Baron/Baroness

Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various Kelldorian countries. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knight, but lower than an Earl or Count. Often, barons hold their fief — their lands and income — directly from the monarch. Barons are less often the vassals of other nobles. In many kingdoms, they were entitled to wear a smaller form of a crown called a coronet.

Etymology

The word baron comes from the Old Elosi/Elosian Baron, from the term baro or barus "man; servant, soldier, mercenary". The scholar Isiador thought the word was of Zamorian origin, meaning "heavy" (because of the "heavy work" done by mercenaries), but the word is presumably of Old Amorian origin, cognate with Old Elosi/Elosian meaning "warrior, nobleman". Cornutius of Thentia already reports a word barones which he took to be of Thracian origin.

History

In the Peerage of Elosia (A peerage is a legal system historically comprising various hereditary titles, and sometimes non-hereditary titles, in a number of countries, and composed of assorted noble ranks). Barons form the lowest rank, placed immediately below a Count or Earl. A woman of baronial rank has the title baroness. In the Kingdom of Elosia, the old Elosi/Elosian word barō (genitive singular barōnis) was used originally to denote a tenant-in-chief (In Elosia, the term tenant-in-chief (or vassal-in-chief) denoted a person who held his lands under various forms of feudal land tenure directly from the king or territorial prince to whom he did homage, as opposed to holding them from another nobleman or senior member of the clergy. The tenure was one which denoted great honour, but also carried heavy responsibilities. The tenants-in-chief were originally responsible for providing knights and soldiers for the king's feudal army), of the early Elosian kings who held his lands by the feudal tenure of "barony" (in Old Elosi/Elosian barōniam), and who was entitled to attend the Great Council (Magnum Concilium in Thentian/Thentish).

Peerage of Elosia in Order of Rank

• Archduke/Archduchess
• Grand Duke/Grand Duchess
• Duke/Duchess
• Earl/Count/Countess
• Baron/Baroness

Type

Nobility, Hereditary

Form of Address

Baron/Baroness

Reports directly to

Earl/Count/Countess

Coronet

A person holding a peerage in the rank of baron is entitled to a coronet bearing six silver balls (called pearls) around the rim, equally spaced and all of equal size and height. The rim itself is neither jewelled, nor 'chased' (which is the case for the coronets of peers of higher degree).
The actual coronet is worn only for the coronation of a new monarch, but a baron can bear his coronet of rank on his coat of arms above the shield. In heraldry, the baron's coronet is shown with four of the balls visible.

Style of address

Formally, barons are styled The Right Honourable The Lord [Barony] and barons’ wives are styled The Right Honourable The Lady [Barony]. Baronesses in their own right, whether hereditary or for life, are either styled The Right Honourable The Baroness [Barony] or The Right Honourable The Lady [Barony], mainly based on personal preference. Less formally, one refers to or addresses a Baron as Lord [Barony] and his wife as Lady [Barony], and Baronesses in their own right as Baroness [X] or Lady [X]. In direct address, Barons and Baronesses can also be referred to as My Lord, Your Lordship, or Your Ladyship or My Lady. The husband of a Baroness in her own right gains no title or style from his wife.
The Right Honourable is frequently abbreviated to The Rt Hon. or Rt Hon. When referred to by the Sovereign in public instruments, The Right Honourable is changed to Our right trusty and well-beloved, with Counsellor attached if they are a Privy Counsellor (The Privy Council formally advises the Sovereign on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative, and as a body corporate (as Queen-in-Council) it issues executive instruments known as Orders in Council. The Council also holds the delegated authority to issue Orders of Council, mostly used to regulate certain public institutions. The Council advises the Sovereign on the issuing of Royal Charters, which are used to grant special status to incorporated bodies, and city or borough status to local authorities).
Children of barons and baronesses in their own right, whether hereditary or for life, have the style The Honourable [Forename] [Surname]. After the death of the father or mother, the child may continue to use this style.