Noble Hierarchy

Noble Titles vary by race and culture, though they generally follow the same core principles. Most Human kingdoms follow the Noble Hierarchy system, in which those of Noble birth follow a strict Feudal structure. Generally the higher your rank the more power you hold, as well as the size of the territory you rule and the scope of your responsibilities.

Titles/Ranks

Peasant- The common folk of Bastion. Nearly everyone is born a Peasant, and nearly all of them die a Peasant.
Gentleman- A person with an income derived from property, a legacy or some other source, and thus is independently wealthy but can not directly claim nobility.
Squire- A Knight’s assistant or shield bearer. Usually the children of Knights can become Squires to learn how to become a Knight. Though technically the Knight in question can appoint anyone as their Squire, only Lords can grant a Knighthood you were not born with.
Knight- A Knight is someone granted an official noble title and honor by either a Monarch or other ruling title. Knights directly serve their liege either in his court or ruling land in his name. This service is often military, and tends to garner a fair amount of respect for the dangers Knights often face while other nobles never leave their courts.
Lord/Lady- A Noble with more power and authority than the lower classes. A lordship can vary from overseeing a small keep to administrating an entire town or city. Usually all noble ranks are referred to as “My Lord” or “My Lady” with the exception of Regents. A Lordship without any direct claim to land might be a Courtier, or serve some other important task to a higher ranking noble such as that of Chancellor or Marshal or Master of Coin.
Earl- Earls are essentially equivalent to Counts and Countesses in prestige and respect (and often wealth) even though their title does not grant them rulership over a county. Earls are landless nobles, and usually only earn their rank when serving a high position such as sitting on a Monarch’s council.
Marquis/Marquess- A Marquess is someone who rules a frontier region called a mark or march. Marks are usually a part of counties that border the wilderness, and the Marquess is responsible for defense of these borderlands.
Count/Countess- The smallest division of land, Counties, are ruled by a Count or a Countess. Counts answer directly to their ruling Baron, but are otherwise in command of all Knights, Lords, and common folk living within the County beneath them.
Baron/Baroness- Barons rule Baronies, which are the sum of two to four counties. A Baron will usually have several Counts that answer to him, and in turn answers only to a Duke or directly to a Monarch. Barons are only a step or two from the top of Feudal Hierarchy, and command a great deal of respect.
Duke/Duchess- Dukes are the closest and highest ranking peers of the king. They are usually relatives of a sovereign family as a Monarch will grant Dukeships to their family members in order to keep those titles within their own dynasties.
Prince/Princess- A Prince or Princess is the child of a King/Queen, and usually the one in line to inherit their parent’s titles.
King/Queen- A King or Queen is the highest level of authority in a Kingdom, which is usually an independent collection of territory. There is power in Royal blood, as even the Gods heed those mortals who are destined to lead.
Emperor/Empress- An Emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Commonly an Empire is a region that spans many Kingdoms and Duchies, such as Azdania. In the Second Age, the Athean Empire was a collection of three kingdoms, with the three Kings kneeling in fealty to Emperor Octavius Icarus.

Any Highborn Noble is referred to as Lord or Lady, behind the standard greeting and title. A Lordship usually entails rulership over a castle or city, and can usually only be granted by Dukes or Monarchs. You would even refer to a Prince directly as “My Lord”, only using “Your Grace” or “Your Highness” for a Monarch.

Related Organizations

• Astoria
• Isdorn