Lordship

Lordship is a title given to a person who controls authority. The title of lord may also be given as a courtesy to merchants, royal officers and others in a position of power or influence, an honorific usage distinct from the grant of the rank of lordship, which is typically assumed to be accompanied by a grant of lands or a castle. One may also be legally raised to the style of "Lord" without also receiving lands, but such a lordship is effectively an empty honor.
In addition, speakers sometimes address or refer to those of higher rank as "my lord" or "my lord of", regardless of whether the recipient is highborn or otherwise titled or not. Smallfolk addressing hedge knights or sworn shields referring to their masters may employ this style, rather than using "Ser". Similarly, "Lordling" is a commonly used term for young men of highborn or wealthy appearance, regardless of the status of their House or what other titles they may be known to bear.
== Types of Lords ==
* Lord, under the feudal system of the Nine Kingdoms, is a hereditary title of nobility expressed through the bonds of vassalage which connect the owners of various strongholds. All lords have vassals, the vassals can have knights, and the feudalism chain continues down to the peasants. In Sternlands, there are many lords, some bigger and some smaller, some sworn to others, but still all with the same title.
* Lord is also a title held by various Great Houses of the Six Kingdoms, those holding dominion over one of the eight regions of the Six Kingdoms, second only to the King of the Andals, the Talmar, the Easternlings, and the Free Men. The title has been used since the establishment of the Eight Kingdoms to the establishment of the Six Kingdoms from the Talmar Conquest to Sergei's Conquest. Sergei the Conqueror also created the title of Lord Paramount for some of the provinces. Rather than lord, the House of Sinope and the House of Crimson are allowed to continue styling themselves as "Count" while the Morningstars of Deccan are allowed to style themselves as "Emir" and the Tarths as "Duke and Duchess". 
* Lord Commander, a rank used in various institutions in the Six Kingdoms, including the Crownsguard, Kingsguard, Capital Guard, City Guard, Townsguard, Palace Guard, and Garrison. Indicating a position of authority and leadership, holders are referred to by the title whether or not they are of noble birth.
* Administrative positions containing lord in the title, such as the "Lord Treasurer", used in Sinope, Tarth, and on some noble councils, are said to be in the style of the Free Cities.
* Lords by Courtesy, who do not hold actual lordships. There are notable Lord Regents who did not possess lordly title in their own right, but were referred to as "Lord" while they remained in the position. The Royal Council and Noble Council members are called lords because of their offices, but it is uncertain whether a formal grant of lordship typically accompanies this style, or whether it was traditionally merely a courtesy. This usage sometimes extends to those wishing to show courtesy to a junior member of a Noble House during conversation, by addressing them with the title of Lord in conjunction with their personal name. The title of lord in conjunction with the House name is properly reserved for the legal head of the House.