Enterian royalty and nobility

To many of it's neighbouring kingdoms, the Kingdom of Enther seems utterly monotonous, with many of the same families being in positions of power since the country of Enther's unification from the Old Kingdoms. The kingdom has for the most part has been ruled by the bloodline of King Matheus or the subsequent Hackonson family.

Order of Succession

Entherian inheritance of noble titles is determined by a mostly an hereditary order of succession, though some titles are can be given by an elective order but only by either the Prime Minister or the monarch themselves. Legitimate offspring of the reigning noble is able to succeed the title as heir regardless of gender, however birth order usually dictates the heir. In some cases if the reigning noble is unable to fulfil their duty or die their spouse may take us the title before it passes on to the child. This is only if the spouse was the birth parent of the heir. Any spouses who were subsequently brought into the family post birth of the heir are not eligible to be heir. Alternatively, should the heir apparent be orphaned and/or cannot assume their duties, the heir apparent can appoint a regent to rule in their stead until the heir becomes of age. In the case of the regent of of the kingdom, the Prime Minister will rule until the heir comes of age.
Should the reigning noble lack lineal descendants to be an heir or the heir abdicates, the title would go to any of the noble's elected siblings or collateral descendants until the bloodline is spent.
Should no descendant of the noble family survive, other non-blood relatives may make a claim to the Royal Council to have the title and all its accompanying holdings passed to them
By Entherian custom, vacant lands will be issued as a reward by either the regent or the Prime Minister. On some occasions, lands have been auctioned off or even used as prizes in tourneys.

Feudalism

Royalty
The King/Queen of Enther, the monarch, is the most powerful noble in the kingdom. Although Montheus is the official head of state, a separate Jarl has governance over one of the five regions on behalf of the monarch. However, even the monarch's power has limits. Without the backing of it's nobility there can be dire consequences to the reign.

Great Lords and Ladies
In antiquity, Great Lords arose from among the Lords of the Old Kingdoms. The four regions of Enther are a homage to the Old Kingdom's tribes of the north, east, south and west. In modern Enther there are only four regional Great Lords, now known as jarls and another who rules the capital of the kingdom, Montheus. Great Lords are owed fealty by vassals of both Keeper and Lord ranks, whom they may call upon in the event of war or disaster. However they are also responsible for lending aid to them when needed. The title of Great Lord can be stripped by the monarch and awarded to a suitable replacement, with it the seat of the region is passed to them also.
These five current Great Lords rule the current regions:

• Region of Norshire from the City of Norheim, the northern region.
• Region of Rosinhill from the City of Rosegard, the eastern region.
• Region of Kirkland from the City Of Kirkminster, the southern region.
• Region of Denmoore from the City of Denholm, the western region. This is the lands north of Lake Loden up to Stone's End and across to the Meave Crossing of River Maeve.
• Montheus from Montheus' High Town, the capital of the kingdom.

Keepers
Due to the sheer size of each region, Great Lords are expected to raise Keepers from the Lords of their region. Keepers are usually intrusted with a county within the region and within this county they will govern on behalf of the Great Lords, and subsequently, the reigning monarch.
Each region has a variety of counties, with no set amounts. These current counties include.

• White Hills in Norshire.
• Rosinfield in Rosinhill.
• The Marsh Lands in Denmoore.
• The Silver Shore in Kirkminster.

Lords and Ladies This title is given to those of nobility but the title itself can stretch amongst a great spectrum. Some lords land's will consist of a town, village or a small holding, and some may even just own a large estate, as is common with the lords of Montheus' High Town or other great cities. Lordships can be given by the monarch, the Prime Minister and the Great Lords, though they tend to avoid giving these titles out without great cause as the rights of a lord supersede that of a commoner. Some merchants and tradesmen whose wealth is notable may be elected to Lordship in order to keep them on side with the current monarch.