Titles
From Towers
Categories: Setting | Language
The Towerlands use the traditional titles for their monarchies and nobility.
Royal Titles
Andevan is a ruling king. Andefan is a ruling queen. Feel free to use king and queen in-game if you can't remember the title.
Andevani is a king-consort to a ruling king. Andefana is a queen-consort to a ruling king. Feel free to substitute king-consort and queen-consort.
Devan is a prince who will likely ascend the throne. Defan is a princess who will likely ascend the throne. Prince and princess are workable substitutions.
Devani is a prince who is not likely to be king. Defana is a princess who is not likely to be queen. Prince and princess are workable substitutions.
Landed Titles
Typical landed titles include: Knight, Knight Bannerette, Baronet, Baron (or Viscount), Count (or Earl), Marquis, and Duke.
Now on the basis that there should be some difference between the ranks other than simple size I'll posit the following.
Knights
Knights are the lowest level of nobility, they have an obligation to provide at least one "lance" in battle. A lance is a unit consisting of at least one armoured cavalry, one light cavalry, 4 infantry, an archer and a crossbowman. Knights who can't provide more than this are referred to as "line knights" because they have to personally be on the battle line to make up the numbers. Of course generally they're required to turn up anyway but this is an indication of their low status.
Some Knights have obligations up to 5 or 6 times this depending on the wealth of their domain. The more and better land they have, the greater their obligation. Generally the obligation is about 1 lance per 4 square miles (about half of it farmland, half forests or unfarmable areas) varying extensively with the quality of the land.
Knights live in fortified manor houses that have moats, walls connecting all the buildings to form a courtyard, one or two solid entrances and no ground floor windows the outside. They are clearly defensive but are basically houses with defensive features rather than forts that people happen to live in. Knights don't have any noble vassals. They are owed fealty by the free peasants and serfs on their land. They are addressed as "Sire" or "Sir" or sometimes "Lord" by their own subjects _only_. If you address a knight who is not your lord as "Lord" you will be corrected, often with the comment "It's sir to you. I work for a living."
Knight Bannerattes
Knight Bannerattes are knights who have at least one knight as a vassal. Other than that they are just like knights but obviously they tend to have more land and consequently a larger direct military commitment about 6 to 12 lances. They are addressed as knights are.
Baronettes
Baronettes have at least one Knight Bannerette or better as their vassal and hence have at least one noble as their vassal's vassal. They are therefore obliged to maintain at least one "tower" which is a fortress rather than a fortified house. Baronettes and higher are entited to be called "Lord" by anyone of lesser or equal rank.
Barons
Barons are nobles with two or more "towers" or one tower big enough to hold a company of men. Traditionally this is the lowest level of nobility thought capable of rebelling against a king or maintaining independence. Many Baronial families have been "Kings" at some time in the past. Their theorectical ability to rebel against the King means that the King generally appoints advisers, ministers etc. from nobiles at least this level. Barons are entitled to be called "Lord" by everybody.
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