Titles & Land Grants in Monvesia

A liege may offer titles as a reward for service, and those titles may also come with a grants of land--small at first, but increasing as the character gains prestige and authority.

Here is a comparative list of titles in Monvesia, including vague descriptions of their relative lands, power, and authority.  Generally, only sovereigns (rulers of independent nations--ducal and higher) grant noble titles as rewards.  Baronial and comital nobles may grant ceremonial knighthood--though typically not with land.

Titles are listed from lowest to highest.  Where multiple titles are included, the lower titles are listed first.  English terms (which are a mix of Germanic and Romance) are used for "generic" titles.

Please note that this list is a major generalization, and is not meant to be used for historical accuracy; instead, it perpetuates and standardizes several anachronisms common to tabletop gaming (particularly an American "understanding" of nobility).

 

Ceremonial Knighthood.  While knights are often oathsworn officers in a liege's army, akin to a military order, others are granted knighthood as a reward.  These ceremonial knights hold the same authority in court as other knights, but not on the battlefield.  Some ceremonial knighthoods may also include a small land grant of a single, "modest" manor house.

• Cuorrian:  Cavalier
• Dwarven:  Raindi
• Elven:  Valio [Champion]
• Galtic:  Archog
• Gnomish:  Daqqaz [Champion]
• Goliath:  Helam
• Honderreicher:  Ritter
• Notopolitan:  Ippotis(sa)
• Rakasta:  Djiqic [Brave Rider]
• Veldi:  Shatri
• Voztokny:  Vitez

Baronial Titles.  A baron possesses a private manor or keep and its accompanying village or town, collectively called a barony. A junior baron with no lands, or one who has not yet earned (or who has lost) the right to attend the sovereign’s court may be called a baronet.   

• Cuorrian:  Baronet(ess), Baron(ess)
• Dwarven: Uprosi [elder of a house]
• Elven:  Kanerva-Toumari [Heath-Judge]
• Galtic:  Rig
• Gnomish:  Dan [elder of a band]
• Goliath:  Nephi [Elder of a clan], Cumeni [Judge]
• Honderreicher:  Edler, Friherr/Frifrau (Freelord/Freelady)
• Notopolitan:  Varonetos/Varoneti, Varonos/Varoni
• Rakasta:  Veq [Elder], Basj Veq [First Elder]
• Veldi:  Jagirdar
• Voztokny:  Baron(esa)

Comital Titles.  A count possesses a number of  villages, called a county, possibly including a city or even a vassal barony. A subordinate count with little or no lands or even an urban center barely larger than a barony may be called a viscount / viscountess. A senior count with a larger county (typically those in border regions of a larger nation) may be called a marquess / marchioness.  In some areas, a "senior count" is considered of ducal level, below.

• Cuorrian:  Viscount(ess), Count(ess), Marquis(e)
• Dwarven:  Tavkatsi [elder of an entire clan]
• Elven:  Osasto-Toumari [Wood-Judge]
• Galtic:  Rurig
• Gnomish:  Dedan [elder of an entire clan]
• Goliath:  Lehi [Patriarch of a tribe]
• Honderreicher: Burgrave/Burgravine, Grave/Gravine, Margrave/Margravine
• Notopolitan:  Ypokomis(sa), Komis(sa), Markisio/Markisia
• Rakasta:  Irnjan(um) [Cadet Pride Lord]
• Veldi:  Zamindar
• Voztokny:  Boyar(ina)

Ducal Titles.  A duke possesses considerable territory called a duchy.  A duchy may include one or more counts or barons as vassals--and the duke may in turn be the vassal of a king or emperor. Alternately, this position may be called a grand duke / duchess or archduke / archduchess when the territory is independent of a kingdom (but may still be part of an empire).  

• Cuorrian:  Duke/Duchess, Archduke/Archduchess, Grand Duke/Duchess
• Dwarven:  Mepe [King]
• Elven:  Metsa-Toumari [Forest-Judge]
• Galtic:  Rig Rurig
• Gnomish:  Bachcha  [King]
• Goliath:  Pacumeni [Chief Judge]
• Honderreicher:  Hertog(ine), Ertshertog(ine), Storhertog(ine)
• Notopolitan: Doukas/Doukissa, Archidoukas/Archidoukissa, Megas Doukas/Doukissa
• Rakasta:  Njan(um) [Pride Lord]
• Veldi:  Sardar
• Voztokny:  Vojvoda/Vojvodina, Nadvijvoda/Nadvojvodina, Velki Vojvoda/Vojvodina

Royal Titles.  A king possesses a vast amount of territory called a kingdom, likely including dukes, counts and barons as vassals. A king of a smaller, independent territory may be called a prince, and his territory a principality.  A king that is liege to an emperor may be called an archduke / archduchess or even a grand prince / princess.

The immediate, non-sovereign family members of a royal house also have their own titles, listed below the royal entries.  Note, in the Honderreich, prince is the title of non-sovereign royals; while in Cuorria, prince is a sovereign title.

• Cuorrian:  Prince, Regent/Regina
• Enfante(e), Dauphin(e)
• Dwarven:  Maghali Mepe [High King]
• Elven:  Ensimmainen [First/Prince]
• Galtic:  Ard Rig [rarely used]
• Gnomish:  Dohhar Bachcha [First King; rarely used]
• Goliath:  Mulek
• Amulek
• Honderreicher:  Furst(ine), King/Queen
• Prince(ss), Crown Prince(ss)
• Notopolitan:  Archon, Basileus/Basilinna, Anax/Anassa 
• Despot/Despina
• Rakasta:  Nja'an / Njacun [Great Pride Lord]
• Njandan
• Veldi:  Shah/Shabanu
• Shazadeh
• Voztokny:  Knyaz(ina), Korol(ova)

Imperial Titles.  An emperor possesses immense territory, called an empire. Empires often include royal vassals and electors.  Variants on the imperial titles also include high king and king of kings.

Imperial "princes of the blood" typically bear the title grand duke / duchess, though grand prince / princess or even archduke / archduchess (if land is held) are also likely.

• Cuorrian:  Emperor/Empress
• Dwarven:  Mepeebis Mepe [King of Kings; hypothetical, unused]
• Elven:  n/a
• Galtic:  Ard Rurig [hypothetical, unused]
• Gnomish: n/a
• Goliath: n/a
• Honderreicher:  Kaiser(ine)
• Notopolitan:  Autokrator/Autokrateira
• Rakasta:  Gyrnjan [Grand Pride Lord; rarely used--most recently during the Orc Wars]
• Veldi:  Padishah
• Voztokny:  Tsar(ina)