Forms of address in Themiclesia

Forms of address in Themiclesia convey the speaker's attitude and relationship with the addressed. Themiclesian culture dictates that whenever a form of address is available, addressing another by name is to be avoided and may be perceived as insulting.

Abbreviations

• The Honourable: The Hon.
• The Right Honourable: The Rt. Hon.

General comments

Many forms of address are not direct renderings of Shinasthana terms but phrases adopted from Casaterran languages and used specifically in those languages.

For historical reasons, the imperial house and the ducal houses of Themiclesia are considered similar in rank, since the imperial house is also a ducal house in origin and is structured in the same way. That is, ducal houses were (at least modelled) as sovereign houses, while baronial houses were vassal houses. With the development of the hegemonic system, the ducal house of Tsinh has assumed a position higher than that of the others but did not change its nomenclature. Additionally, the Tsinh and later hegemonic sovereigns recognized the title of Prince ghwang as a generic title for all foriegn rulers without superior.

The situation changed for the ruling house after the restoration of the Meng dynasty in Themiclesia, which introduced the practice of giving the title of Prince (but with Menghean pronunciation as hwyang) to the ruler's children. This was a landed and heritable title in Menghe, but in Themiclesia the granting of actual lands was more difficult since most lands were held by the ruler's barons; thus, most of the emperor's children received only the dignity and precedence of a prince but not lands, and if they did receive the latter it was usually rather remote and sparsely populated.

In 8th through 10th centuries, a more centralized form of government emerged, and with this the granting of landed princely titles largely ended. In the 12th century, the title of Prince hwyang was resurrected purely as a style for the Emperor's children and grandchildren, which is agreed to be in imitation of contemporary practice at the Sunghwa dynasty in Menghe. In the 14th century, Themiclesia negotiated a truce with the Menghean Yi dynasty, the terms of which included the surrendering of the title of Emperor to align with the Yi policy of making the title exclusive to their ruler. This negotiation happened at the peak of Yi power and when Kien-k'ang was under siege, though through diplomacy a favourable position was given to the Themiclesian monarch which retained an independent power to create vassals as before.

The style of Majesty is used only by monarchs and their spouses. Thus, if a monarch's mother is not the previous monarch's spouse, she is not entitled to the style of Majesty as she did not reign as Empress-consort. This situation occurred at the ascension of Emperor Q'in' in 1921, as he was a second cousin to his predecessor Emperor Gwai; the latter's spouse became Empress-dowager and was styled Majesty, while Q'in's biological mother was known as the Most Gracious Duchess and styled Imperial Highness.

Aside from the reigning monarch and their spouse, the imperial and ducal houses were usually known by the Casaterran style of Highness and its variations.

• The Emperor's heir apparent and their spouse are Imperial Highnesses
• The Emperor's other children and their spouses are Highnesses
• The Emperor's grandchildren and their spouses are also Highnesses

In the ducal houses, a similar paradigm is implemented. The sitting duke or duchess and their spouse are Serene Highnesses.

• A duke or duchess's heir apparent and their spouse are Illustrious Highnesses
• A duke's other children and their spouses are Highnesses

In terms of the seniority of the styles, Majesty is the most senior. Amongst the highnesses, the following order is used:

1. Most Serene Highness (殿下)—used by the Chancellor of Themiclesia
2. Serene Highness (殿下)—Dukes
3. Imperial Highness (殿下)—Imperial Crown Prince
4. Illustrious Highness (第下)—heirs apparent of dukes
5. Highness (閤下)—other children of the Emperor and dukes

Royalty

Imperial household

The current system regulating the titles and ranks of members of the ruling dynasty owes to the Princely Titles Act of 1849 (王號令十四), which represents a codification and simplification of the former model that was in practice since the 12th century. It uses the Emperor and Crown Prince as co-heads of the dynasty and determines title and styles on the basis of proximity to them. Children of the Emperor or the Crown Prince are called Grand Prince (or High Prince or Prince of the Blood; 大王), and their other descendants within five generations are called Prince (王).

The Modern Conservative movement has argued to shrink the royal family by stripping the special status of the Crown Prince as co-head of the dynasty and restrict the use of princely titles to the fourth or even third generations after the head of the dynasty. However, most politicians think this is unnecessary because the royal family has shrunk considerably in the last 50 years as fifth-generation descendants of Emperor ’Ei (had eight legitimate children, d. 1821) pass away and as their children in turn drop out of the dynasty (though this does not mean they lose their places on the order of succession).

Position	Reference style	On envelopes	Salutation	Oral style
Emperor	His Majesty	Q'irq-lang Palace	Your Majesty	Your Majesty, then Sir
Empress-consort	Her Majesty	Middle Palace		Your Majesty, then Madam
Empress-dowager		Gweng-qlunh Palace
Empress-mother		Most Gracious Princess
Crown Prince	His Imperial Highness	West Palace	Your Imperial Highness	Your Imperial Highness, then Sir
Emperor's and Crown Prince's children	His/Her Highness	The Grand Prince Identifier	Your Highness	Your Highness, then Sir/Madam
″ offspring up to 5th generation		The Prince Identifier

The situation is different if Shinasthana is being used. prets-gra′, though translating and translated by Majesty, is used only for the sovereign. The empresses are not addressed as prets-gra′, even though Majesty is used in Anglian, unless a queen- or empress-regnant is identified. Themiclesia has passed the Succession Act of 1993 which abolishes gender distinction in the order of succession and moved the Themiclesian monarchy to an absolute primogeniture system, though the eldest child of the current monarch happens to be male.

On envelopes, senior royals including the sovereign, consort, former sovereigns' consorts, the heir apparent, and the heir apparent's consort, are indicated by their respective palaces. The envelope address of Most Gracious Duchess means the current sovereign's biological mother, if a person other than the former sovereign's consort.

Titles in appanage

Position	On envelopes		Salutation		Oral style
	Anglian	Shinasthana	Anglian	Shinasthana	Anglian	Shinasthana
Royal Prince	The Prince of X	某子	Noble Prince of X	某子閣下	My lord	君
Royal Prince's wife	The Princess Consort of X	某子氏	Noble Princess Consort of X	某氏閣下	My lady	君
Royal Princess	The Princess of X	某婦	Noble Princess of X	某婦閣下	My lady	君
Royal Princess's husband	The Prince Consort Name of X	某婦君某	Noble Prince Consort of X	某婦君閣下	My lord	君

Nobility

Dukes/duchesses and their heirs apparent

Dukes were entitled to the style of Highness and its variations. The duke or duchess and their consort was entitled to the superior style of Serene Highness, while their heir apparent and their consort were called Illustrious Highness. Other immediate children of a duke or duchess were styled Highness. It should be noted there is a parallelism with the distribution of styles in the imperial family—the heir there was an Imperial Highness, while the other imperial princes were only Hignesses.

The highest variation of Higness—Most Serene Highness—was only used by the Chancellor of Themiclesia, who in the middle ages was considered to rank above all dukes by virtue of office. After he stepped down from office, however, he enjoys the style of Serene Highness even if he does not hold a ducal title. As a result, the Chancellor's children do not enjoy titles by virtue of his office.

Position	Reference style	Salutation and valediction	Oral style
Duke / duchess	His Serene Highness The Duke / Duchess of Ra	Your Serene Highness	Your Serene Highness initially, then Sir
Duke's wife	Her Serene Highness Lady Maiden name, Duchess of Ra		Your Serene Highness initially, then Madam
Duchess's husband	His Serene Highness Lord Name of Ra		Your Serene Highness initially, then Sir
Ducal Prince	His Illustrious Highness The Ducal Prince of Ra	Your Illustrious Highness	Your Illustrious Highness initially, then Sir
Ducal Princess	Her Illustrious Highness The Ducal Princess of Ra		Your Illustrious Highness initially, then Madam
Ducal Prince's wife	Her Illustrious Higness Lady Maiden name, Princess of Ra		Your Illustrious Highness initially, then Madam
Ducal Princess's husband	His Illustrious Higness Lord Name, Prince of Ra		Your Illustrious Highness initially, then Sir

Second-eldest sons of dukes/duchesses

In Themiclesian custom, it is usual to create a duke/duchess's second-eldest son as Chief Baron under that duke/duchess and to address them as such, regardless whether an actual appointment has been made. This practice is reserved for second sons, even if the second son is not the second child to be born to his parents; thus, while the ducal title can pass to a daughter who is the eldest child, it is not the current custom to create a second child who is a daughter as a Chief Baronness.

Unless the title has been formally granted, the children of the Chief Baron take their titles as grandchildren of the duke/duchess.

Position	Reference style	Salutation	Oral style
Duke/duchess's second-eldest son	Chief Baron X, Prince of Ra	Your Highness	Your Highness initially, then Sir
His wife	Lady Y, Princess of Ra	Your Highness	Your Highness initially, then Madam

Other children of dukes/duchesses

As with the royal family, there is no gender distinction in Shinasthana between the sons and daughters of dukes/duchesses, though it is made in Anglian following international customs.

Position	Reference style	Salutation and valediction	Oral style
Duke / duchess's other sons	His Higness Lord Name, Prince of Ra	Your Highness	Your Highness initially, then Sir
Duke / duchess's other daughters	Her Higness Lady Name, Princess of Ra		Your Highness initially, then Madam

Baron(et)(ess)s and their heirs apparent

Barons originated vassals either to the Emperor or a duke, but there is no difference in the way they are styled and addressed. A baronet in the Themiclesian peerage is like a baron except not associated with a particular piece of land, and they are addressed also in the same manner.

Position	Reference style	Salutation	Oral style
Baron(ess)	The Baron(ess) Name of Ra	Dear Lord Name	Sir
Baron's wife	Lady Maiden name, Baronness of Ra	Dear Lady Name	Madam
Baroness's husband	Lord Name of Ra	Dear Lord Name	Sir
Baron(ess)'s heir apparent	The Hon. Mr./Miss Name	Dear Lord/Lady Name	Sir/Madam
Baron(ess)'s heir apparent's wife	The Hon. Mrs. Name	Dear Lady Name	Madam
Baron(ess)'s heir apparent's husband	The Hon. Mr. Name	Dear Lord Name	Sir

Other children of baron(et)(ess)s

Position	Reference style	Salutation	Oral style
Baron(et)(ess)'s son	The Hon. Mr. Name	Dear Sir	Sir
Baron(et)(ess)'s daughter	The Hon. Miss Name	Dear Madam	Madam

Orders of merit and gentry

Main article: Orders, decorations, and medals of Themiclesia

Judiciary

Judges

Chief judges

Chief judges are the most senior judges in the superior courts and the appellate military courts.

Position	Reference style	Salutation	Oral style
President of the Appellate Committee	Lord President of the Appellate Committee	Dear Lord/Lady Name	Sir/Madam
President of the Judicial Council	Lord President of the Judicial Council		Great lord
Chief Justice of Appeal	Lord Chief Justice of Appeal		Great lady
Chief Justice of Themiclesia	Lord Chief Justice of Themiclesia		Great lady
Chief Baron of the Exchequer of Themiclesia	Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer of Themiclesia		Great lady
Chief Baron of the Admiralty Court	Lord Chief Baron of the Admiralty		Great lady
Chief Judge for the Correction of Errors in Regimental Courts	Chief Judge for the Correction of Marshal's Errors		Great lady
Chief Judge of Appeals of Air Force Justice	Lady Kem, Chief Baronness of Ra		Great lady

Government

Position	Reference style	On envelopes	Salutation and valediction	Oral style
Chancellor of Themiclesia	Her Most Serene Highness	The Chancery	Your Most Serene Highness	Your Most Serene Highness initially, then Sir
Premier Vice Chancellor	His Illustrious Highness	The Vice-Chancery	Your Illustrious Highness	Your Illustrious Highness initially, then Sir
Secretaries of State	The Council of Correspondence	Dear Mr.	Mr. Name
Principal Counsels	The Office of Office	Dear Mr.	Mr. Name

Military

Army and Air Force

• In the Consolidated Army, Themiclesian Air Force, and other land units, commissioned ranks above captain may be used socially, such that in ordinary conversation an officer may be called Captain Lup. The ranks lieutenant and second lieutenant are not used socially, so their holders are addressed as Mr. Lup. This practice exists because historically gentlemen (who have the courtesy title Mister) always joined the military as commissioned officers, so a Mister by default refers to the most junior commissioned officer, i.e. lieutenants. Petty officers and enlisted men take the courtesy title Mister in conversation.
• The rank of colonel is considered special as it was, for a long time, the highest military rank during peacetime, together with the somewhat nebulous rank of colonel-general. It is de rigueur to address a colonel-general who is not a general in his own right as Colonel Lup, but if a colonel-general is so deemed, it is correct to treat him as a general. Thus, the colonels-general of the Gentlemen of the Horse and the Capital Artillery are addressed as Colonel Lup, but the colonels-general of the Royal Signals Corps and the South Army are General Lup.
• A general officer of any rank is addressed socially as General Lup. If a generalship is created by Parliament, the socially correct form of address on envelopes in written reference is The General Lup; if a staff general, the definite article is not used. A parliamentary generalship most frequently existed as heads of military campaigns and thus exist only during wartime, while staff generals may be appointed in peacetime. After the Pan-Septentrion War, this distinction has blurred in the armed forces but remains in force according to widely-published style guides.
• The ranks brigadier and above may be retained and used socially after resignation of commission.
• The office of prefectural marshal may be used socially and carries the honourary rank of colonel after resignation.
• Patrons of the Hundred Companies created raised between 1871 and 1875 have the honourary rank of captain.

Navy and Coast Guard

• In the Themiclesian Navy and Themiclesian Coast Guard, the ranks from commander and above may be used socially. Likewise, any rank under commander is not used socially, whose holders are addressed verbally as Mr. Lup. When it is necessary to distinguish two individuals who are both Mr. Lup, it is acceptable to prefix rank before the courtesy title Mister, e.g. Petty Officer Mr. Lup and Ensign Mr. Lup.
• An admiral of any rank is socially referred to as Admiral Lup, but in no case is the definite article used.
• The ranks captain and above may be retained and used socially after resignation of commission.
• The chief officer of a seagoing vessel, both military and civilian, is addressed as Captain Lup by courtesy of his crewmembers, regardless of actual military rank in case of a naval vessel.