Lore Post - Velonian Titles and Forms of Address (Patreon)

For the first lore post regarding the game, I wanted to talk about an important topic, namely nobles tiers and forms of address as used in the game. If you're not familiar with the ranks of nobility, this post should help. We'll also discuss the equivalencies between the titles used in different kingdoms.

Because of the cultural effects of the Avalonian Conquests, most of Velonia uses the same basic hierarchy of titles, with some exceptions. In particular, Cyridae was not an imperial possession long enough to have its unique noble structure altered (beyond the highest rank changing from “Emperor” to “King”), and the people of the Sravi were exempt from most Avalonian changes because they joined the Empire voluntarily. Some regional variations have developed in specific titles in the time since the collapse of the Avalonian Empire in the Age of Strife, but these tend to be roughly equivalent to a standard title. The similarity of Versalia’s noble structure is primarily born of happenstance and convergent development, given that Avalonian and Versalian society evolved in very similar conditions.

Under the feudal system of Velonia, each tier of noble pays taxes and provides levied soldiers to the direct liege under whom he or she serves one or more tiers above (but not to an indirect liege—a count under a duke does not directly pay taxes to the king). A liege lord and vassal are defined in relation to a given feudal relationship. For example, a duke is a vassal to a king, but may also be liege lord to a count who serves under him.

Additionally, a higher-level lord may hold multiple lower-level titles corresponding to their personal demesne or domain (personally held land). For example, Antiochus held the Kingdom of Versalia, the Duchy of Albion, and the County of Albion, in addition to numerous baronies such as Castle Kharos.

Nobles of each tier have an associated form of address. “My lord” or “my lady” may be generally used to apply to any noble, although using these terms for someone of considerably higher rank could be seen as insulting. “My liege” can be used by any direct or indirect vassal to refer to a person above him or her in the overall hierarchy, but only within the same kingdom (e.g. a duke from Calistrae would call the king of Calistrae “my liege,” but would never refer to the king of Ekestria as such).

In general, the hierarchy of noble titles is as follows:

Emperor/Empress = High King/High Queen (Versalia)

This is the highest tier of title, representing essentially a king of kings. During the Age of Strife, the Sorcerer Kings of Versalia took the title of High King because of their suzerainty over Calistrae, but in general, an Emperor controls territory equivalent to three or more kingdoms.

Form of Address: “Your imperial majesty”

Territory Ruled: Empire or High Kingdom

King/Queen = Prince/Princess (ruling) = Sultan/Sultana (Sravi)

This tier represents the rulers of large, independent realms. Only at the height of the Avalonian Empire and a few times during the Age of Strife have kings ever served as vassals to another ruler. “Sorcerer King” isn’t the official term for the ruler of Versalia, merely a widely-used colloquialism. While Calistrae was long functionally a vassal of Versalia, it was always technically an independent ally.

Form of Address: “Your royal majesty,” typically shortened to “your majesty.”

Territory Ruled: Kingdom, Princedom, or Principality

Prince/Princess (non-ruling)

Prince is a title typically bestowed on all children of a king or emperor. Crown Prince/Crown Princess is often used to denote the heir apparent. In many but not all kingdoms, siblings of the reigning monarch continue to be called prince or princess. This title does not, on its own, denote ruling land, though a prince or princess may also hold land under another title. For example, Princess Sophia of Calistrae is Duchess of Azurereach, inherited from her mother.

Form of Address: “Your grace.”

Territory Ruled: N/A

Archduke/Archduchess (Central Velonia) = Grand Duke/Grand Duchess = Archon/Archonessa (Hypernia)

This tier of title is comparable to or lower than a king. Primarily used by the rulers of  midsized realm in central Velonia, especially those ruling city-states such as Hypernia not large enough to be considered proper kingdoms.

Form of Address: “Your excellency” or “your majesty,” varies.

Territory Ruled: Archduchy, Grand Duchy, or City State

Duke/Duchess = Emir (Sravi) = Daimyo (Cyridae)

This tier typically refers to the ruler of a midsized realm, usually serving as the vassal of a king or Archduke. Most kingdoms contain three or more duchies. Ruling over a large area, dukes are usually quite wealthy.

Form of Address: “Your excellency.”

Territory Ruled: Duchy, Satrapy, or Province

Count/Countess = Earl (Central Velonia) = Margrave (Ekestria) = Marzban (Sravi)

Counts rule a small but still substantial amount of land. The size of a county differs across different kingdoms. Counts typically serve under a duke, but not always. Most duchies contain at least three counties. Counts are usually well-off but not wealthy.

Form of Address: “Your lordship”/“Your ladyship.”

Territory Ruled: County, Earldom, or March.

Viscount/Viscountess

A tier roughly on-par with or slightly below count. Used more widely in smaller kingdoms, allowing for smaller subdivisions of land and a larger noble class (e.g. Calistrae).

Form of Address: “Your lordship”/“Your ladyship.”

Territory Ruled: County

Lord/Lady = Baron/Baroness

The lowest tier of landed nobility, ruling an estate and the surrounding lands only. Usually serves under a count, but not always. Lords and barons are typically not especially wealthy.

Form of Address: “Your lordship”/“Your ladyship.”

Territory Ruled: Lordship. Estate, or Barony

Knight = Samurai (Cyridae)

An unlanded noble in service of a lord. Knights are typically able to afford a horse and better arms than most soldiers, and are usually given positions of command and authority over levied commoners. Knights may be granted temporary command of a castle, but typically do not rule it (a knight granted rule of the castle would become a Lord or Baron). A knight owes military service to their direct liege.

Knights Errant (or ronin in Cyridae) are knights who serve no liege lord, often roaming the continent in search of glory and wealth because they stand to inherit nothing. Black Knights are similar, but they go further, bearing no heraldry and often hiding their faces; often, Black Knights are the sons of disgraced families seeking to redeem themselves.

Form of Address: Sir

The correct form of address for a female knight is rarely used and somewhat contentious as female knights are rare. Some argue “Ma’am,” while others prefer “Dame,” “Lady,” or “Lady Knight.” The latter is most common in Versalia.

Territory Ruled: Castle (temporary) or none. Knights may still have personal manors or small estates, but they do not rule notable territory or oversee taxation.

Strategos (Versalia/Calistrae) = General ≈ Shogun (Cyridae)

Strategoi or generals are not titles for landed nobility or hereditary positions, but rather appointed military commanders. Generals may be of any rank from commoner up through duke (or through king, under an emperor). For example, Viscount Telosian serves King Lysander of Calistrae as Strategos. Generals are typically appointed by kingdoms and other larger entities because kings draw forces from a wide array of vassals and have need of a unified commander on the battlefield. The Shogun of Cyridae is similar, but the kingdom has only a single shogun, and the shogun has more political power than generals or strategoi in most other kingdoms.

Form of Address: Varies

Territory Ruled: N/A

Consorts and Exceptions

The consort of a lord or lady typically assumes the opposite-gendered title of the same rank, but these are implicitly separate titles. Antiochus was the King (Regnant) of Versalia, while his wife Corinna was the Queen (Consort) of Versalia.

In some but not all kingdoms, the husband of a reigning noblewoman would be expected to be the functional ruler rather than her, even if, for example, she was Queen (Regnant) and he was King (Consort). This is not the case in Versalia, where female rulers are generally well-accepted (though, less so in the capacity of leading soldiers or fighting battles).

In a few cases, a person’s own title may be more appropriate than a higher-tier consort title for determining form of address. For example, Prince Gavril of Calistrae is also a reigning duke in addition to being the consort to Crown Princess Chrysanthi. Therefore, some would refer to him as “your excellency” rather than “your grace,” in part because his royal title bears no responsibilities as the consort to a princess not currently ruling any land.