Stromgarde Peerage

In everyday speech, the Stromgarde 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, Count, Viscount and Baron. Peers ranked from Baron up to Count are frequently referred to generically as Lords.

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 Kingdom of Stromgarde.

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 Stromgarde honours, including peerage dignities, are created directly by the Monarch or Regent, 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 House of Lords, once of age.

Ranks Of Hereditary Stromgarde Peerage
Ranking from lowest to highest.

Baron/Baroness
A Baron is usually a noble who oversees a small 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 were capable of raising a larger force to defend their lands.

Viscount / Viscountess
Viscount's in the Stromgarde Peerage typically hold larger areas of land than Barons, including villages, larger fortifications and in some cases, a private army.

Count / Countess
Counts, unlike Barons, traditionally hold large amounts of land under their charge, although these lands generally only encompass a single large city and its satellite villages. It is also common for Counties to contain both Castles and smaller fortifications such as guard towers or holdfasts, as well as a fairly sizeable contingent of Men-At-Arms. The rank of Count/Countess is similar to that of Earl in other peerages.

Duke / Duchess
The rank of Duke or Duchess is the highest form of nobility one can hold without becoming a member of the royal house of Trollbane. The land holdings of Dukes are often vast and contain large swaths of land, townships, and serious fortifications. Dukes are expected to maintain large contingents of Men-At-Arms and are often the first called upon by the Monarch or Regent to supply troops to the Kingdom's army.