors to them. Many find early graves in muddy fields when Banteavan nobles go to war, but some lucky ones impress a count or a baron enough to be granted a place in their household and, someday, a fief to rule over for themselves.
Yeoman
A Yeoman is a free person who is not bound to serve any one lord. They might be independent landowners, shopkeeps, mercenaries, merchants or more. Their movement is not restricted, and while some yeoman may dwell on the lands of a lord, they are only obliged to help bring in the harvest during the fall months. They do pay taxes, and those that own land pay rents to their lord as appropriate each harvest.
Serfs
Unfree tenants under the jurisdiction of their landed lord. They do not pay rents to the lord, but they work the lord's lands in exchange for their protection and a share of whatever crops they produce. Typical obligations to the lord ensures that the serf works there for the majority of the year, effectively tying them to the land. However, serfs are not slaves, and can buy, sell and inherit land and livestock. Their lord is free to levy taxes and fees upon them, and can call up those that work his land as levies during times of war if need be. In return for their labours, the lord promises to protect the lives and livelihoods of the serfs on their land, to adjudicate legal disputes between them, and to arrange for improvements to the manor grounds as needed (such as irrigation ditches, calling in ratcatchers, etc.)
