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.
Peerage
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. Vescera. Counties Gadir. Hayan. Melfi. Tanas. Royal domain Ostracine. Petra. Sydalon. Gibelet. Cuicul. Esebon. Mirabel. Saone. Scandalion. Sarepta. |
Royal domain
Domains
Princes and Principalities
Ruler | Title | Arms | House – Domain | Location | Spouse – Children |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
File:Louis XX.jpg | Prince William IV b. 1975 |
House of Aultavilla-Adelon c. 14th century Principality of Adelon since 2006 |
Spouse: (1) Princess Tyrania of Fakolana Children: | ||
Prince Joscelin V b. 1946 |
House of Calien c. 13th century Principality of Montgisard since 1972 |
Spouse: (1) Victoria Galan Children: |
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: | |||
Count Henry II b. 1959 |
House of Scaliger c. 13th century County of Hayan since 2013 |
Spouse: (1) Emmanuelle of Tanas Children: | |||
Count Roger II b. 1967 |
House of Eu c. 8th century County of Melfi since 2008 |
Spouse: (1) Anna Ulpia Children: | |||
Count Desiderius III b. 1950 |
House of Depasquale c. 13th century County of Tanas since 2002 |
Spouse: (1) Sophonisba Pantalleresco Children: |