The Kingdom of Beaugencie

SOCIAL HIERARCHY

SECULAR SOCIETY

ROYALTY

Roi (King): Lord and Sovereign of the Kingdom of Beaugencie. Addressed as Sa Majesté, His/Your Majesty and thereafter as Monseigneur, or My Lord Sovereign.

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Dauphin: Heir apparent to the throne, known as Prince of Beaugencie or Duke of Brocardie. Addressed as Monseigneur, Son Altesse, His/Your Highness and thereafter as Monseigneur.

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Prince: Son of the Sovereign King, usually ruling a duchy or given apanage. Addressed as His/Your Highness and thereafter as Sire. Son Altesse; thereafter Monseigneur.

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HIGH NOBILITY

Duc (Duke): Lord and Sovereign of a Duchy. This is the highest rank of nobility after the royal family, and is addressed as His/Your Grace and thereafter as Monseigneur, My Lord or His Lordship.

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Marquis: Lord of a border region (marche). Addressed as His/Your Excellence and thereafter as Monseigneur, My Lord or His Lordship.

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Comte (Count): The Lord of a Comté (County). In Albelond these are called Earls, in the Gottesreich they are called Counts. Addressed as His/Your Excellency and thereafter as Monseigneur, My Lord or His Lordship.

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Baron: The Lord of a Barony or Fief. addressed as His/Your Excellency and thereafter as Monseigneur, My Lord or His Lordship.

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LANDHOLDING GENTRY AND KNIGHTS

Seigneur (Lord): A catch-all term for any landholding noble. May be above or below Baronial rank. Addressed as Monseigneur or Seigneur de [place].

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Knight: A noble warrior, knighted for service; may or may not hold land. Addressed as Messire (Sir).

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Écuyer (Esquire / Squire): A gentleman of gentle birth; may serve as squire, officer, or landholder. Addressed as Maître (Master).

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CROWN OFFICERS AND LEGAL FUNCTIONARIES

Bailli (Bailliff): Royal legal and fiscal officer of a bailliage (administrative district).

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Sénéchal (Seneschal): Chief steward or administrator of a noble's household or territory.

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Prévôt (Provost): Local military and police officer, often with legal authority.

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Chambellan (Chamberlain): Officer of a noble household managing income and private affairs.

Receveur (Receiver): Collector of taxes or dues in a given lordship.

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Greffier (Clerk of Court): Maintains records of trials, taxes, or acts.

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Maire (Mayor): Head of a chartered town or city.

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CITIZENRY 

Bourgeois (Townsman): A freeman of a chartered town; often a merchant, master, or other middle-class citizen, found overwhelmingly in larger towns and cities. Titled Master​

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Militiaman: The most common type of soldier in the Kingdom, these men guard urban centers and their surrounding rural areas, performing mostly policing duties.

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Ventour: A free-roaming man or woman of any station who seeks fortune through arms, owing fealty to no lord but recognized by oath as a lawful wanderer or "adventurer" under the Crown.

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Freeman or Commoner: Most people are here.

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Villein: An unfree peasant bound to a lord’s manor, owing labor and dues, and unable to leave or marry without permission.

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Cottier: A poor peasant who held a cottage and garden but no farmland, often working day-labor or odd tasks.

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Serf: A general term for any peasant bound to land or lord, including villeins and cottagers.

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CLERGY:

Pope: On paper, the Pope is of higher rank than the King himself, but in practice is about equal. Addressed as His/Your Holiness.

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Cardinal: Higher social rank than an Earl and is referred to as His/Your Eminence.

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Bishop: Higher social rank than a Baron and is referred to as His/Your Excellency. Sometimes Bishops act as the chief executive officer of a City.

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Abbot/Abbess: The leader of an Abbey and is referred to as The Right Reverend and thereafter as Father or Mother [name].

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Priest: Higher social rank than Freeman/Commoner and is referred to as Father.

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Friar: Same social rank as Freeman/Commoner and is referred to as Brother.

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Monk/Nun: Same social rank as Freeman/Commoner and is referred to as Brother/Sister.