Peerage, Titles, and Honors of The Realms

Steel Realms
Peerage, Titles, and Honors vary by region, but generally follow a basic outline. They are loosely based off the original Peerage, Titles, and Honors of Dominion.

Peer of the Realm

Peer of the Realm is a titular rank that indicates that the family or individual is recognized as having contributed significantly to the ongoing stability, welfare, and safety of the realms and/or High King. The title can pass to the eldest of a family and revoked at any time by the High King. They typically last only a single generation or two.

  • Friend Of: They have risked their own life, and sacrificed their own materials in pursuit of promoting the subject/place – which in turn has recompensed them.
  • Defender Of: They have memorably risked their own life and materials in defending the subject/place against overwhelming odds. It is implied that they will do so again in the future if needs arise.
  • Protector Of: They have voluntarily given their word to protect the interests of the subject/place, so dear to their heart and soul is it. They are honor-bound to facilitate any dealings towards the advancement of the subject over others, and to come to its aid if called upon.

Social Titles (Non-Peerage)

Specific Titles or Address: These are used when addressing someone, or assessing social rank used in Settlement Planning and Design in the Steel Realms.

  • Councilata: A member of a governing council of a settlement – town, city, or village.
  • Magistrate: Bureaucrats and functionaries of the highest order are often referred to as magistrates – city and large chartered community leaders, committee members, etc. The qualifiers ‘honorable’ are often added to a title which has been held for a long tenure.
  • Yeoman: The vast majority of agrarian land is owned by Yeomans – non peerage land owners.
  • Hetman: An older local Yeoman considered wise that has been chosen to represent a small local community. This is usually a Hamlet, village or Steading.
  • Mayor: An elected official that oversees a city, town or village in representing it to the outside world and managing internal administrative duties. They often have one or more ‘attendants’ – ombudsman, cleanser, clerk, etc., depending on how large the settlement is; Larger ones will have ‘departments’ with chiefs/heads and more attendants.

  • Heraldsmein: This Titles is often a qualifier – “Good day Sira Heraldsmein Jones”. Bards, World Watchers, Heralds, and generally those who seek and carry information from one place to another in service to a liege or not.

    Misser & Misses – An honorary/formal reference; when one wants to be socially graceful or acknowledge seniority, quality, and/or experience.

    Sira/Siress – Used as an acknowledgement of leadership or significance; a proprietor or head of the family or group.

    – There are merited Honorific titles/medals given to those of exemplary accomplishment that are leaders and significant positions.

    Social Titles (Hereditary)

    Sir/Dame – (Quasi-Peerage) A knighted individual; they are given the right to bear arms and mete justice by enforcing the law (of which they must have knowledge of, or maintain in their retinue one who does) of the lord on the land they own (“hedge” knight = unlanded; title only) in the pursuit of the protection of the inhabitants of a designated area. A knight cannot contradict any decree and cannot conduct a formal legal trial – though can call for one by combat. These typically rule over villages, hamlets, and smaller settlements.

    There are usually a series of merit titles; a passage-at-arms, to achieve knighthood: Sergeant Brother/Sergeant-at-Arms, Squire, and Page.

    Warden – (Non-Peerage) They are granted a tract of land upon which they must live for which they are required to enforce the law upon and allowed to collect the rents (but not taxes) and get a % of the profits – but they do not own the land themselves and their title is not, by default, hereditary. Wardens are not allowed to maintain their own force of arms except a minor one as bodyguard for tax collection.

    Curator (religious Warden); Upon the lands the religious institution owns.

    Sheriff – (Non-Peerage; usually knighted); They are required to enforce law over large specific area; supply troops to their lord’s army in time of war, build defenses, collect tariffs and taxes over as well as handling the landlord duties (using Wardens, Marshalls and Deputies under them). They are required to protect all those under their charge, and can actually execute a legal trial. Their title can be hereditary – though can be revoked any time. Sheriffs are expected to maintain a small armed force. There are usually a series of titles; a passage-at-arms, to achieve Sheriff.

    • Marshall; A “Lt.” essentially, expected to direct deputies, men-at-arms and mercenaries in the employ of a Sheriff. Can deputize others.
    • Deputy; A “Cpl.” essentially – carry out specific instructions of a Marshall or Sheriff. A senior deputy (a “Sgt.” essentially) can temporarily deputize others.

    Peerage Title

    Viscount – (Non-titular Peer; knighted, appointed) Can actually try and execute criminals; Viscount is a spokesperson for a higher lord directly – a delegated authority. They are usually a trusted aide – a current or one-time Bannerman. Their title is not, by default, hereditary.

    – Watcher = Traveling Viscount; ex: “Viscount Only, Watcher of the West”

    – Guardian = Stationary; where they live

    > “Marquis” (out of favor – used only in the south) Equivalent of Viscount

    Baron (knighted) Pledged to Count, Earl, Duke, and/or King

    Count (knighted) Pledged to a Duke and/or King; rules a full county of land.

    Earl (knighted) Used more in the north; Pledged to a Duke and/or King. Typically fief is smaller than a full county – but they are equivalent in peerage.

    Marquis (knighted)

    Duke (knighted) Pledged to a King; There is No Arch-Duke Peerage of the Realms.

    King: There is only one kingdom, other than Gladnor, and that is Umbak.

    High King (knighted) – “King of the Realms”. King of Galdnor.

    Similar Cultural Peerage Titles

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