The Feudal System
Control of the lands is derived through the feudal government system, this means that the King hands out control of regions of the lands to nobles who have pleased him, and they in turn sub-divide their lands further by appointing sub-ordinate rulers. The growth of commerce and city-based businesses across the lands has lead to a breakdown of feudal farming and regular peasantry, yet there are still many small holding farmers who provide the food and other naturally-acquired goods for the growing markets of the main cities of the lands.
All Peerages are handed out by the monarch, but in practice, those ranks below Earl are handled locally, with no intervention from the crown. Those above this rank may be given or taken freely by the monarch, and new appointments are sometimes made without his intervention – the crown relies on stability in the feudal ranks, and prefers not to make lots of changes in the lineage of the lords, otherwise anarchy can ensue.
Feudal Titles
The feudal ranks used in human political circles are consistent over the whole of Arthea, although there are naming differences in some places. Some of the positions are hereditary, while others are handed out as gifts of the monarchy, or by other high ranking peers in the name of the monarch.
The ranks are as follows; the female titles are usually bestowed automatically on the spouse of the main title holder, but frequently women are appointed into positions on their own merit. Each rank determines the size of the land under its control, and management of that land is usually delegated to lower ranked nobles.
King/Queen. Ruler of the whole nation. Normally the title of 'Emperor' would have outranked this title, but the precedent in Arthea is for the King of Arthea to outrank the Emperor of the Carrodian Empire. This precedent was set when Ticetia and Caldonacia were not brought into the Empire in 1341, but instead the Kingdom of Arthea was created which included the Empire.
Prince/Princess. When the lands were united by King Thomas in 1344, the political divisions of Arthea were reviewed. In 1346, he abolished the three kingdoms, establishing Arthea in their place; the three kingdoms then became principalities. In 1412, there are only two princes appointed, the Prince of Caldonacia and the Prince of Carrodia, these positions are not hereditary, and are often handed to close relatives of the monarch, the principality of Ticetia was established as the title for the heir to the throne by King Siegfried, who handed the title to his son, James. These positions are usually filled by figureheads, with no real control of the principality (the real executive is handled by the dukes).
Duke/Duchess. Controls several counties of a principality. Usually the Duke answers directly to the King, not to a prince. Each principality is split into three or four duchies in this manner.
Marquis/Marquess. The Marquis is ruler of one of the larger counties in the lands; other county rulers are Earls, who supposedly look after smaller counties. The split between counties is arbitrary in some cases, however. When the monarchy changed in 1384, many of the newly appointed peers were granted their position based on their performance during the civil war and for the perceived importance of the lands that went with the position, rather than the size or population of the areas involved.
Earl/Countess (in the North) or Count/Countess (in the former Empire). Controls a smaller county in a duchy, see Marquis, above.
Viscount/Viscountess (in Ticetia and the former Empire) or Reeve (in parts of Caldonacia). Usually granted the control of one of the city regions of a county. Most counties contain three or four such cities, but there is usually no Viscountcy for the county city, unless the Earl or Marquis has made a special appointment.
Baron/Baroness. Usually controls a feudal district, normally outside a city, and reporting to the Viscount or Earl/Marquis in control of that closest city. Occasionally the title is handed out with no lands as a reward for heroic service or as a favour.
Knight. Not strictly a feudal rank, but this position of competence puts the holder above the common people in the feudal structure. Knights are usually appointed by Marquises or Earls, or by the Duke or even (occasionally) by the King.
Esquire. Usually this title is handed out either for an appointment as an assistant to a Knight, or as an administrator with duties for a district of a town or city, or a subdivision within a barony. Administration reporting is usually to a baron or (occasionally) to a Viscount. Occasionally, the title is handed out as a reward for heroic deeds.
Commoner. Everyone else, even the serfs who have inherited farm holdings.
While the ranks of Knight and lower are not formally part of the feudal rank systems, they are included here to show their position in the social order. Ranks of Baron and below are not considered Peers.