Archon

Archon is a title of lordship or nobility that is used in various regions throughout Orithea and Rhydain, and in certain parts of Achuirea and the Azarian Isles as well. Depending on the regional and cultural context, it may have a number of different connotations, and may rank higher or lower in the hierarchy of noble titles. The territory ruled by an archon is typically called an archonate, and the female equivalent is "archona."
In Rhydain, eastern Orithea, and Taijuria, the rank of archon is often used for the lord of a free city or city-state, whether his position is elective or hereditary, and whether he is sovereign or subordinate to a higher liege-lord. In such cases, it is interchangeable with (and considered nearly synonymous with) the title "Lord of the City." This rank is often, but not always, roughly equivalent to that of a duke. For instance, the Archon of Torrune, and the archons of various Alondrian city-states, are generally treated as if they were of ducal rank in terms of honors and etiquette. However there are exceptions; the ruler of the free city of Thrommelport, for example, technically holds archonal rank (along with several other titles) but is widely considered to be more like a king than anything else. 
In the Phyridian Empire, by contrast, the title "archon" is used specifically for a class of imperial governors who are appointed by Amran to rule over certain cities. They are distinguished from other types of high governing officials by the particular privileges and prerogatives afforded to their administration. In this context, even the lowliest commoner may assume the title of archon if the Phyridian Emperor sees fit to appoint them governor of a city whose rulership includes those archonal prerogatives (although in practice, as with other high imperial appointments, these are usually given to a relatively small circle of aristocratic families with ties to the imperial household). 
In Kelimaria and parts of the the Western Isles, by contrast, an archon may be the lord (typically noble-born and hereditary) of a single city, a province or prefecture, an individual island, or even a large feudal domain. It may be considered equivalent to any of several different grades of nobility, depending on the size of the lord's holdings. A petty archon who governs a single small city and its hinterland might be considered to hold something like baronial rank, whereas the greatest archons ruling huge territories might be considered nearly equivalent to an emir (prince). 
In Achuirea, the meaning of the title is generally close to that used in Rhydain and Taijuria (i.e. the ruler of a city-state, of whatever status), although this is by no means always true. 
"Archon" may also be used for the masters of certain religious orders or priesthoods, or the high priest who also holds paramount governing authority or rulership over a temple-state.