Count
A Count is a noble rank within the system of Imperial Nobility in the Third Imperium.
- The Vilani term for Count is Shakkanakhu.
Description (Specifications)[edit]
Landed Counts are assigned to worlds that have successfully taken the steps necessary to becoming an industrial powerhouse, or who have become major population centers. They typically replace (or are promoted from) the Landed Marquis or Landed Viscount that pushed the process forward. Because an Industrial or High Population world's economic reach can affect an entire sector, so too can a Landed Count have estates, offices, and holding companies spread across the same reach.
Ceremonial Counts are often found in leadership roles at the core of the local subsector or sector government bureaucracies and have administrative duties that generally encompass a Subsector or potentially up to a Sector in range, depending upon the nature and importance of the office.
- The Vilani term for Count is variously rendered either Sarriiu or Shakkanakhu.
- The land grant of a Count is known as a County and comprises lands that will generally span primarily two to three worlds within a subsector [1], though some lands on several additional worlds in the local subsector and a few lands on some additional worlds across the rest of the sector are also typical.[2]
- A Count is generally styled by the title "Count" followed by either the noble's surname or by the name of the primary world associated with the title. [3]
Entitlement Synopsis[edit]
The fifth level of noble rank is the count, and is generally associated with two or three worlds within a subsector, usually including a primary fief-world that is classified as either high population or industrial. Most of a count's associated land grants are found primarily on a cluster of worlds comprised of their fief-world and one or two other core worlds, and a scattering of lesser grants on several other worlds within the local subsector, with additional minor territories located on a few other worlds scattered across the rest of the associated sector. The totality of such land grants will generally comprise territory not more than 10,000 km2, and/or 32 terrain hexes on worlds within the fief-world's sector distributed as noted above, with an associated non-mainworld terrain hex for each mainworld hex in the same respective system(s) if he has an appointment as an Imperial Landed Noble. Landed Count fiefs are generally granted on high population or industrial worlds. Counts are referred to by their title followed by the individual's surname or a principal land-grant within their fief, or (if Landed) by the name of the principal fief-world within the county.
History & Background (Dossier)[edit]
The Ziru Sirka[edit]
Under the Old Vilani Imperium, a Sarriiu was normally found as a governor in control of a number of lesser Shakkanakhu (literally "provincial governors"), and as a result Sarriiu is often translated “over-governor” or “supreme governor” by modern scholars. Historically on Vland there were never more than fifty sarriiu, and although the colonization of other worlds increased the number of sarriiu dramatically, they were still often referred to collectively as The Fifty. Their historical role on ancient Vland was significant, since they formed one of the two major assemblies of nobles, the Dagiia (the "Council of Fifty") which assisted the kings who ruled ancient Vland.
By the end of the Vilani Imperium, a Shakkanakhu or “provincial governor” was responsible for governing between one and twelve worlds. Modern authorities traditionally equate the Vilani shakkanakhu with a modern Imperial viscount or count, although this is not entirely accurate. The only thing that can be said for certain is that several shakkanakhu were under the general authority of the next highest noble rank.
The Vilani title sarriiu or “over-governor” is somewhat difficult to translate as there is no direct modern Imperial equivalent to the title. Various authorities have historically translated it as “marquis” or "viscount"/“count” depending on the magnitude of the fief or degree of authority involved, but both renderings are generally considered controversial.
The Third Imperium[edit]
When it was created, the Imperial count replaced both the Vilani shakkanakhu, and the Sylean earls and viscounts. Vilani counts still tend to use the title shakkanakhu or sarriiu, especially in the area of the old Vilani core regions of Vland, Lishun, Corridor, and Dagudashaag) sectors and, where the title of count is used in these older sectors, shakkanakhu or sarriiu is often used as a subsidiary title that is often given to the heir to the main title when he reaches the age of majority. In the early years of the Third Imperium, former Sylean earls and viscounts tended to be jealous of their status in relation to one another (since a viscount traditionally outranked an earl in the Sylean system of nobility), and many feuds and personal duels were fought as a result.
In many cases in the early years of the Imperium, while counts would often only be granted responsibility for a particular continent or region of a world, it was they who often served in the Imperial Moot. Others were landless members of the Imperial bureaucracy, who would gradually add to their domains as the Imperium grew.
As the early years of the Third Imperium drew on, the marquis eventually became associated with a primary world (generally a reasonably important one with industrial potential and a good starport) residing within a cluster of associated worlds, while a count (and later the reintroduced title of viscount) often became associated with a single reasonably important world or a scattering of backwater worlds. During this period the titles of viscount and count were generally considered somewhat inferior to that of marquis. However, as the Imperium expanded, the viscounts and counts became increasingly important, especially as the importance of their associated worlds grew, and as they were given increasing authority over the administration of new associated territories. In particular, the old Vilani shakkanakhu families were critical to the continued functioning of the Imperium during the Civil War. Emperor Zhakirov conceded the realities of the situation that had evolved regarding the relative importance of the noble titles in question, and reformed the Imperial nobility in 669, promoting Imperial viscounts and counts in precedence to a rank senior to that of marquis.
In the Third Imperium the title of sarriiu has largely been replaced by marquis, or in some cases viscount or count, except in the oldest core sectors of Vland. Even there, it is more common as a title conferred to one’s heir on his coming of age, rather than the main title of nobility; however, it is still not uncommon to hear of a marquis or count being referred to as sarriiu. Interestingly, many worlds have adopted the term "The Fifty" as a modern term for “high society.”
Astrography[edit]
The following Worlds have the seats of Counts
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See Also[edit]
- The Imperial Household:
- The High Nobility (Peerage):
- 2a. Archduke / Archduchess / Apkallu Kibrat Arban
- 2b. Grand Duke / Grand Duchess
- 3a. Subsector Duke / Subsector Duchess / Saarpuhii
- 3b. Duke / Duchess / Saarpuhii
- The Peerage:
- 4a. Count / Countess (Contessa) / Sarriiu or Shakkanakhu
- 4b. Viscount / Viscountess / Sarriiu or Shakkanakhu
- 5a. Marquis / Marchioness (Marquesa) / Sarriiu or Shakkanakhu
- The Baronage:
- The Gentry: Untitled Nobility & Genteel Commoners:
- 7 . Knight / Dame / Kiduunuuzii
- 8a. Imperial Gentry: Esquire
- 8b. Imperial Gentry: "Gentlesophont" (Gentleman/Gentlewoman)
Third Imperium[edit]
- Government
- Imperial Leadership
- Imperial Law
- Imperial Symbols
- Demographics
References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]
- John Harshman, Marc Miller, Loren Wiseman. Library Data (N-Z) (Game Designers Workshop, 1982), 34-37. (Classic Traveller Supplement 11)
- Loren Wiseman. Nobles (Steve Jackson Games, 2004), TBD.
- Marc Miller. Imperial Encyclopedia (Game Designers Workshop, 1987), TBD.
- Lester Smith. Milieu 0 (Imperium Games, 1996), TBD.
- Marc Miller. T5 Core Rules (Far Future Enterprises, 2013), TBD.
- Colin Dunn. Library Data (Mongoose Publishing, 2011), TBD.
- Andrea Vallance, Donald McKinney, Gregory P. Lee, James Kundert, Robert Eaglestone. "Nobility in the Third Imperium (Part One)." Imperiallines 7 (2015): 4-7.
- EXTERNAL LINK: T5 Noble Patents List CotI
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science