Noble Ranks in the Imperium

The Third Imperium uses a system of noble ranks derived from the titles used on the once-primitive and savage Out Worlds that eventually came to make up the Imperial heartland. Though different worlds feature wildly different systems, with different names, the standard list of titles, based on names derived from Estari, the Imperial "proper" tongue, are outlined here, together with their expected regions of control.

Knight/Lady: Rules a village, castle, or outpost. In lands close to the Union, the less grandiose term "administrator" is used, especially for orbital facilities.

Baronet: Rules a city or town. This title is rarely used.

Baron/Baroness: Rules a large city or metropolitan region, called a Barony. Barons are common, as it is the highest title that a non-Imperial royal can award.

Count/Contessa: Rules a geographical region, continent, or small moon, called a County. Alternatively, a Count may perform that title's traditional service (balancing accounts) under an Earl or higher, and have no proper land but instead manage the bulk of a world's or planetary system's wealth.

Marquis/Marchessa: Rules a planet. The region of control is called a Marches. Traditionally, a Marquis rules the space around a planet and the uninhabited regions (called the Marches), while multiple Counts or Barons controlled inhabited areas.

Earl: Rules a planetary system, including moons. This stretch is called an Earldom. The title "Earl" is old, comparatively rare, and dying out in many areas, as the area controlled is considered difficult for a single person to rule effectively.

Duke/Duchess: Rules an entire planetary system, called a Duchy. This region is sometimes, confusingly, labeled a "sector." A Ducal "sector" is not the same as a cartographic sector.

Archduke/Archduchess: Rules a cluster or part of a sector, called an Archduchy. Most current archdukes gained their territory and titles during the Fourth Brynic Wars (also called the Haduthi Insurrection), when several dukes led an attempted coup. After their defeat, the Imperatrix portioned their lands out to loyal dukes, producing several archducal titles.

Prince/Princess: Rules an entire sector, called a Principality. Originally all Princes were Imperial; now several noble princes, called Sector Princes (as distinct from Crown Princes) exist and control sectors. Their power is the same, except they are unable to grant titles up to Archduke, instead being limited to the creation of Barons or below.

King/Queen: Rules several sectors, called a Kingdom. Royal titles are rare (there are currently only three, all limited to Imperial family members). The title has lost some of its luster, as the term "king" or "queen" is used to designate rulers of lesser Imperial rank who are brought into the Imperium and allowed to keep their title, despite ruling over a single world, a single continent, or sometimes just a single nation. "King" Idrien of Greater Flavin recently introduced his preference for the title "Archprince."

Imperator/Imperatrix: Rules the entire Imperium. The current ruler of the Imperium is Imperatrix Liliphont Brae-Saphma, who took over the throne two years ago after her father, Imperator Caladonith Mortensi, died after a Vocavo raid.

Generally, a barren or uninhabited region may be ruled by a lord of one rank below normal, while a heavily built-up region may be ruled by a lord of one rank above normal. Also, new colonies tend to be ruled by a noble commensurate with the size of the civilized region: a planet with a single city may only be ruled by a Baron, while a whole cluster with only one major planet will only be ruled by a Marquis. “Promotions” in the form of new, more grandiose titles are possible as the territory is built up.