Nobility of Sydalon

The Nobility of Sydalon comprises of individuals and families of Sydalon, recognized by the Monarch of Sydalon, previous sovereigns, or the Pope. Members of the nobility enjoy hereditary privileges, often holding fiefs or seigneuries under the crown. Nobility can be distinguished between their role in government, or lack there of. Below the Crown, the highest level of nobility are seigneuries, which form domains, the modern top-level administrative division in Sydalon.

Introduction

Seigneuries

Seigneuries in Sydalon adhere to hereditary succession, in principle, though early in Sydalon's history this was not always the case where holdings would change hands regularly. Titles may become extinct in the event no heir exists upon the death of possessor. If no heir is available, titles merge into the Crown and become governed by the Royal Domain.

Seigneuries below the Crown traditionally follow agnatic primogeniture, where by only male heirs are eligible to succeed in order of seniority to the current holder and females are excluded. Most vassals that follow this succession method do so by the original granting papal bull. Titles that follow agnatic primogeniture are the: Principality of Adelon; Principality of Montgisard; County of Alalia; County of Melfi; Lordship of Derum; and the Lordship of Hayan.

The second most commonly used method of succession is male-preference primogeniture. Under this method, a dynast's sons and their lines of descent all come before that dynast's daughters and their lines. Male-preference is practiced by the: County of Philipopolis; County of Tanas; and Lordship of Gadir.

The County of Toron is the only seigneury that follows absolute primogeniture. Toron followed agnatic primogeniture until the death of Count Theodore III in 1882, and the title briefly merged into the Royal Domain. The seigneury was eventually granted to Adeline of Toron, the eldest surviving daughter of Count Theodore III. The current creation came in an 1883 royal decree, stipulating that the County of Toron follows the same succession laws as the Crown (absolute primogeniture), and shall be held by a member of the House of Villeine in perpetuity. In practice, the children of a reigning Countess must assume the Villeine name in order to adhere to the royal decree or the titles, property and all associated honors merge into crown and Royal Domain.

Blood domains

Blood domains are appanage fiefs within the Royal Domain granted by the sovereign to his or her younger sons (ie, not the Prince of Petra). Historically, blood domains played a key role in exerting the Crown's power, and extending it's reach to further flung areas of the realm, and were used to prevent the revolt of younger sons of a sovereign. Blood domains earn their name as being held by princes of the blood, and may be only inherited by male descendants of the grantee, excluding daughters. The lands cannot be sold, or otherwise transmitted, and revert to the Crown upon the line's extinction.

The Principality of Adelon was first created as a blood domain in the 13th century, but is no longer considered a blood domain as of the 1919 constitution. The most recent creation of a blood domain came in 1853, when Queen Belandra III granted the Count of Cuicul to her third son, Jaison; it merged into the crown in 1964.

The Crown

Monarch	Styles	Consort	Symbols	Royal vassals
since 2017	Her Majesty Queen of Sydalon Melisende III His Royal Highness Prince Consort Michael	since 2018	House of Aultavilla c. 13th century	Principalities Adelon. Montgisard. Duchies Philippopolis. Toron. Counties Gadir. Hayan. Melfi. Tanas. Royal domain Ostracine. Petra. Sydalon. Gibelet. Cuicul. Esebon. Mirabel. Saone. Scandalion. Sarepta.

Domains

Princes and Principalities

Ruler	Title	Arms	House – Domain	Location	Spouse – Children
File:Louis XX.jpg	Prince William IV b. 1975	File:Flag of the Principality of Adelon.png	House of Aultavilla-Adelon c. 14th century Principality of Adelon since 2006		Spouse: (1) Princess Tyrania of Fakolana Children: (1) Princess Fabienne of Adelon, (2) Princess Louise of Adelon, (3) Princess Joséphine of Adelon
	Prince Joscelin V b. 1946		House of Calien-Destroit c. 13th century Principality of Montgisard since 1972 Duchy of Vescera since 1972		Spouse: (1) Victoria Galan Children: (1) Princess Alice of Montgisard, (2) Ambroise, Hereditary Prince of Montgisard, (3) Prince Arthur of Montgisard, (4) Prince Raoul of Montgisard, (5) Princess Rachelle of Montgisard, (6) Princess Lorena of Montgisard

Dukes and Duchies

Ruler	Title	Arms – Flag	House – Domain	Location	Spouse – Children
File:Aubin I, Duke of Philippopolis	Duke Aubin I b. 1996		House of Niort-Taureau c. 13th century Duchy of Philippopolis since 2006		Spouse: Children: None
	Duke Sebastian I b. 1994	File:Flag of the County of Toron.png	House of Toron c. 12th century Duchy of Toron since 2013		Spouse: Princess Febe of Gaemar Children: None

Counts and Counties

Ruler	Title	Arms	House – Domain	Location	Spouse – Children
	Count Cassander I b. 1944		House of Bodashtart c. 10th century County of Gadir since 1983		Spouse: (1) Rhea Bodashtart Children: (1) Cassandra of Gadir, (2) Dido of Gadir, (3) Hannib, Hereditary Lord of Gadir
	Count Roger II b. 1967	File:Flag of the County of Melfi.png	House of Eu c. 8th century County of Melfi since 2008		Spouse: (1) Anna Ulpia Children: (1) Theodora of Melfi, (2) Robert, Hereditary Lord of Melfi, (3) Jeanne of Melfi, (4) Marc of Melfi
	Count Desiderius III b. 1950	File:Flag of the County of Tanas.png	House of Depasquale c. 13th century County of Tanas since 2002		Spouse: (1) Sophonisba Pantalleresco Children: (1) Caelestinus, Lord of Sabarim, (2) Ademar of Tanas, (3) Maria of Tanas, (4) Charlotte of Tanas

See also

• Monarchy of Sydalon
• Orders, decorations, and medals of Sydalon
• Political divisions of Sydalon