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Velikoslavian Nobility

Organization

Noble status in Velikoslavia is obtained either by being bestowed by a Fount of honour, in this case the Tsar of Velikoslavia, or via inheritance from one generation to the next. Within the system exists a system of ranks in which every noble is a part of. The highest and oldest rank are the Ancient Nobility, or those who can trace their lineage back to the arrival of or in some cases even before the founding of the Principality of Kollavik. The next rank is the Titled Nobility, who posses a title such as Grand Prince of Marquis. Below these two ranks fall the Personal Nobility and the Estateless Nobility.

All forms of nobility, with the exception of Ancient Nobility, can be acquired under the Code of Meritocracy introduced in 1727. Traditionally, a noble title came with a grant of land and the ability to own and acquire more land, but this was abolished in a similar manner by the reforms of Alexis I the Preminent in 1730. Though nobility is no longer tied to land ownership, the Tsar can theoretically grand land from his own holdings.

Velikoslavia does not employ an official nobiliary particle before a surname (such as von or de). Noblemen are accorded an official salutation, or style, that varies by rank, such as Your Grace.

Noble titles of Velikoslavia

Noble titles of Velikoslavia

Title	Crown	Application	Style of Address
Tsar of all of Velikoslavia His Imperial Majesty The Lord Ruler and Autocrat of All Velikoslavia		The ruler of the Velikoslavian Empire and its constituent entities.	Your Imperial Majesty
Tsaritsa of All Velikoslavia Her Imperial Majesty First Lady of All Velikoslavia		The legal wife of the Tsar of Velikoslavia.	Your Imperial Majesty
Tsesarevich His Imperial Highness The Lord Heir Tsesarevich		Heir apparent of Velikoslavia.	Your Imperial Highness
Tsarevich His Imperial Highness the Tsarevich		Sons born directly in the current Imperial Line that are direct descendants of the current ruling monarch. Those with this title are considered candidates for succession to the throne and for appointment to Tsesarevich, should a ruling Tsar wish it.	Your Imperial Highness
Tsarvena Her Imperial Highness the Tsarvena		Daughters born directly in the current Imperial Line that are direct descendants of the current ruling monarch. Those with this title are considered candidates for succession to the throne should a son not be available.	Your Imperial Highness
Grand Prince Her Highness the Grand Prince		A living direct descendant of a former Tsar inherits this title once their generation inherits the throne.	Your Highness
Grand Princess Her Highness the Grand Princess		A living direct descendant of a former Tsar inherits this title once their generation inherits the throne.	Your Highness
Grand Duke His Grace the Duke		A title reserved for sitting members of the Council of Nine. Only the nine heads of the highest ranking Telerian houses carry this title and new Grand Dukes cannot be created except without consent amongst all of the sitting Grand Dukes.	Your Grace
Archduke His Grace the Archduke		A title granted exclusively to families who can trace their lineage back to the original Telerian warriors that came with Dagan I. If one of the Nine Houses were to go extinct, an Archduke would be eligible for promotion to Grand Duke.	Your Grace
Duke His Excellency the Duke		Hereditary title that is the highest title a house with no Telerian blood can hold.	Your Excellency
Marquis His Serenity the Marquis		The highest title held by middle nobility. Marquis are permitted at all court functions and are allowed to directly petition the Tsar during all of the court feasts.	Your Serenity
Count His Serenity the Count		Rank of the vast majority of Middle nobility. Counts are the lowest rank that are permitted to visit Velinov Palace without gaining permission from the Ministry of the Velinov Court. They may petition the Tsar at the Feast of the Well Born every session of court.	Your Serenity
Viscount His Lordship the Viscount		A rank a Baron earns in order to permit them to move within the walls of the Old City of Kollavik around the palace. A Viscout may also attend court and petition the Tsar at the Feast of Ravens.	Your Serenity
Baron The Well Born Baron		Low nobility title regularly inherited by merit.	Your Well Birth
Noble Honorable Born Noble		Title of nobility awarded to those who rise to certain ranks in the government or military. Those promoted may join individual private guard units of higher nobility or elite military units. Nobles are allowed to attend many court functions.	Honored Sir