Nobility in Cordonia

The Nobility in Cordonia is made up of Cordonian royalty and the the Cordonian peerage system. The peerage in Cordonia is the legal system of regulates hereditary and lifetime titles, ranks and styles. Peers have decreasing limited power since the 20th century but nonetheless influence culture and politics in Cordonia.

Titles and ranks

In the Cordonian system, spouses automatically rank equal to the peer without regard to gender. Divorced royalty and nobility can continue to use a courtesy title depending on the situation.

Titles are listed by rank below. This list is not the line of succession or the order of precedence. Instead, it is a hierarchy of all titles used in Cordonia.

Royalty

• His/Her Majesty The King/Queen – the monarch of Cordonia and their consort. A divorced consort can use a courtesy title, e.g. if Queen Jane divorces King John, instead of her style being Her Majesty The Queen, it would become Jane Smith, Queen of Cordonia. Divorce consorts do not keep Majesty but instead are allowed to use the highest style of the peerage, Grace. Divorced consorts must legally use their full courtesy title to avoid confusion with being of the actual rank of the monarch. Divorce consorts lose their rank in the order of precedence.
• His/Her Majesty The King/Queen Father/Mother/Dowager and their consort – the living spouse of a Cordonian king or queen, typically the parent of the incumbent monarch. It may also be used by a monarch who abdicated. A widow/er may retain the style of Majesty, e.g. if King John dies his consort would then become Her Majesty Queen Jane. Widowers cannot continue to use the title and style of HM The King/Queen as they would not longer be the incumbent consort. Monarchs who abdicate and consorts who are widowed often elect to use the title King Father, King Dowager, Queen Mother or Queen Dowager to avoid confusion with their son/daughter when they become monarch, though it is not mandatory. E.g., when King Constantine abdicated the throne to his son King Liam, him and his consort Queen Regina elected to be known as Their Majesties the King Father and Queen Mother.
• His/Her Royal Highness Prince/Princess and their consort – the children or grandchildren of a Cordonian monarch. A divorced consort can use a courtesy title, e.g. if Princess Jane of X divorces Prince John of X, instead of her style being Her Royal Highness The Princess of X, it would become Her Grace Jane, Princess of X. Prince and princesses can hold royal ducal titles but are still classified as the rank of a prince or princess, not a notable duke or duchess. Widowed consorts are styled as His/Her Royal Highness The Dowager Prince/Princess of X.

Peers

All peers use their first and last name unlike royalty which aren't required to use a surname.

• His/Her Grace The Duke or Duchess – highest title in the Cordonian peerage. Inherited and usually associated with an estate and named after the duchy their family originated from. They also serve as the head of state of the duchy in which their estate is located. A divorced peer can use a courtesy title, e.g. if Duchess Jane divorces Duke John, instead of being Her Grace The Duchess of X, she becomes The Honorable Jane Smith, Duchess of X. A widowed peer would use the style His/Her Grace The Dowager Duke/Duchess of X. The same rules for Earl/Countess.
• The Most Noble Earl or Countess – second highest title in the Cordonian peerage. Usually a courtesy title given by a Duke or Duchess to their heir apparent/presumptive named after a geographical feature in their duchy.
• His/Her Lord/Ladyship Lord or Lady – the third highest title in the Cordonian peerage. All children of a Duke/Duchess. A divorced consort may use the courtesy title The Honorable Jane/John Smith, Lord/Lady Surname.
• The Much Honored Sir or Dame – used for knighthoods, the fourth highest title in the Cordonian peerage. Title given as gift from the monarch. The spouse of a knight or dame may use the same style and title, The Much Honored Sir/Dame John/Jane Surname. These titles are not inheritable. Children of a Knight/Dame can use the title and style below.
• The Honorable Mr/Master/Mrs/Ms/Miss – this style is used by grandchildren of a Duke/Duchess and children of a Earl/Countess.