Viscount and Count
I will keep this short and simple. A viscount or viscountess is someone who owns a viscounty and wields some degree of power over it, as they are its lord. The same goes for counts and countesses, but they own counties, and they are of a higher position than a viscount. They are also above a baron, mainly because they usually have more land and influence in the court. Barons, seeing as they own baronies the size of villages or hamlets, don't have nearly the same authority and jurisdiction as the other thanes.
Appointment
There is usually a ceremony for them once the previous viscount or count passes away or abdicates. It's only hereditary, and there has only been one case where a baron was the adopted child of the previous lord.
Duties
Their duties are to make laws that protect the people of the province and to make sure its citizens are safe and comfortable, though "comfortable" might be too strong of a word for the peasants' lifestyle. Counts also have more military authority that they are obliged to help with, as well as more say in political matters than viscounts and barons combined.
Responsibilities
Receiving taxes and judging how to spend them with the town council, making sure the vassals and serfs keep the economy flowing, having the lord mayor and town council make sure the town runs smoothly.
Benefits
Viscounts don't have all that much political power, and even less influence over federal-level matters. Counts, however, typically have armies stationed at castles with other lords or ladies, and they have the final authority over those. Viscounts have their own armies, but not authority over the personal soldiers of council members and such. Counts also have much more say in political matters. The reasoning behind why viscounts enjoy almost none of the benefits of being a count is not explained all that well in the laws and records of Ashtree, though it may simply have to do with the size of their controlled territory.
Grounds for Removal/Dismissal
Overthrows have happened before, but there is no formal way to be removed besides the lord or lady abdicating.
Type
Nobility, Hereditary
Form of Address
My Lord/Lady
Alternative Naming
Viscounts are often called jarls, counts might be called earls, and Lord/Lady is an approved way of referring to both ranks.
Source of Authority
The king grants the noble house of a viscount or count power and land.
Length of Term
Mandatory abdication at age 75.
Reports directly to
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