Baron

Barons rank just above the baronets and are the lowest members of the peerage are the lowest ranking high nobility who are members of the Moot. Barons typically hold a fief on the planet associated with the title of no more than 100km². Typically, worlds have multiple baronies on them. Local rulers of a world are sometimes granted a barony on their homeworld both as a courtesy and as a way to give them a stake in the Imperium. For example the Ruling Grand Princess Alexandra XII of Vilis can also be Baroness Alexandra of Vilis in the Imperial nobility, and is also likely to hold a knighthood as well.
Imperial admirals and generals are often granted an honor title of baron if they haven't acquired any other title, typically without a fief or responsibilities.
When the imperium was founded, Cleon I wanted the barons to be the primary link between the Imperium and member worlds. Local leaders would get a barony and have a voice in the Imperium as well as on their worlds.
Barons vastly outnumber the rest of the Imperial peerage and barons are considered the most critical supports for the Imperium.
Barons are referred to with many different styles. The ttitle Baron or Baronessis always used, and families with an inheritable title may also use prefixes (hault-, haut-, van, von) to their family name. "Baron Harold Smith von Blogs" or "Baroness Harriet Smith hault-Blogs".
In informal situations, a baron is typically addressed with the title and given name, "Baron Harold". In slightly more formal situations they use the title and family name, "Baroness hault-Blogs", but this usage is rare.
When a barony comes with a fief, the title is generally associated with the name of the fief, "Baron of Green Hills". If the barony is the only one with a fief on a world, the barony my be referred to using the world name, "Baron of Terra". Barons and higher nobles are sometimes simply referred to with the title and the place, "Baron Green Hills" or "Baron Terra".
When the barony is granted without a fief, the title can be associated with the baron's homeworld, residence or some other place important to the first title holder. Other titles are simply associated with the family name, "Baroness Lopez", and there is no "of" in the official title.
Barons are introduced with the style, Lord or Lady. They are introduced as "Her Ladyship" and referred to afterwards as "your ladyship" or "Lady". For example, the Baron of Creedo who has a knighthood might be introduced as "His Lordship Baron Sir Harold Smith Blogs of Credo, Knight of the Order of the Starship and Crown, Companion of the Order of Deneb" and would then be addressed as "your lordhsip" or "Lord Harold" or "Lord Credo".

Type

Nobility, Hereditary