Aurician Nobility
Aurician Nobility encompasses all the privileged classes recognized in Lucacia and the subsequent countries conquered by the rulers of Aurice to the present day. The principle of male primogeniture is typically in force, but not always, depending upon customs in the given country of the Aurician Empire. A title reflects the noble status of the head of the family. A rank implies hierarchy in the nobles and military. There is typically no name for the title such as in European nobility like 'the Duke of Orleans.' Rather, it is Baron of House Zanktivaji. If a place is indicated, then it is the actual domain that pertains to the title and not purely ceremonial.
List of Aristocratic Titles
Senatorial and Quasi-Senatorial Nobles
These are nobles of the sword and Metropolitans, sometimes called derogatively, 'nobles of the coin' or 'nobles of the market.' They are nearly all of Senatorial rank, except for the large minority of metropolitans who were deprived of senatorial office. There are a handful of traditional noble houses who have lost the office of senator due to derogation or failure to meet other standards of the aristocracy. For this reason, they are described as 'quasi-senatorial' as the male head of the house would traditionally be a senator. Additionally, hierarchs (compare 'lords spiritual') who are religious leaders are members of the noble senate.
Hierarch
Noble of the Robe
Hierarch is the title given to the high priest of any temple whose cult is officially recognized by the state. Whether this title and rank are hereditary depends upon the practice of the particular temple. The main exception is the High Phœnissa who holds the rank of both a hierarch and a duke, feminized as duchess, and who is also a senatrice. Examples of hierarchs are the Archpatriarchs of the Arathracian Religion, the High Priests of Amrulon, the High Priestess of Magda, and so forth. Each province of Lucacia and many others has its own respective Arathracian Archpatriarch. The abbots and mother superiors of the Incarnandist monastic orders were invited to be hierarchs, but refused to participate in the senate as a profane assemblage. In honor, rank and precedence, a hierarch is held higher than a duke.
Duke
Noble of the Sword
Dukes are typically the oldest nobles in a region. Their forebears were awarded the title typically for services rendered in war. They are also or were in the past, close relatives of the ruler of the country in which they arose to prominence. Some ducal families are over a thousand years old. Barons are normally also senators.
Counts
Noble of the Sword
Counts are typically of the oldest aristocratic families. Their forebears were usually awarded the title for major services rendered in the war or in the military or for service in a high administrative office. Most comital families are at least three hundred years old and the count is typically also a senator.
Barons
Noble of the Sword
Barons are sometimes of old noble families, but often not. They or, more frequently, their ancestors received the title for leadership rendered to the state, such as in war, wizardry, governmental service, or a major work of engineering. Baronial families are often more than two hundred years old. Most Barons are also senators.
Metropolitans
The office of Metropolitan was created by decree in 2559 by Baimund Kaligär, so the title is less than two hundred years old. It was awarded for enriching the city of Aurice, typically as a merchant. For this reason, they are neither nobles of the robe (ecclesiastical) nor of the sword (military) and are humorously called nobles of the coin. The Viceroyal Duke Baimund Kaligär wished to weaken the position of the nobles by packing the Senate with Metropolitans who would be loyal to him. Today only about half of the metropolitans are senators. Some lost their status after the Aurician Revolution as the Dukes, Counts, and Barons endeavored to weaken the voting bloc of the Metropolitans whom they disdained as they were neither nobles of the sword nor of the robe. These metropolitans who lost senatorial status were charged with loyalty to House Bijäl. The prospect of regaining senatorial status was ostensibly held out on condition of loyalty to the Noble Republic, but privately on condition of loyalty to the agenda of the older senatorial ranks whose power was largely in land-ownership rather than trade.
Provincial Nobles
Often called 'country nobles,' provincial noble houses are hardly known outside of their local jurisdiction and include both 'nobles of the sword' and 'nobles of the robe,' though more so the latter. In provincial assemblies, they rank in this order: Castellan, Numinant, Judex, Quaestor, Momentor, and these nobles have a right to attend their respective provincial parliament. Knights, shield-bearers, and gentlemen have no such right to attend and participate in the aristocratic parliament of a given province. Provincial titles of nobility were granted by the locally governing hierarch, duke, count, or baron. Metropolitans did not have the power to grant provincial titles of nobility.
Castellan
Noble of the Sword The highest of the country or provincial nobles of Lucacia is the Castellan and his ancestor's title was granted by the locally governing Duke, Count, or Baron who typically only had one such castellan. For this reason Lucacian castellans have or had titles such as 'Castellan of Drelegreffi,' 'Castellan of Amignamo,' and 'Castellan of Johar.' Originally, the castellan was in charge of the command and defense of a specific fortress and its dependent lands. In times of peace, he focused on the productivity of the dependent lands of the castle. Today, castellans are smaller land owners, having collected and inherited small parcels of land over the centuries. Lucacian Castellans have no claim to office in the Aurician Senate, but are members by right in their respective aristocratic provincial parliament. They are often presidents of the provincial parliament.
Numinant
Noble of the Robe
A kind of priest who protects sacred places from profanation, not celibate, and typically inherited, the numinant was required to be on duty nearly all the time and for this reason received an income from the pertinent religious order which he served. His sons or even daughters were sometimes required to help him perform his function and for this reason, the office was hereditary.
Judex
Noble of the Robe
This title is earned by holding a high local administrative position, typically a magistrate. However, not all such families have been so honored. The title was granted by one of the higher nobles such as a duke or a baron who formerly ruled over the land in which recipient lived. The office of judex may have in fact held the title for many centuries with any actual service as a magistrate, but the bearer, if in good standing, is nonetheless considered lesser nobility. He has no claim to office of Senator of Aurice. There are some examples of judices, that is female judexes, but they are in the minority.
Quaestor
A quaestor is one who summons others (usually nobles) to the court of a high-ranking noble. The summoning is not necessarily for a bad reason, but could be for a celebration, to pay homage, or for recognition. The quaestor is higher than simply a page, messenger, or a herald as the quaestor has legal authority to require the recipient to appear at his lord's castle or palace. This was often necessary in former times as many nobles had little regard for commoners even bearing the ruler's writ. In time, quaestors were given other functions by their liege lord, such as investigating wrong-doings and apprehending aristocratic criminals who were not of sufficient rank or power to merit greater resources.
Momentor
The lowest of the provincial titles, a momentor leads a sacred or official procession. The title was often given as a minor honorary gift and was frequently sold to wealthy commoners who desired nobility but had little other claim to it. The title is hereditary.
List of Non-Aristocratic Titles
Knight Honorary
This rather lowly noble title is awarded for attaining full status as a knight in a recognized chivalrous order and includes members of the illustrious Knights-Magi of Aurice. It cannot be inherited by the son and for this reason is not a true status of nobility.
Shield-Bearer
This is essentially the same as squire. It is sometimes equated by commoners as a title of nobility when in fact it is not. A shield-bearer is traditionally selected by the knight he serves. It is often inherited by one's son although it is not 'hereditary' in the sense that a noble title typically is.
Gentleman
This is actually not a rank or title of nobility, but considered to be 'commoners of quality.' It also includes knights of orders not officially recognized by the state.
Difference between Nobles of the Sword and Nobles of the Robe
Nobles of the Sword are aristocrats whose ancestors served their lord as warriors in battle. Nobles of the Robe comprise priests and judges as they were historically drawn from the priestly class. Metropolitans are are the highest ranking aristocrats who are neither nobles of the sword nor of the robe as their fame was won as wealthy merchants. They are sometimes disdained by the dukes, counts, and barons of Aurice for this reason. Metropolitans are jokingly called 'nobles of the coin.'
See Also
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