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; Duchy of Hayan; Duchy of Toron; and the County of Melfi. The County of Gadir is the only domain to practice semi-salic primogeniture.
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: Duchy of Philipopolis; Duchy of Vescera; and the County of Tanas.
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 1992 when King Jordan IX granted the Duchy of Rema to his second son, Francis. It remains one of only two extant blood domains.