The Successor States' Aristocratic System

The principle classes of nobility under the ruling sovereign are Duke, Marquess, Count, Viscount, and Baron. Some worlds maintain all five noble classes or their equivalents, while others have done away with all of them.

Of the five, dukes and barons are the most common. Many dukedoms consist of a central duchy sorrounded by dependent baronies, with none of the middle-level aristocratic classes. Throughout inhabited space, dukes are the most common and most powerful expression of aristocratic presence, for each of the Five Houses of the Successor States depends on an interlocking network of key duchies to support its political power.

Duke

The title of Duke is the highest-ranking of the various patented nobilities. It is descended from "dux", powerful military commanders with territorial responsibilities in the old Roman Empire. It is one of the most widespread of noble titles, ans is found in all five of the major Successor State Houses.

Throughout the Successor States, dukes and their families rule entire worlds in the name of the State's ruler. Sometimes their domain may include several star systems and their planets. The title of duke or duchess is directly linked to a particular territory, called a duchy. Some duchies are traditionally reserved for a state's ruler, passing to his successor upon his death. Thus, the Prince of the Federated Suns is always the Duke of New Avalon, by a tradition extending back to the original charter granted by Michael Cameron.

Marquess

Next below duke in order of rank is the marquess, also known variously among sundry worlds as "marquis" or "margrave". The origin of the title is from the German mark ("border") graf ("count"), and refers to the local ruler of a border territory or frontier.

In the Successor States, the title of marquess or its equivalent is still applied to governors of frontier dependencies of empires, monarchies, or duchies that embrace a number of worlds. Some single-world duchies use the term to refer to titled provincial administrators elsewhere on the world than in the capital itself. On other worlds, it has become a purely honorary title divorced from the original titled responsibility.

Count

The title of count, derived from the Latin "comes" or "companion" of the Emperor, generally brings with it responsibility over a "county" or "countship", though in many cases the title has become purely honorary. The equivalent of count in terms of noble rank on various worlds includes "earl" and "graf", while a "landgrave" refers to a graf of considerable power and landholdings -- an "archcount".

Countships are generally far below duchies in terms of land, wealth, and power, but there are examples of individual counts who have created extremely powerful structures as great in extent and authority as many duchies or kingdoms. This is particularly true when a particular countship is annexed as a title of succession, that is, the heir to the throne automatically receives a particular land- or world-based countship. Rarely does a count rule an entire world. When he does, the world is usually uninhabitable or only marginally so, but important because of its resources, position, or tradition. Generally, a count exercises direct control over a continental land mass, or, on rich and fertile worlds, to a tract of land ranging from hundreds to thousands of kilometers across. Some counts are regarded as the sovereigns of particular cities, or of the settled moons of worlds ruled by a duke or marquess.

Baron

Lowest in rank of the orders of peerage is baron, the word being derived from the term "the King's man". The power wielded by a baron can vary tremendously. The title may be an honorific only, bestowed for service to the crown, or it can carry with it feudal attachments to land that confer real power on the owner. There are baronies encompassing an entire world, though most are restricted to individual cities, or even a particular fortress and military settlement.

Baronet

The term baronet was originally created by James I of England to raise money, the idea being that commoners would pay for the privilege of being styled "baronet". Among the Successor States, it is occassion- ally encountered, generally as an honorary title conferred for service by a peer on a commoner. In most cases, a baronetcy is hereditary, the title passing on to the elder son. Among the warrior cultures of the Successor sStates, it is frequently awarded as an honor for great bravery in combat on the part of an enlisted trooper.