Caledonian Nobility

While the Principality of Caledon is a constitutional monarchy, its traditional nobility carries on. It has adapted greatly in recent centuries to the ideas of high technology and liberal democracy - and yet in many ways it remains the engine and conduit of Caledonian social vitality, as well as commercial networking.

Levels of Nobility

The various ranks of the Caledonian landed gentry are a strict - but breathing - hierarchy.

Note that lower levels of the hierearchy are affiliated with, and owe "fealty" to, higher levels (i.e., Barons will owe fealty to Earls, who owe it in turn to Viscounts, and so on). "Fealty" in modern times is more a traditional and social custom than in ancient times, when it conferred monetary tribute and the obligation to raise troops to serve the higher-level noble's military ambitions.

Also note that many noble families trace their lineages - and fealties - centuries into the past. But new titles in the gentry are granted on occasion by the Monarchy, for great commercial or military accomplishment. Lands for these additions are either acquired from new territories, from branches of the nobility that have died out, or - most rarely - from gentry that have been rebuked by the throne for high crimes.

The levels are ranked as follows:

• Duke/Dutchess
• Marquess
• Viscount
• Earl
• Baron

Note that knights - see below - will affiliate with a higher-level noble as part of their peerage.

Nobles will frequently associate themselves with - and pay for the maintenance of - units of the Caledonian army.

All nobles of the rank of Baron or higher are considered members of the House of Lords - and in past centuries that could in fact lead to thousands of nobles packed into the Chamber of Lords, voting on abstruse legislative matters. But for the past 228 years, the Principality's nobility elects from their number 101 Lords to one-year voting terms - which involves spending full time at the Parliament in Caledon. Being elected is both a burden and a great honor; freqently noble houses will campaign to send junior members of their lines to terms in the Parliament - partly out of civic duty, partly because it's a superb networking opportunity.

Nobles are either born into a noble family, or are inducted into the nobility by dint of great achievement. Once a family has been granted a peerage, all descendants inherit the title.

Orders of Knighthood

Knighthood is the most common noble honorific. It confers no land grant in and of itself - some land may be conferred at the discretion of any noble to which a knight is affiliated, although that is no obligation, and is rather rare in modern times. Also, knighthood is not hereditary; generally, each generation must earn knighthood (with a few exceptions noted below).

However, being knighted confers entry into the highest reaches of Caledonian society; each order of nobility is a "club" in the literal and figurative sense, conveying access to political, business and social connections that are the lifeblood of prosperity in the Principality.

All orders offer various types of heraldry; in modern times, this involves a ribbon or pendant worn with formal or military attire. Some orders confer some material benefit - usually access to the order's club and apartments (at the order's headquarters); more rarely, this means a small grant of land. Knights are also entitled to be called "Sir" (or "Lady"), and to append their rank and order to their name (Example; Lieutenant Sir Roger Kheung, MSC)

The orders of knighthood in the Principality are, in descending order of precedence:

Order Of The Lairds Of The Realm

This order, the senior order in the system, has two branches - the Members (MLR), comprising all of the Dukes and Marquesses in the Principality, and the Lairds(LLR), those appointed to the order. Appointees - there are a few dozen currently alive - are senior military and government figures who've rendered conspicuous service.

• Heraldry - a red pendant ribbon with a medal struck from the metal from an enemy starship captured in action centuries ago (a stock of which metal is kept at the order's headquarters for future medals)
• Headquarters - The order's headquarters is a formal Ducal palace near the Sovereign's Palace, on the Capital Esplanade

The Distinguished Order Of the Shield And Claymore

This order is bestowed upon citizens who exhibit great bravery in combat or other military service. It is the main conduit into the nobility for junior officers and even enlisted soldiers, sailors and Marines. There are about 1,500 Members and 200 Commanders (including all members of the nobility) in the order.

• Heraldry - Red ribbon with the order's crest superimposed
• Headquarters - The OSC has a manor (donated by a former member) on the Mannoch River, near the Caledon Army's headquarters.
• Ranks and Suffixes - "Member" (MSC), then "Commander" (CSC)

Order Of The Lodestone

An honor for members of the Royal Caledonian Expeditionary Service.

• Heraldry - Light Blue ribbon with the order's shield embroidered
• Headquarters - The OTL has small complex of buildings in Caledon City, including a few apartments rented to members on a first-come first served basis.
• Ranks and Suffixes - "Scout" (SOTL), then "Commander" (COTL)

The Royal Order Of Sages And Scholars

Granted for academic, scholarly or philosophical achievements, the OSS has no official headquarters facility; it is administered by the Department of Peerage at the Royal University of Caledon.

• Heraldry - A black pendant with thin red stripes and a medal struck with the order's device.
• Ranks and Suffixes - "Bachelor" (BSS), then "Master" (MSS) - about 1,000 and 100 of each exist, currently. The order is led by a group of ten "Doctors" (DSS), who are also Viscounts from various families - and whose titles are the only ones handed down hereditarily.

Honourable Order of the Exchequer

The lowest of the orders. Bestowed for achievement in business and commerce.

• Heraldry - Navy blue ribbon.
• Ranks and Suffixed - "Retainer" (ROE), then "Lord" (LOE).
• Headquarters - The order owns a fairly enormous manor in the rural suburbs of the capitol city, with fairly opulent quarters for visiting guests. It also owns a hotel near the Royal Palace, and others in other key cities in the Principality.

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• User: ‎Mitchberg