Alliance of the Seven Kingdoms

**The Alliance of the Seven Kingdoms** is, as the name indicates, an alliance between seven nations in the world of the Royal Family series. In order of joining, these kingdoms are: Windenburg, Willow Creek, Oasis Springs, Brindleton Bay, Sulani, the UKSD (formerly known as Selvadorada), and Guāng Xī.

In the series, another nation is shown, the Kingdom of Qin Xing, but is not part of the Alliance. Other nations mentioned or shown are; Newcrest, Del Sol Valley, San Myshuno, Evergreen Harbor, Granite Falls and Monte Vista. Their form of government is unknown.

## History

### Alliance of the Three Kingdoms

The Alliance began as a union of three countries: Windenburg, Willow Creek, and Oasis Springs. This alliance began at the creation of the latter two kingdoms. It was formed by King Henry II of Windenburg, King Edward of Willow Creek, and King Kash of Oasis Springs. The first marriage between two royals of the Alliance occurred at this time, between Prince Kellan of Windenburg and Princess Isla of Oasis Springs.

### Alliance of the Four Kingdoms

At its creation, Brindleton Bay became the fourth kingdom to join the Alliance. When Crown Prince Jarrod of Oasis Springs refused the Throne in order to marry a commoner, Miss Nina Shepard, he founded the Kingdom of Brindleton Bay with the help of his uncle, King George of Windenburg. In order to give legitimacy to the newly-established kingdom, an arranged marriage was planned between King Jarrod's heir and one of King George's grandchildren (see The Treaty of Brindleton Bay and Windenburg).

### Alliance of the Five Kingdoms

The fifth kingdom to join the Alliance was the Kingdom of Sulani. Unlike Brindleton Bay, Sulani was already an established monarchy before joining the Alliance, so its legitimacy was not questioned. Sulani simply began building relationships with the other kingdoms, and agreed to join the Alliance. Sulani does not engage in the practice of arranged marriages, but did end up connected to the other kingdoms by marriage when Crown Princess Leilana married a noble from one of the Four Kingdoms, Count Dean of Oasis Springs.

### Alliance of the Seven Kingdoms

The Kingdoms of Selvadorada (now UKSD) and Guāng Xī joined the Alliance at the same time, bringing the number of kingdoms to seven. There were no arranged marriages between the Five Kingdoms and the new two, but marriages occurred anyway: Crown Princess Amira of Windenburg married Prince Jabari of Selvadorada, and Prince Takashi of Guāng Xī married Princess Elena of Willow Creek. These marriages united both Guāng Xī and the UKSD to one of the original three Kingdoms.

Arranged marriages are no longer as common as they were in the past. They are now most common in Oasis Springs, and sometimes Willow Creek. However, it is still common for royals and nobles of the Seven Kingdoms to marry each other, even without an arranged marriage. Since the marriage of Queen Nina of Brindleton Bay, many commoners have been introduced to royal and noble families, like Lily of Sulani, Prince Elis of Willow Creek, and Countess Fallon of Windenburg.

The Kingdoms of the Alliance have peaceful relationships. They take turns hosting Alliance-wide events, like the Debutante Ball and Semiannual Monarchs' Meeting. They also have pieces of shared land, where things like the Alliance Prep School is located.

## Marriages

### Royal Marriages

Since its creation, the Alliance has been provided with a number of marriages between its royals:

* King Kellan of Windenburg and Princess Isla of Oasis Springs.
* Prince John of Windenburg and Princess Jane of Willow Creek.
* King William of Willow Creek and Princess Emily of Windenburg.
* King Easton of Oasis Springs and Princess Aria of Windenburg.
* King Derek of Willow Creek and Princess Elena of Oasis Springs.
* King Henry IV of Windenburg and Princess Alice of Willow Creek.
* King Edmond of Willow Creek and Princess Cora of Windenburg.
* Queen Amira of Windenburg and Prince Jabari of Selvadorada.
* Prince Kellan of Windenburg and Princess Megan of Oasis Springs.
* Prince Francisco of Oasis Springs and Princess Isabelle of Willow Creek.
* Princess Samaria of Sulani and Princess Bellatrix of Windenburg.
* Prince Manuel of Oasis Springs and Princess Juliet of Willow Creek.
* Prince Takashi of Guāng Xī and Princess Elena of Willow Creek.
* Crown Prince Makana of Sulani and Princess Kimberly of Oasis Springs.

### Royal to Commoner Marriages

* King Henry I of Windenburg and Miss Revenna Coslett.
* King Jarrod of Brindleton Bay and Miss Nina Shepard.
* Prince Charles of Windenburg and Miss Fallon Waterloo.
* Princess Diana of Windenburg and Mister Abraham Kirkland.
* Crown Prince Cornelius of Willow Creek and Mister Elis Mayfield.
* King Adric of the UKSD and Miss Desta Jelani.
* Prince Elon of the UKSD and Miss Natalia Flores.
* Princess Genevieve of Willow Creek and Mister John Rosenthal.

## Succession Laws

### Royalty

Originally, the Kingdoms of Windenburg, Willow Creek, Oasis Springs, and Brindleton Bay used the system of *male-preference primogeniture* for their royal succession. This means that a younger brother came before an older sister in the line of succession, and women could only become monarchs if they had no brothers. (For example, King Edmond of Willow Creek became the monarch instead of his older sister, Princess Alice.)

Oasis Springs was the first kingdom to change its succession law to *absolute primogeniture*, which means that the eldest child is the heir regardless of gender. Crown Princess Naya (now Queen) of Oasis Springs became the first woman to inherit her throne in the series. Since then, Windenburg, Willow Creek and Brindleton Bay have also changed their succession laws to absolute primogeniture.

Guāng Xī used absolute primogeniture prior to the start of the series. We know this because when they joined the Alliance, they already had a female heir apparent, Crown Princess Araminta. Additionally, Emperor Jao referred to the eldest child being the heir as one of the kingdom's "ancient traditions," while talking to his daughter Annya.

The succession laws of Sulani prior to the series are unknown, but presumably they used absolute primogeniture as well. When Sulani joined the Alliance, they had a female heir (Crown Princess Leilana), and have never discussed any need to update their laws.

In Selvadorada, the rules were different prior to the series. King Cayman's mother, Queen Abana, was the one who inherited the throne from her ancestors; however, her husband King Jaheem became the King when he married her. This suggests that women were not allowed to inherit the Selvadorada throne at all during Abana's lifetime. (This has since changed.)

Nowadays, all of the Seven Kingdoms use absolute primogeniture as their succession rules.

### Nobility

Noble titles in the Seven Kingdoms have always been passed down through absolute primogeniture, from parent to child. However, there have been exceptions to this rule in the series. In some cases, titles can pass from sibling to sibling. Countess Aria of Oasis Springs inherited the title from her brother, Count Dean, when he gave it up to marry Crown Princess Leilana of Sulani.

The eldest child is normally the heir, but there have been exceptions. For example, the heir of Countess Aria of Oasis Springs would normally be her eldest child, Gabriel. However, Gabriel renounced his claim to his mother's title in order to marry Crown Princess Arya of Oasis Springs. (In the Royal Family series, a person very rarely holds more than one title.) Gabriel's younger sister, Lady Minerva, is now their mother's heir.

In other cases, Noble titles can be given as gifts. After the death of Marquess Ross of Windenburg, his title became vacant because his two sons, Lord Matthew and Lord Franklin, married other Nobles and renounced their claims. Because the Marquisate of Windenburg no longer had a holder, King Henry IV of Windenburg decided to give the title to his sister, Princess Anna.

#### Special succession cases

Sometimes, a Noble's heir simply does not take on the title as they are expected to, such as Lady Nora of Windenburg. Lady Nora is the only child of the late Earl Gianni and Countess Chloe of Windenburg, and thus their heir. She was a child when her parents died, and moved in with her aunt Gina, who was the Duchess Consort of Oasis Springs. It is likely that Nora renounced her right to the Earldom in order to move to Oasis Springs. The title was left vacant, and then given to Prince Charles as his wedding gift.

In other cases, a noble title is given away by the Noble themselves. Prince Consort Phillip of Oasis Springs had been the Count of Brindleton Bay before he married Queen Naya of Oasis Springs. He did not have a sibling to pass this Noble title to, so he gave it to his brother-in-law, Prince Francisco, as a wedding gift.

## Illegitimate Children

A bastard is the illegitimate child of a royal or a noble, which means their parents were not married when they were born. Typically, an illegitimate child cannot inherit noble titles. (For example, Lord Ajay of Oasis Springs is the eldest child of Prince Michael, Marquess of Oasis Springs, but his younger sister Rosalind will inherit this title because he was born when his parents were unmarried teenagers.)

There are exceptions to this rule. Some illegitimate children are never discovered, and thus keep their place in line (for example: Queen Revenna's children were passed off as the children of King Henry I of Windenburg, and this was never discovered). In other cases, bastard children can be legitimized. (For example, Princess Nephthys of the UKSD was born out of wedlock, but she was legitimized and given the title of Princess and a place in the line of succession).

It is not known if illegitimate children can inherit thrones, because each Kingdom makes its own rules.

The illegitimate children in the series so far are:

* King Henry II of Windenburg (bastard of King Arthur of Windenburg and Queen Revenna of Windenburg). Thought to be legitimate.
* Prince Derrick of Windenburg (bastard of King Arthur of Windenburg and Queen Revenna of Windenburg). Thought to be legitimate.
* Princess Belle of Windenburg (bastard of King Arthur of Windenburg and Queen Revenna of Windenburg). Thought to be legitimate.

* Countess Tierra of Windenburg (bastard of King Derek of Willow Creek and Duchess Stella of Oasis Springs).
* Charlotte Smith (bastard of King Adrian of Oasis Springs and Harmony Smith). Banished with her mother.
* Lady Cara of Willow Creek (bastard of King Adrian of Oasis Springs and Duchess Blair of Oasis Springs). Thought to be legitimate.
* Lord Benjamin of Oasis Springs (bastard of King Adrian of Oasis Springs and Duchess Blair of Oasis Springs). Thought to be legitimate.
* Duchess Izadora of Willow Creek (bastard of King Adrian of Oasis Springs and Duchess Jillian of Willow Creek). Thought to be legitimate.
* Lord Ajay of Oasis Springs (bastard of Prince Michael, Marquess of Oasis Springs and Lady Helena of Willow Creek). Officially recognized.
* Princess Nephthys of the UKSD (bastard of King Cayman of Selvadorada and Lady Izara Amani). Officially legitimized and raised by King Cayman and Queen Zemora.

## Titles and Styles

### Royalty

#### Monarchs and Consorts

* A male monarch is a King and is styled as *His Majesty*. The only exception is Guāng Xī, where the monarch is Emperor and styled as *His Imperial Majesty.*
	+ e.g: *His Majesty* King Henry IV of Windenburg.
* A female monarch is a Queen and is styled as *Her Majesty*. The only exception is Guāng Xī, where the monarch is an Empress and styled as *Her Imperial Majesty.*
	+ e.g: *Her Imperial Majesty* Empress Araminta of Guāng Xī.
* A male consort is a Prince Consort and is styled as *His Royal Highness* (or, in Guāng Xī, *His Imperial Highness*).
	+ e.g: *His Royal Highness* Prince Consort Phillip of Oasis Springs.
* A female consort to a male monarch is a Queen and is styled as *Her Majesty*. The only exception is Guāng Xī, where the consort is an Empress and is styled as *Her Imperial Majesty.*
	+ e.g: *Her Majesty* Queen Desta of the UKSD.
* A female consort to a female monarch is a Princess Consort and is styled as *Her Royal Highness* (or, in Guāng Xī, *Her Imperial Highness*).

#### Dowagers

(A dowager is the widow/widower of a monarch.)

* A male dowager is a Dowager Prince and is styled as *His Royal Highness* (or, in Guāng Xī, *His Imperial Highness*).
	+ e.g: *His Royal Highness* Dowager Prince Jabari of Windenburg.
* A female dowager to a male monarch, when the current monarch is her child, is a Queen Mother and is styled as *Her Majesty*. In these cases, Guāng Xī still uses the title of Dowager Empress and is styled as *Her Imperial Majesty.*
	+ e.g: *Her Majesty* Queen Mother Lokelani of Sulani.
* A female dowager to a male monarch, when the current monarch is *not* her child, is a Dowager Queen and is styled as *Her Majesty*. The only exception is Guāng Xī, where the dowager is a Dowager Empress and is styled as *Her Imperial Majesty.*
	+ e.g: *Her Majesty* Dowager Queen Evangeline of Windenburg.
* A female dowager to a female monarch is a Dowager Princess and is styled as *Her Royal Highness* (or, in Guāng Xī, *Her Imperial Highness*).

#### Princes and Princesses

* A male heir apparent is a Crown Prince, and is styled as *His Royal Highness* (or, in Guāng Xī, *His Imperial Highness*)*.*
	+ e.g: *His Royal Highness* Crown Prince Frederick of Brindleton Bay.
* A female heir apparent is a Crown Princess, and is styled as *Her Royal Highness* (or, in Guāng Xī, *Her Imperial Highness*).
	+ e.g: *Her Royal Highness* Crown Princess Arya of Oasis Springs.

(Note: An *heir apparent* is expected to become a monarch. An *heir presumptive* is not expected to become a monarch, because they can be displaced in the line of succession if someone is born ahead of them.)

* The spouse of an heir receives the title of Prince or Princess (They are *not* Crown Princes/Princesses, only married to one). They are styled *His* or *Her Royal Highness.* The only exception is Guāng Xī, where they are styled as *His* or *Her Imperial Highness*.
	+ e.g: *His Royal Highness* Prince Elis of Willow Creek.
* A legitimate son of a monarch or an heir is a Prince, and is styled as *His Royal Highness* (or, in Guāng Xī, *His Imperial Highness*)*.*
	+ e.g: *His Royal Highness* Prince Kaleo of Sulani.
* A legitimate daughter of a monarch or an heir is a Princess, and is styled as *Her Royal Highness* (or, in Guāng Xī, *Her Imperial Highness*).
	+ e.g: *Her Imperial Highness* Princess Rin of Guāng Xī.

### Nobility

#### Dukes and Duchesses

* A Duke is styled as *His Grace*, his wife is a Duchess and is styled as *Her Grace*, his husband is a Duke Consort and is styled as *His Grace*.
* A Duchess is styled as *Her Grace*, her wife is a Duchess Consort and is styled as *Her Grace*, her husband is a Duke Consort and is styled as *His Grace*.
* In Brindleton Bay, Dukes and Duchesses are styled as *The Most Excellent* or *His/Her Excellency*, as is customary in the Iberian culture.
* In Willow Creek, Dukes and Duchesses are styled as *Most High and Potent Lord/Lady*, as was customary in the French culture.

#### Marquesses and Marchionesses

* A Marquess, his wife the Marchioness and his husband the Marquess Consort are styled as *The Most Honourable.*
* A Marchioness, her wife the Marchioness Consort and her husband the Marquess Consort are styled as *The Most Honourable.*
* In Brindleton Bay, Marquesses and Marchionesses are styled as *The Most Excellent* or *His/Her Excellency,* as is customary in the Iberian culture.
* In Willow Creek, Marquesses and Marchionesses are styled as *Most High and Potent Lord/Lady*, as was customary in the French culture.
* Other form of address is *His Lordship/Her Ladyship*.

#### Counts (Earls) and Countesses

* A Count (Earl in Windenburg), his wife the Countess and his husband the Count (or Earl) Consort are styled as *The Right Honourable*.
* A Countess, her wife the Countess Consort and her husband the Count (or Earl) Consort are styled as *The Right Honourable*.
* In Brindleton Bay, Counts and Countesses are styled as *The Most Excellent* or *His/Her Excellency,* as is customary in the Iberian culture.
* In Willow Creek, Counts and Countesses are styled as *Most High and Potent Lord/Lady*, as was customary in the French culture.
* Other form of address is *His Lordship/Her Ladyship*.

#### Barons and Baronesses

* A Baron, his wife the Baroness and his husband the Baron Consort are styled as *The Right Honourable*.
* A Baroness, her wife the Baroness Consort and her husband the Baron Consort are styled as *The Right Honourable*.
* In Brindleton Bay, Barons and Baronesses are styled as *The Most Excellent* or *His/Her Excellency,* as is customary in the Iberian culture.
* In Willow Creek, Barons and Baronesses are styled as *Most High and Potent Lord/Lady*, as was customary in the French culture.
* Other form of address is *His Lordship/Her Ladyship*.

#### Lords and Ladies

* All legitimate children (and children-in-law) of a Noble are styled as *Lord,* *Lady,* or *Liege*.
* All legitimate children of a Noble's heir are styled as *Lord*, *Lady*, or *Liege.*
* In certain exceptions, other people can receive these titles. For example, Lady Jessica of Sulani was given a title by Queen Leilana even though her father, Makai, does not have a Noble title.

## Notes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Case has not yet occurred in the series, so may be subject to change.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 An exception to these rules is if a Royal gets a noble title by gift, inheritance or marriage. In these cases, he or she maintains their royal style.
3. ↑ The British pronunciation of Marquess is (MAR-kwiss). However, Rae usually pronounces it as the European form, *Marquis*, which is pronounced (mar-KEE).