Translations:Imperial Nobility/13/en

The standard ranks of Nobility are:

Gentlesophont or Esquire

Not actually a noble rank, but a courtesy title for gentry. The title survives in some planetary nobility and still serves as an honorific designation of status on some worlds.

Knight or Dame - Kiduunuuzi (Anglic: Kiduunuuzi)

The lowest rank of Imperial Nobility granted by either the Emperor or an Archduke. Widely granted as an honor or ceremonial rank for service to the Imperium. All knights are members of one of the Imperium's numerous orders of knighthood. Knighthoods are not hereditary. Fiefs almost never accompany knighthoods, but when included is always on a single world and is generally small. Other knights receive cash stipends or other financial rewards. Knights do not hold a seat in the Moot, though some are present as proxy votes for other nobles.

Baronet or Baronetess - Iishakku (Anglic: Iishakku)

The next rank of Imperial Nobility granted by either the Emperor or an Archduke. Usually granted as honor or ceremonial rank for service to the Imperium. The title of baronet is hereditary. Like knights, baronets

do not receive fiefs or specific responsibilities, and are not members of the peerage. In practice only Archduke create Baronets, usually awared to a planetary nobility as means of enhancing offworld prestige.

Baron or Baroness - Iishakku (Anglic: Iishakku)

The lowest rank accorded membership in the peerage and participation in the Moot. A baron in the high nobility usually has a fief of land on a single world. Planetary nobility who rule a world are sometimes granted a barony on that world, partly as a courtesy and partly to give them a stake in the ruling of the empire. Honour Nobility Barons typically serve in Imperial administrations or planetary governments. Imperial admirals and generals are often granted the honor title of baron without a fief or duties.

Marquis, Marchioness or Marquesa - Sarriiu (Anglic: Sarriiu)

An intermediate rank of nobility, High Nobility Marquis are granted a fief on an important or high population world which need a rank greater than Baron to oversee. Marquis are not applied uniformly throughout the history of the Imperium.

Viscount, Viscountess

Another intermediate rank and not used everywhere in the Imperium. High Nobility Viscount are assigned to oversee small clusters of two or three worlds of low importance. Viscounts are often assigned to clusters of worlds which do not have their own high-noble marquises or barons. A viscount in this situation may be the only high noble responsible for the worlds in his demesne.

Count, Countess, or Contessa - Shakkanakhu (Anglic: Shakkanakhu)

The next full rank of Imperial nobility, Counts oversee clusters of two or three worlds within a single subsector, usually at least one important or high population world. Counts are core of a subsector government.

Duke or Duchess - Saarpuhii (Anglic: Saarpuhii)

A duke oversees an entire subsector. They are granted a fief on the largest and most important system within the subsector, usually the sector capital. In some subsectors with many important worlds there may be more than one Duke and in that case one is noted as the Grand Duke or Subsector Duke. Within a sector, one of the dukes rises to the position of Sector Duke.

Archduke or Archduchess

The highest rank of nobility below the Emperor. Each Archduke oversees one of the seven Domains of the Imperium. An archduchy includes a fief of an entire world, sometimes (but not always) retained as a private reserve.

Prince, Princess - Karand (Anglic: Karand)

The title of Prince is granted to some of the relatives the Emperor. It is granted (and revoked) only by Imperial proclamation. There is no fief associated with the title, and the Princes are not members of the Moot. The title of Grand Prince is granted to the one person who is the designated heir for the Emperor.

Emperor or Empress - Ishimkarun (Anglic: Ishimkarun)

The ruler of the Third Imperium, and the Archduke of the Domain of Sylea. The Emperor is not a member of the Moot, indeed has no right to attend any meetings of the Moot. The Emperor has no fief (the whole Imperium is their fief). Most emperors hold several titles and may have fiefs inherited from these other titles, and may attend the Moot using one of these other titles.