Nobility of Mesogeia

The Mesogeian nobility refers to all persons belonging to the upper class of Mesogeia, with the legal status of hereditary nobility and possessing specific privileges, as defined by the laws and traditions of the Mesogeian monarchy.

Wealth and economic status

The Mesogeian nobility is synonymous with the elite and the aristocracy in the country, holding a very prominent place in society. Many of them own and manage real estate companies, or hold prestigious positions in the Imperial court, society, business, diplomacy or in the charity world. Some of the oldest families are the caretakers of vast landed estates.

It should be noted that just 25% of the 800 wealthiest families in Mesogeia are members of nobility, however they control a disproportionate amount of the nation's wealth. The wealthiest among them the Duke of Smyrra is worth $16 billion, a number far out pacing the empress' personal fortune.

History

The history of the Mesogeian nobility dates back to antiquity and orignated from the late classical and medieval age in Mesogeia. The earliest form of "nobles" in the country orginated as mounted warriors who enjoyed the trust and friendship of the monarch; being called Hetairoi (Companions) in the southern provinces and or Azadan (free noble) in the northern province; with landed rights, special privleges, and obligations of allegiance and military service to the sovereign emperor and or regional king.

The Hetairoi in the southern provinces, particuarly around the provinces of Morea, Troiana, Mygdonia, and Pharosia, were defined by their financial capability to maintain armour, horses, and military forces in support of a regional king or of the Mesogeian emperor.

In contrast, in the northern provinces, particuarly around the provinces of Aerion, Khvarvaran, Khorasan, and Araratia, the northern nobles or Azadan with their landed rights eventually came to denote the middle and lower nobility in the north with them forming the bulk of the empire's calvary in the classical age.

In the 4th century BC, the Aegaid dynasty (of southern-Hellenic origin) conquered the old Alcaeid empire and began the process of swift hellenization. During their three hundred year rule of Mesogeia proper the Aegaid dynasty employed military settlers of hellenic origin in order to fill the ranks of their infantry and cavalry units. These military settlers called Kleruchoi in the southern provinces and Katoikoi in the northern regions, were used by the Aegaid emperors to form strategic phalanx, cavalry and guards units in return for grants of land and the status of hetairoi. Meanwhile the rest of the empire's armies, would consist of native-Farsian and mercenary soliders who served as light calvary, and auxiliary forces.

While Hetairoi as a rank of status never became a position that was awarded to non-hellenic or specifically Farsian nobles it was eventually superseded by the honorific of Basilikoi Philoi (literally Friends of the Sovereign) in the late 3rd and early 2nd centuries, this position was coincidently awarded to persons that were either hellenic, mixed-hellenic or to those that were neither. The honorific of Basilikoi Philoi would eventually become the precursor to the later noble class in Mesogeia as well as various court honorifics within the Imperial Court itself.

At the same time the title of Wuzurgan which had originated as a title of rank for the great land owing Farsian noble clans or the Homotimoi charged with governing important satrapies and raising armies on behalf of the old Alcaeid emperors eventually started to be applied to the typically southern hellenic high nobles or Hegemonikoi who fufilled a similar role in the south.

The Wuzurgan (that is the Dukes, Princes, and Marquesses) became known collectively as the Grandees of the empire, with their families making up the Mesogeian Great Houses (Mega Eupatridae Phyles), of which in mordern times there are about 200 or so families making up this most exclusive upper crust.

Overall (excluding the lower nobility) there are about 644 families with the rank of Duke, Prince, Marquess, Count, and Viscount) of which 380 were of northern/Farsian-mixed origin, and 264 were of southern-Hellenic origin, with some having their base in the civil administration and others in the provinical military nobility.

Form of address

• Exousiastatos (The Powerful Authority): The proper form of address for all constituent kings (or Shahrdaran) (Commonly referred to presently as "His Satrapal Majesty" for those members of the aristocracy bearing the rank of king, and "His Satrapal Highness for their descendants.

• Galiniostatos (The Most Serene/Serene Highness): The Proper form of address reserved for all Wispuhrans (or Princes of the blood, that is members of cadet branches of the Imperial house. It should be noted that while Princes of the blood in theory outrank all non-members of the Imperial family they are ranked according to the date of the creation of their most senior title in the Mesogeian peerage system, placing them below all extant constituent kings and somewhere between the Grandees and middle and lower nobility.

• Endoxostatos (The Most Glorious): The proper form of address for all Grandees (Wurzugans) of the empire, all dukes, and non-imperial princes, and the descendants of the (great houses). The Great Officers of the Empire.

• Megaloprepestatos (The Most Magnificent): The proper form of address for a Marzban (marquess), officers of the Imperial Court.

• Periphanestatos (The Most Destinguished): The proper form of address for counts, cabinet ministers, provincial governors including Exarch, Satrap,

• Eugenestatos (The Well Born): The proper form of address for a Viscounts, Lords, local magistrates including Hyparch, Eparchy and Epistates.

• Kyriotatos (The Lordly): The proper form of address for all untitled nobles from Chevalier to gentlemen. All members of the lower houses of Synedrion are addressed as such.

Titles, ranks, and orders

The Mesogeian subnational royalty and nobility is divided into eight titles. From highest to lowest, these are King, Duke, Prince Marquess, Count, Viscount, Archon, and Kyrios (untitled nobility).

• King (Regas/Anax/Shahriyar): The highest title of nobility reserved for the twelve king-electors, charged with officiating the Emperor's coronation
• Duke: The most senior rank of nobility below that of king. Most Dukes have the distinction of having Khan or Pasha as a suffix to their given name.
• Prince: Commonly known as Naxvadār or Sardar. The title is often rendered from the Gharbaic title of Amir/Emir, from which the suffix distinction of Mirza originates.
• Marquess: Known as Kleisourarches in the southern portions of the country, while being called Marzban in the Northern portions. Marquesses of exceptional importance are honored with the distinction of having Atabeg affixed to their given names as a suffix.
• Count: Known as Comes/Komis with Bey/Beg being used as an honorable suffix distinction. The head of the Daras-Doukas-Atabek family has the honor of being the sole person with the right to use the suffix of Beglerbegi/Beylerbey, although the family is of duchal rank.
• Viscount: being called Apokomis with Derebey affixed to their given name as a prefix.
• Lord: Being called Archon with Agha affixed to their given name as a prefix. The mid-ranking noble titles of Count, Viscount, and Lord are known collectively as Hetairoi in the south and Azadan in the north. Although their are no equal female equivalent terms for these titles, females can for example inherit the title of Countess but not the distinction of Hetairoi (which is a male only position), holding it in trust for their male heirs.
• Kyrios: Meaning "Seigneur" or "Mister", this is the lowest rank of nobility, the vast majority of untitled nobility belong to this rank, being further divided into three grades:
  • Kyrios Hippotis or "Gentleman Knight", Khights and or horseman with hereditary untitled rights.
  • Kyrios Axiotímos or "Gentleman squire", are untitled nobility
  • Krios Kalos or "Good Gentleman'", are untitled nobility of the lowest grade,