Beourjen and Ethanian Titles and Adresses

Maneuvering through the endless idiosyncrasies that make up Beourjen/Ethanian hierarchy and etiquette is exhausting for nobles and commoners alike, and the structure is only made more mind-numbing by the fact that the nations' rankings operate similarly—similarly, but not exactly the same. As a general rule, titles are assigned through nobility and military, however the disparate degrees of military importance and feudalistic attribution delineate a number of individual ranks between the two.

Beourjen Heirarchy

Confederate aristocracy is generally considered to be the more dynamic of the two heirarchies, having undergone more adjustments over the past few centuries. Although both are derived from the aristocratic structure within the First Aveaan Empire, they have since adapted to each of their respective governing and economic systems, as well as simply to the influences of integrated cultures and historical advancement.

Beourjen ranking in particular displays the effects of divergence from feudalism and a heightened sense of militarism and bourgeoisie. It also treats a number of academic and professional honorifics as equal or comparative to its lower titles of nobility, indicating increased regcognition of education as sucess in addition to bloodline. Although they are not depicted in the hierarchy below, titles like 'Annalist' or 'Professor' are respectable titles as well.

Lord and Ladyship

Who should rightfully be referred to as a lord or lady in Beourjen is often confusing even for Beourjens. In origin, the terms were used to distinguish property ownership and families with 'noble blood'—specifically, those Houses referenced in Houses of Dignity that brought their wealth and positions along the Blood Route. However with both wealth and citizen advancement being increasingly interwoven with military and education, and the two systems themselves becoming accessible to the middle class, social and economic mobility have allowed for citizens of the Beourjen middle class to own property themselves.

Of course there are still mechanisms set within Beourjen's social structure that allow it to hold onto its strict sense of aristocracy; the Inheritance Laws and the monopolization by the noble Houses of most lucrative economic industries are two main failsafes to keep the upper class in power. Because of this, the title of lord or lady isn't necessarily determined by property ownership—though it's assumed that a lord or lady will own some respectable property—but rather by amount of general wealth and lineage. Simply put, a lord or lady must be part of a family that has a certain amount of wealth, and is viable for continued lineage.

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The vagueness of the limitations for lord/ladyship gives way to multiple questions. For example, how much wealth exactly is required to be considered nobility? How can you be certain if someone will or will not be able to carry on their line? It certainly leaves room for petty thoughtful debate.

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High Lord/Ladyship

In a similar vein to that of lordship, the title of High Lord of Lady is also determined by lineage. To hold such a title, an individual must still hold adequate amounts of wealth or property, but they must also be the head of their House and their parents must have been nobility as well.

A family is also not considered a noble House until it is headed by a High Lord or Lady. Thus, an individual who is the first lord or lady of their line is just a regular aristocrat with a regular house.

Cities vs. Countryside

While individuals hold general titles, the addresses may be more lax or rigid depending on where an individual is. Manorial senses have not been entirely eradicated from more rural areas, and so addressing an individual by their proper title is going to be more important. Likewise in the wealthier city areas, because the middle and upper classes are taught, and expected to use, proper etiquette.

In more impoverished areas, such as Beourjen South, it doesn't matter as much because most indiviuals aren't going to hold a high ranking. The same is true for places like the Pits or Fort Brickard, where individuals with different titles are interacting with each other somewhat outside, or on the periphery, of the class system itself.

For further reading on the frivolous convolution that is Beourjen aristocracy:

House Ryker

According to the purported guidelines dictating lord/ladyship, the slighen members of House Ryker shouldn't have noble titles, as slighens are generally sterile. However legitimate slighen descendants of noble Houses is a bit of a grey area for the heirarchy. The general assumption is that a longstanding House such as Ryker will be a surviving bloodline because it has previously been a surviving bloodline, even if a few of its current offspring aren't able to bear children, and so its slighen members are still lords and ladies simply by association with the House itself.

Propriety and etiquette serve as the final touch on the art of society, and while the Confederacy may be a positively gruesome painting, should it not still have a gilt frame?

— Houses of Dignity

Learning Etiquette

Formal addresses are considered an essential part of primary education, usually included with the learning of proper dialect and etiquette when children are around eight to twelve. Tutors and governesses are expected to be well-practiced in such areas, and upper/middle-class children should be able to navigate proper honorifics by mid-adolescence.

Lower-class citizens usually develop some basic understanding of the heirarchy while growing up, even without any formal education, and adolescent military training includes a basic primer on propriety as well when recruits are nine or ten years old.

Beourjen Titles/Forms of Address

High Judge (Your Honor)

High Commander (Commander)

General (General)

High Lord (High Lord)

Representative (Sir)

Brigadier (Colonel)

Lord (Lord)

High Lady (High Lady)

Regiment Leader/Major (Major)

Doctor (Doctor)

Lady (Lady)

Captain (Captain)

Lieutenant Captain (Lieutenant)

Slighen (Slighen)

Private/Officer (Private/Officer)

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Rank/Title Caveats

Adrienne Baskle

Women are rarely elected as Representatives, however when they are they typically keep their title of High Lady the same way an elected High Lord does. Sophre State is also slightly less patriarchal than western Beourjen, and so High Ladies, and often Ladies, are afforded the same rights and respect as their male counterparts.

Astervitch

While Lieutenant Captain is usually a higher rank than a Slighen, Astervitch is considered a second-degree citizen because of his race, and so is afforded an equal rank and level of respect as the Slighen of the Rusalken. As he moves up the military ranks and the story progresses, this obviously changes.

Delila Leidevelt

Although Delila is the daughter of a noble house, her previous title of a Lady is relinquished in favor of her husband's standing from the lottery. She is considered separated from her House due to her associations with Fort Brickard.

The Dreamweaver

Julen Alaniss, through marriage to Key Dawston, is technically a Lady, however she's both Eastern Aveaan and an arcanist which are two major points against her being respected as a noblewoman. Thus, she keeps her alternate title, Doctor.

Fjornin Balassar

Although the High Judge is publically seen as the highest rank, the High Commander is afforded more power and respect.

Lennik Balassar

Lennik Balassar relinquished his noble title and was cast out from his House when he took up position and allegiance with Fort Brickard. Though he was legally a High Lord up until his death, his title and address was Doctor in all other regards.