Wolf's Crossing Peerage

In everyday speech, the Wolf's Crossing Nobility consists of peers and their families, however in a more strict legal sense it includes both the titled and the untitled nobility. Members of the peerage carry the titles of Duke, Margrave, Earl, and Baron. Peers ranked from Baron up to Margrave are frequently referred to generically as Lords.

The Peerage is a term used both collectively to refer to the entire body of peerage titles, and individually to refer to a specific title. All modern honours, including peerage dignities, are created directly by the reigning Monarch (see Grand Duke of Wolf's Crossing), taking effect when letters patent are affixed with the Great Seal of the Realm. Possession of a title in the Stromgarde peerage entitles its holder to a seat in the High Council, once of age.

Ranks Of Hereditary Wolf's Crossing Peerage
Ranking from lowest to highest.

Baron / Baroness
A Baron/Baroness is the lowest form of Nobility in the Wolf's Crossing Peerage. A Baron typically oversees a large estate with adjoining lands. Baronies are usually too small to include defences beyound that of a small fortification and a few armsmen, though some Barons reside in small castles or fortified manors and are capable of raising a larger force to defend their lands.

Earl / Countess
Earls, unlike Barons, traditionally hold large amounts of land under their charge. These lands generally encompass a large city and its satellite villages. It is also common for their lands to contain both Castles and other, smaller fortifications such as guard towers or holdfasts, as well as a fairly sizeable contingent of Men-At-Arms. The wife of an Earl is always styled Countess.

Margrave / Marquess
A Margrave's land, called a march, is on a border of the Kingdom, while an Earl's land often is not. Because of this, a margrave is trusted to defend and fortify against potentially hostile neighbors and is thus more important and ranked higher than an Earl. As the land in their charge typically rests on one of the Kingdom's borders, it is common for a Margrave to controll both Castles and other, smaller fortifications such as guard towers or holdfasts, as well as a sizeable contingent of Men-At-Arms.

Duke / Duchess
Duke is the highest rank of Nobility in the Wolf's Crossing Peerage, and only held by members of the Royal house of Blackmorn. The title is largely ceremonial, and pertains to the order of precidence in Wolf's Crossing.

Untitled Nobility
The untitled nobility consists of all those who bear formally matriculated armorial bearings, such as landed Knights. Other than their designation, such as Gentleman or Esquire, they enjoy no privilege other than a position in the formal orders of precedence in the Sovereign Duchy of Wolf's Crossing and do not hold a seat in the High Council.