Lesser Houses

Lesser Houses are those Aodhian noble Houses that were founded after Ignacio’s return in 884. Lesser Houses are much more numerous and varied than the Great Houses, and generally considered less prestigious.

## Overview

Like all nobility, Lesser Houses enjoy reduced taxation, having their legal matters handled at the Peers Court, protection of injured nobility laws and considerable prestige. Like with all nobles, the Head of each House is entitled to a seat at Peers Court.

Although certainly enjoying many benefits compared to commoners, or even the rich upper class, nobility of Lesser Houses will often find it difficult to advance to high political positions in society. Lesser House Envoys are rare, and Advisers are basically unheard off.

Most Kings arrange their marriages only with Great Houses, and although there have been exceptions where a King has taken a Lesser House Consort (notably Solaris’ 2nd Consort was of a Lesser House), this is extremely rare. Never has a noble of a Lesser House been chosen as a 1st Consort, and even matches with the ‘lesser’ Soleil heirs have been very few. As Great Houses tend to favor marrying into other Great Houses, most Lesser House nobility marry into other Lesser Houses, although some of the older and more favored families can secure the occasional Great House match. The younger the House, the less likely such matches are.

Compared to Great Houses, Lesser Houses are a far more varied bunch. The vast differences in their age and circumstances of founding are a major reason for this: some Lesser Houses barely missing the cut and being up to 800 years old, while others are just a couple generations from being commoners. As such, the wealth and societal status of the Houses is far from even - some are little more than glorified merchants or artisans. Although a House’s age does not necessarily reflect its wealth, younger Houses are generally stigmatized and seen as upstarts even among other Lesser Houses.

### **Founding**

Although new Lesser Houses are founded with each reign, one still has a better chance at becoming a noble via marriage, rather than being given a new House all of their own. Marrying into an existing House never creates an entirely new House - the married partner is only noble through association, not in their own right, and if divorced, will cease to be nobility. Only the King can grant the right to establish an entirely new House.

One might end up becoming a noble for several different reasons, but it is never easy, and will often take generations of concentrated effort in establishing connections and maintaining a good reputation with the ruling class. Any one King generally grants somewhere between five and twenty new noble titles, although some, like Amadeus, did not grant any.

Despite nobles being known for their wealth, wealth alone will not make anyone a candidate for nobility - noble titles can not be purchased. Class and connections play a far bigger role than any individual contribution. Typically new nobility are elevated from the upper class: decorated Chevaliers, unusually beloved Artisans, their generations greatest Academics. Rising from a standard commoner profession, such as Merchant or Courtesan, into nobility without marriage is basically impossible, and has only happened once - and even that, recently.

In the end, the most important thing tends to be being in the right place at the right time, and having the right friends. Close connections with the King, the royal family, or even key Advisers are necessary to be noticed. This also means that new Houses from any one era likely aligned with the views of the particular King who elevated them - Mishal made his fiercest Inquisitors into nobles, while Azar favored Artisans.

Here are some example contributions that may have led to the founding of a Lesser House. The list is not all-inclusive; the main thing to remember is that money alone does not make a noble.

1. Significant contribution to key projects of the King (Inquisition, building projects, societal changes)
2. Significant contribution to the artistic growth of the herd.
3. Significant intellectual contribution, such as a new invention or well-regarded scientific literature
4. Significant humanitarian efforts and charity, such as hospitals or education programs
5. Exemplary military service in a commanding role
6. Recognition for a successful and well-regarded business venture (often over generations), such as a publishing house, hospital, bank etc
7. Personal, exemplary service rendered to a King and/or their family
8. Personal, close friendship with the King

## List of Lesser Houses

*This list includes all named Houses from Lesser Noble characters. To have your House info linked, it needs to be approved, and available in a separate doc, or added to the wikia (to be added, DM Denver).*

* House Briscola - *founded late 884 - possibly oldest surviving Lesser House*
* House Calsley - *founded 1031*
* House Dzibra - *founded 945*
* House Julius - *founded 1584*
* House Marino
* House Ophiaz - *founded 1600*
* House Perisynt - *founded 1648*
* House Reiyne - *founded 1204*
* House Ritterbren - *founded during the reign of Azar (1510-1539)*
* House Umber -