Rhovenian Honors System

Surviving the fall of the empire itself, Rhovenian Honors is a legal system comprising the peerage - hereditary and lifetime noble titles - and various granted decorations and titles. Most successor nations still use a variation of it, from the "common" form found in Armiviria to the more labyrinthine system of the Bera Interregnum. In its common form, the peerage's fundamental roles are ones of government, while the meritocracy rewards personal bravery, achievement, or service - the receiving of any peerage being the highest of honors.

Structure

Ranks of the peerage, in order of importance:

Hereditary

• Duke/Duchess
• Marquess/Marchioness
• Earl/Countess
• Viscount/Viscountess
• Baron/Baroness

Life

• Baronet

Representative

• (various titles, usually civilian)

Culture

Peerage

Hereditary peers

A hereditary peer is a peer of the realm whose dignity may be inherited; those able to inherit it are said to be "in remainder". Hereditary peerage dignities may be created by the sovereign or other governing body, and are automatically inherited. Once created, a peerage dignity continues to exist as long as there are surviving legitimate descendants of the first holder, unless a contrary method of descent is specified in the original grant. Once the heirs of the original peer die out, the peerage dignity becomes extinct. Peerage dignities can be declared forfeit, usually when peers are found guilty of treason. Often, however, the felonious peer's descendants may successfully petition the sovereign to restore the dignity to the family.

When the holder of a peerage succeeds to the throne, the dignity "merges in the Crown" and ceases to exist.

A territorial designation is often added to the main peerage title, especially in the case of barons and viscounts: for instance, The Baroness Thatcher, of Portsmouth. Any designation after the comma does not form a part of the main title.

Life peer

Life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. The legitimate children of a life peer are entitled to style themselves with the prefix "The Honorable", although they cannot inherit the peerage itself.

Representative peers

Representative peers are elected, frequently by the nobility, usually for a specific purpose or finite period of time. These dignities are never inherited.

Meritocracy

Personal bravery, achievement, or service are rewarded with honors, consisting of three types of award:

• Honors are used to recognize merit in terms of achievement and service
• Decorations tend to be used to recognize specific deeds
• Medals are used to recognize service on a particular operation or in a specific theatre, long or valuable service, and good conduct

Honors usually consist of appointment to an order (such as being knighted) or a grant of land or title, and in exemplary cases can result in the creation of a hereditary peerage. Decorations and medals are a ribbon, medal, or other tangible recognition and are sometimes accompanied by other rewards (often monetary).