Nobility

The nobility in the Imperium is a legal system comprising both hereditary and lifetime titles, composed of various noble ranks. Imperial noble title holders are termed Lords of the Realms. The nobility's fundamental roles are ones of government, being entitled to a seat in the House of Nobles, and of meritocracy, the receiving of any no le title being the highest of Imperial honours (with the receiving of a more traditional hereditary nobility naturally holding more weight than that of a more modern, and less highly-regarded, life nobility). They are preceded in precedence by the Aristocracy of the Imperium, and are followed by the Landed Gentry. 
Nobility might be either inherited or conferred by a fons honorum. It is usually an acknowledged preeminence that is hereditary, i.e. the status descends exclusively to some or all of the legitimate, and usually male-line, descendants of a nobleman. In this respect, the nobility as a class has always been much more extensive than the primogeniture-based titled nobility, which includes the members of the House of Lords, the patres familias of noble families. This higher nobility is known as the Nobilitas Gladiī (Nobility of the Sword).
Some wealthy plebs, most particularly the members of the various governal courts, have been ennobled by the Emperor, constituting the noblesse de robe.
==Noble Privileges ==
Not all of the benefits of nobility derive from noble status per se. Usually privileges are granted or recognised by the monarch in association with possession of a specific title, office, or estate. Most nobles' wealth derives from one or more estates, large or small, that might include fields, pasture, orchards, timberland, hunting grounds, streams, etc. It may also include infrastructure such as castle, well and mill to which local peasants are allowed some access, although often at a price. Nobles are expected to live "nobly", that is, from the proceeds of these possessions. Work involving manual labour or subordination to those of lower rank (with specific exceptions, such as in military or ecclesiastic service) is either forbidden (as derogation from noble status) or frowned upon socially. On the other hand, membership in the nobility is usually a prerequisite for holding offices of trust in the realm and for career promotion, especially in the military, at court and often the higher functions in the government, judiciary and church.
Nobles typically command tribute in the form of entitlement to cash rents or usage taxes, labour or a portion of the annual crop yield from commoners or nobles of lower rank who live or work on the noble's manor or within his seigneurial domain. In some countries, the local lord could impose restrictions on such a commoner's movements, religion or legal undertakings. Nobles exclusively enjoyed the privilege of hunting. In France, nobles were exempt from paying the taille, the major direct tax. Peasants were not only bound to the nobility by dues and services, but the exercise of their rights was often also subject to the jurisdiction of courts and police from whose authority the actions of nobles were entirely or partially exempt. In some parts of the Imperium, the right of private war still remains the privilege of some Nobles.
== Nobilitas Gladiī (Nobility of the Sword) ==
The Nobles of the Sword (Latin: Nobilitas Gladiī) are the noblemen of the oldest class of nobility in the Imperium dating from the Middle Ages, and continue to be ennobled today.
The nobles of the sword traditionally have more power than the nobles of the robe. Their inherent position is derived from the military service they owe to the Emperor in return for possession of their land-holdings, which are passed from father to son; but they also hold official positions in provincial and national government, and at court.
=== Archidux/Archiducissa (Archduke/Archduchess) ===
Archduke (feminine: Archduchess) is the title borne by all members of the Julii Caesares et Tenecous-Habsburg dynasty, as well as those trusted greatly by the Emperor. It denotes the highest noble rank within the Imperium, which is below that of Emperor and King and above that of a Grand Duke, Duke and Prince, and brings great prestige. Their manner of address is Celsitudo Imperialis (Imperial Highness).
=== Regulus ([Client] King/Queen) ===
The king is primarily a war leader and a judge for barbarian tribes and kingdoms. Kings, through their division of the territory, treat kingdoms not as a state independent of themselves, but as their patrimony, land won by conquest (theirs and their forefathers'). Their manner of address is Celsitudo Regius (Royal Highness).
 
=== Magnus Dux/Magna Ducissa (Grand Duke/Grand Duchess) ===
Grand duke (feminine: grand duchess) is a hereditary title for either certain monarchs or members of certain monarchs' families. It is traditionally ranked in order of precedence below the title of emperor, king or archduke and above that of sovereign prince or sovereign duke. 
The term "grand duke" as a monarch reigning over a state was a later invention to denote either a particularly mighty duke or a monarchy playing an important political, military and/or economic role, but not large enough to be a Kingdom. It arose because the title of Duke had gradually lost status and precedence during the Dark Ages by having been granted to rulers of relatively small fiefs (feudal territories), instead of the large tribal regions or even national territories to which the title was once attached. Their manner of address is Celsitudo Magni Ducis (Grand Ducal Highness).
=== Dux/Ducissa (Duke/Duchess) ===
A duke (male) can either be a monarch ranked below the emperor, king, and grand duke ruling over a duchy or a member of royalty or nobility. The title is the Latin dux, 'leader', a term used in republican Rifarious to refer to a military commander without an official rank (particularly one of Germanic or Celtic origin), and later coming to mean the leading military commander of a province. During the Dark Ages, it became the feudal vassal ruler of a civil province. Their manner of address is Celsitudo Serenus (Serene Highness).
=== Dynastes (Dynast; Prince) ===
A Dynast of the Empire is the reigning sovereign ruler of an Imperial State that holds imperial immediacy in the boundaries of the Empire. The territory ruled is referred to as a principality, the family dynasty referred to as a princely house, and the (non-reigning) descendants of a Fürst are titled and referred to in German as Prinz (prince) or Prinzessin (princess). Their manner of address is Gratia Dynastae (Princely Grace).
=== Delphinus (Dauphin) and Comes/Comitissa (Count/Countess) ===
The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes — in its accusative comitem — meaning “companion”, and later “companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor”. The adjective form of the word is "comital". While using the same word, they are generally regarded as different from the Companions of the Emperor. A Dauphin is an elevated Count, usually holding more than one. Their manner of address is Celsitudo Eminens (Illustrious Highness).
=== Viscomes/Viscomitissa (Viscount/Viscountess) or Burgravius (Burgrave)===
A viscount is the fourth rank in the Imperial peerage system, standing directly below a count and above a baron. There are approximately 270 viscountcies currently extant in the peerages of the British Isles alone. It is the official title for the ruler of a castle, especially a royal or episcopal castle, and its territory called a Viscounty or Burgraviate. Their manner of address is Eminent Highness.
=== Baro/Baronissa (Baron/Baroness) ===
In nobility, barons form the one of the lowest rankS, placed immediately below viscounts. A woman of baronial rank has the title baroness. Barons are those Nobles who were originally slaves of the Emperor ruling with feudal power in His name, only to be granted freedom and noble power over the land. Their manner of address is Dominus Gratiosus (Gracious Lord).
=== Advocatus (Advocate) ===
An advocatus ( given as modern English, advocate; German, Vogt, or French avoué) is an office-holder, who is delegated to perform some of the responsibilities of a secular lord, in place of that lord.
While the term is eventually used to refer to many types governorship and advocacy, one of the earliest and most important types of advocatus, was the church advocate (advocatus ecclesiae). These were originally lay lords, who not only helped defend religious institutions in the secular world, but were also responsible for exercising lordly responsibilities within the church's lands, such as the handling of legal cases which might require the use of a death penalty. The positions of these office-holders eventually came to be seen as heritable titles themselves, with their own feudal privileges connected to them. Their manner of address is Excellens Maxime ([the] Most Excellent).
=== Baronittus/Baronissitus (Baronet/Baronetess) ===
A baronet (abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess (abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the Crown. A baronetcy is the only British hereditary honour that is not a peerage. Their manner of address is Illustris Maxime ([the] Most Illustrious).
== Nobilitas Limitum (Nobility of the borders) ==
Nobility in the limes are distinct in several ways: they are geographically compact and jurisdictionally separate one from another, and they have special privileges which separate them from the usual lordships. Imperial & Royal writ does not work in the Marches: Nobility of the Borders rule their lands by their own law — sicut regale ("like a king"), whereas inside the Imperium fief-holders are directly accountable to the king. Nobles of the borders may build castles, a jealously guarded and easily revoked privilege. Nobles of the borders administered laws, waged war, established markets in towns, and maintained their own chanceries that keep their records. They have their own deputies, or sheriffs. Sitting in their own courts they have jurisdiction over all cases at law save high treason. They may establish forests and forest laws, declare and wage war, establish boroughs, and grant extensive charters of liberties. They may confiscate the estates of traitors and felons, and regrant these at will. They may establish and preside over their own petty parliaments and county courts. Finally, they may claim any and every feudal due, aid, grant, and relief, although they may not mint coins. Their one insecurity, if they did not take up arms against the king, is of dying without a legitimate heir, whereupon the title reverted to the Crown in escheat.
=== Marchensis ===
Marquis is the title for a line of hereditary military commanders assigned to maintain the defence of one of the border feudal polities of the Holy Empire. Because the territorial integrity of the borders of the realm of the emperor are essential to national security, the vassal (whether a count or other lord) whose lands are on the march of the empire are likely to be appointed a Marquis and given greater responsibility for securing the border.
The greater exposure of a border province to military invasion mandates that the marquis be provided with military forces and autonomy of action (political as well as military) greater than those accorded other lords of the realm. As a military governor, the margrave's authority often extends over a territory larger than the feudal polity proper, because of border expansion subsequent to imperial and royal wars.
The marquis thus usually exercises commensurately greater politico-military power than other noblemen. The marquis maintain the greater armed forces and fortifications required for repelling invasion, which increases his political strength and independence relative to the monarch. Moreover, a marquis may expand his sovereign's realm by conquering additional territory, sometimes more than he may retain as a personal domain, thus allowing him to endow his own vassals with lands and resources in return for their loyalty to him.
=== Dominus Termini ===
Lords of the Terminal Borders are titles granted to Marquises that hold or are appointed to a polity with a high rate of conflict. While bringing great prestige and respect, they do not grant any extra power or authority.
=== Castellanus ===
For the Lands of the Tenecous-Habsburg Crown that lay outside of the borders of the Imperium, Castellans are appointed, with a castle as their ‘capital’. Usually the duties of a castellan consist of military responsibility for the castle's garrison, maintaining defences and protecting the castle's lands, combined with the legal administration of local lands and workers including the castle's domestic staff. The responsibility applies even where there was no resident castellan at the castle, or if he is frequently absent. A castellan may exercise the power of the "ban" – that is, to hear court cases and collect fines, taxes from residents, and muster local men for the defence of the area or the realm. Castellans have the power to administer all local justice, including sentencing and punishments up to and including the death penalty.
== Nobilitas Togae (Nobility of the Robe) ==
The Nobles of the Robe or Nobles of the Gown are Nobles whose rank come from holding certain judicial or administrative posts. As a rule, the positions do not of themselves give the holder a title of nobility, such as baron or viscount (although the holder might also have such a title), but they are almost always attached to a specific function. See the Imperial Council, for the majority of them. They are addresses as the dexter honōrābilis ([the] Right Honourable).
== Dignitas Aliena (Foreign dignities) ==
=== Phylarchus (Phylarch; Foreign Prince) ===
A nobleman bares the title of Phylarch as an indication of sovereignty, either actual or potential. Aside from those who are or claim to be monarchs, it belongs to those who were in line to succeed to a royal or independent throne. 
Like knights-errant of chivalric folklore, whether in exile or in search of Imperial/Royal patronage, to win renown at arms, international influence, or a private fortune, foreign princelings often migrate to the Predaconian court, regarded as both the most magnificent and munificent far and wide in the universe. Most find that, with assiduity and patience, they are well received by the Imperium’s Emperor-king as living adornments to his majesty and, if they remain in attendance at court, are often gifted with high office, military command, estates, governorships, embassies, church sinecures, titles and, sometimes, splendid dowries as the consorts of royal princesses. Their manner of address is the Much Honoured Dignitary.
== Unfree Nobility ==
=== Ministralis ===
Ministerialis (plural ministeriales; meaning literally "servitor" or "agent", in a broad range of senses) are people raised up from serfdom to be placed in positions of power and responsibility. What began as an irregular arrangement of workers with a wide variety of duties and restrictions rose in status and wealth to become the power brokers of an empire. The ministeriales are not legally free people, but hold social rank. Legally, their liege lord determines whom they may or may not marry, and they are not able to transfer their lords' properties to heirs or spouses. They are, however, considered members of the nobility since that is a social designation, not a legal one. Ministeriales are also trained knights, hold military responsibilities and surrounded themselves with the trappings of knighthood, and so are accepted as noblemen. Both women and men hold the ministerial status, and the laws on ministeriales make no distinction between the sexes in how they are treated.