Edict On Peerage As Relative To Stewardship

[Aetosion 2062]

Issued and confirmed by the office of the Lord High Steward of the Holy Kingdom of Oren, the Rt. Hon. Ser Edward Winter II.

 

 

 

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Following debate and various misunderstanding over the nature of various degrees of control of land stewardship and ranks within the peerage, the office of the Lord High Steward has decided to release an edict standardizing the definitions of land holdings.  It is further ruled that the holder of a title and land can only hold as vassals those of a title and land inferior to their own. If there is the case of a title holder of equal rank to another who holds in addition an inferior title within the demesne of the other, the crown will decide upon the nature of individual vassalage.

 

 

 

There are the following, in ascending order of preeminence, 

 

 

 

(Ser / Dame) Knight

 

 

 

(Landless honorific bestowed upon members of a knightly order. Carries no implied control over land, nor an preeminence over a rank of peerage, cannot hold vassal lands. Sometimes bestowed in conjunction with a landed title.)

 

 

 

(G. Ser / G. Dame) Knight

 

 

 

(Landless honorific bestowed as a promotion to knights for exemplary or lasting service or deeds. Holds preeminence over knights within the same order, but implies no control over any land or rank of peerage, cannot hold vassal lands. Sometimes bestowed in conjunction with a landed title.)

 

 

 

(Sir / Madame) Baronet / Baronetess 

 

 

 

(Landless honorific, often granted as a high honor to knights or nobles when a landed title is not a proper reward. Cannot hold vassal lands, nor does the title imply a control of land, although the title is sometimes associated with a singular demesne or estate containing a farm or mansion tied to the title itself.)

 

 

 

(The Lord / Lady) Baron / Baroness

 

 

 

(Landed peerage rank, lowest ranking title of the peerage that entitles one to the land associated with the title. Cannot hold vassal lands, but can appoint Baronet / Baronesses within their land with the approval of the Crown or another individual vested with the authority of the crown in the particular matter (Crown Regent, Lord High Chancellor, Lord High Steward).)

 

 

 

(The Rt. Hon.) Viscount / Viscountess

 

 

 

(Landed peerage rank, inferior to Counts / Countesses but preeminent over Barons appointed within their own territory. Can appoint Baronets / Baronetesses and Barons / Baronesses within their land with the approval of the Crown or of another individual vested with the authority of the crown in the particular matter (Crown Regent, Lord High Chancellor, Lord High Steward), and hold the appointed lords or ladies and their respective lands as vassals within the borders of their Viscounty.)

 

 

 

(The Rt. Hon.) Count / Countess

 

 

 

(Landed peerage rank, inferior to Marquess / Marchionesses but preeminent over Barons / Baronesses and Viscounts / Viscountesses appointed within their own territory. Can appoint Baronets / Baronetesses , Barons / Baronesses , and Viscounts / Viscountesses within their land with the approval of the Crown or of another individual vested with the authority of the crown in the particular matter (Crown Regent, Lord High Chancellor, Lord High Steward), and hold the appointed lords or ladies and their respective lands as vassals within the borders of their County.)

 

 

 

(The Most Hon.) Marquess / Marchioness

 

 

 

(Landed peerage rank, inferior to Dukes / Duchesses but preeminent over Barons / Baronesses, Viscounts / Viscountesses, and Counts / Countesses appointed within their own territory. Can appoint Baronets / Baronetesses , Barons / Baronesses , Viscounts / Viscountesses , and Counts / Countesses within their land with the approval of the Crown or of another individual vested with the authority of the Crown in the particular matter (Crown Regent, Lord High Chancellor, Lord High Steward), and hold the appointed lords or ladies and their respective lands as vassals within the borders of their March.)

 

 

 

(His / Her Grace the) Duke / Duchess

 

 

 

(Landed peerage rank, inferior to Archdukes / Archduchesses but preeminent over Barons / Baronesses, Viscounts / Viscountesses, Counts / Countesses , and Marquesses / Marchionesses appointed within their own territory. Can appoint Baronets / Baronetesses , Barons / Baronesses , Viscounts / Viscountesses , Counts / Countesses , and Marquesses / Marchionesses within their land with the approval of the Crown or of another individual vested with the authority of the Crown in the particular matter (Crown Regent, Lord High Chancellor, Lord High Steward), and hold the appointed lords or ladies and their respective lands as vassals within the borders of their Duchy.)

 

 

 

(His / Her Grace the)  Archduke / Archduchess

 

 

 

(Landed peerage rank, inferior to the King / Queen but preeminent over Barons / Baronesses, Viscounts / Viscountesses, Counts / Countesses , Marquesses / Marchionesses , and Dukes / Duchesses appointed within their own territory. Can appoint Baronets / Baronetesses , Barons / Baronesses , Viscounts / Viscountesses , Counts / Countesses , Marquesses / Marchionesses , and Dukes / Duchesses within their land with the approval of the Crown or of another individual vested with the authority of the Crown in the particular matter (Crown Regent, Lord High Chancellor, Lord High Steward), and hold the appointed lords or ladies and their respective lands as vassals within the borders of their Kingdoms.)

 

 

 

(His / Her Highness the ) Prince / Princess

 

 

 

(Landless royal  honorific bestowed upon the children of the King / Queen or relations of the second degree when those of the first degree are unavailable, representing a line of succession of heirs and heiresses to the crown. No land ownership is implied with the title, though the title of Prince / Princess can be held by a person upon which a feudal demesne such as a Barony, Viscounty, County, March, Duchy, or Archduchy has been bestowed. If a Prince / Princess does hold  such a land and title, these are removed as vassal lands from the previous liege lords so long as these lands are held by royalty, and are then considered direct vassals to the crown, and named as Principalities. When the Prince / Princess ceases to hold this land, or it passes to children who are not relatives of the first degree (or second degree if all relatives of the first degree are deceased or have abdicated their title) to the reigning monarch, then the stewardship is no longer considered royal, and the principality is restored to its previous standing and the owner's title is noted as the associated rank within the peerage.

 

 

 

(His / Her Majesty the) King / Queen

 

 

 

(Landed rank of royalty, inferior only to a reigning imperial monarch. The King / Queen has ultimate power within their Kingdom, and may appoint lands, titles, and honorifics according to need, and is in possession of the full authority of the crown. The King / Queen holds all lords within their Kingdom as vassals upon their land, and has full preeminence over all ranks of the peerage and all knights to the kingdom.)

 

 

~Seal of the Lord High Steward of Oren~

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