Orders, decorations, and medals of Sydalon

Orders, decorations, and medals of Sydalon, also known as the Sydalene honor system, is a means of rewarding individuals for bravery, achievement, or service to the Crown, Sydalon, and in some instances Domain-level monarchs. The system consists of honors (used to recognize merit in achievement or service), decorations (used to recognize certain deeds), and medals (to recognize bravery, courage, honor, long and/or valuable service or conduct).

Orders of chivalry

The current system is made up of three orders of chivalry, one order of merit, and one ancient rank of knighthood. The statutes of each order specify matters such as the size of the order, the use of post-nominal letters and insignia design and display.

Complete name	Ranks (letters)	Ribbon	Established	Founder	Awarded to/for	Associated awards
Order of the White Lion	Knight (CBL) Lady (SBL)		30 August 1240	Jordan I	Appointments are made at the Sovereign's sole discretion	None
Most Noble Order of the Belt of Hope	Knight (CCE) Lady (SCE)		23 April 1345	Richard I	Relating to Sydalon	None
Banneret Order	Knight (CB)		16 May 1534	Elisabetta I	Military achievement; The Sovereign makes all appointments.	None
Honorable Order of St Philip	Knight (CStP) Lady (StP)		16 May 1534	Elisabetta I	The Sovereign makes all appointments.	None
Order of the Cross Crown	Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCC) Knight/Lady Commander (CCC/SCC) Commander (CCC) Officer (OCC) Member (MCC)		9 June 1866	Jordan VIII	Miscellaneous (military and civil).	Civil or Military Service Medal

Dynastic orders associated with domain monarchs

Complete name	Ranks (letters)	Ribbon	Established	Founder	Domain	Awarded to/for
Order of the Holy Lance	Knight (CSL) Lady (SSL)		1287	Belandra I	Petra	Appointments are made at the Sovereign's sole discretion
Order of the White Elephant	Knight (CBE) Lady (SBE)		1328	Louis III	Montgisard	Appointments are made at the Prince's sole discretion
Order of St. Gereon	Knight (CSG) Lady (SSG)		1591	Rainier I	Adelon	Appointments are made at the Prince's sole discretion
Order of the Red Cross	Knight (CRC) Lady (SRC)		1530	Aubin I	Philippopolis	Appointments are made at the Duke's sole discretion
Most Ancient Order of Amala	Knight (CA) Lady (SA)		1600	Amalric II	Toron	Appointments are made at the Duke's sole discretion

Other honors and appointments

Hereditary nobility

Main article: Vassals of the Sydalene Crown

The highest level of hereditary nobility are domain titles. Domain titles are considered seigneuries below the Crown, and are historically feudalistic in nature, first arising out of the various Crusades. Sometimes referred to as Crown vassals or domain monarchs, these holders are among the only members of nobility to what are essentially hold hereditary gubernatorial offices over non-royal domains.

Titles of nobility

Titles of nobility in Sydalon are hereditary titles of nobility and honors under the Crown attached to and bound to remain in specific families. These titles consist of the ranks of Duke, Count, Viscount, and Baron and a territorial designation. Individuals, and later their descendants, holding hereditary titles of nobility are entitled to sit in the Chamber of Peers. Most often, titles of nobility are only heritable by male heirs, following primogeniture. Heirs to a title of nobility are eligible to use a courtesy title if the title holder has more than one title, and the secondary title is of a lower rank than the principal title.

Holders of titles of nobility are often addressed "His or Her Grace" or " My Lord or Lady".

Lord of the realm

Lord (or Lady) of the Realm is a title introduced by Queen Belandra III in 1845. It is the highest form of non-hereditary nobility, beneath that of a hereditary peerage and above that of appointed as Knights Banneret or knights of a lower order of knighthood. Lords or Ladies of the Realm are not conferred any special court or public function, and are generally granted to individuals for outstanding achievement to the Realm, but the only requirements are appointments made at the Sovereign's sole discretion.

A holder of the rank earns the right to stand in the Chamber of Peers as a Lord Temporal. Individuals earn the right to use the postnomial letters "RL", and the style "The Most Honorable", and written style "The Lord (or Lady) X".

See also

• Peerage of Sydalon