Nobilty and Dignity Nobilty and Dignity Nobilty and Dignity
are considered by themselves to be of the same status, whether they are untitled, barons, counts, or whatever else they may be. The particular title of a person is far less important among the nobility than the age and standing of the family. This is particularly true as a number of old families have branches of various levels. 
Title		Heir		Other 2nd Gen	3rd Gen
King		Prince		Prince		Prince*/Duke
Prince/Princess 		Prince*/Duke	Earl	
Duke		Duke		Marquess	Earl
Marquess	Marquess	Earl		Count
Earl		Earl		Count		Baron
Count		Viscount	Baron		none
Viscount	Baron		none		none
Baron		none		none		none
*Holder is referred to as a "Prince of Amber" but does not hold the title Prince. Rather he holds a Ducal title. Oberon had two goals in mind in creating a nobility, (1) encouragement of the growth of his kingdom through agriculture and trade and (2) the desire to have a strong military force at his disposal. Originally Oberon created only 1 rank, Lord. Anyone could become a Lord by providing enough service [see below] to the King. Later after contact with the Golden Circle Kingdoms Oberon created more ranks and passed them out to his loyal followers.

When titles are created they are given to the family, rather than induviduals. The family can then decide which members actaully hold the title. The title holder then decides how it will be inherited, as long as it stays in the fmaily. This creates junior lines with "family" titles. For instance the Chantris Family holds the following titles:

    Original Creation sometime near the founding of Amber
  • Sea Lord Chantris
    After the treat with Rebma the family relocated its home and expanded its holdings to the Eastern Isles then applied for an additional feif:
  • Sea Lord of Sun Harbor
    As more contact was made with the Golden Circle Shadows Oberon granted the family feifless titles:
  • Duke of the Eastern Isles
  • Earl Chantris
  • Viscount Dawnmount - Dawn Mountain is the central mountain on Dawn Island.
  • Baron of Garan Island - Garan Island lies in Sun Harbor.
    The family opened a new port in the Shadow of Begma at the mouth of the River Atine.
  • Sea Lord of Atinemouth
  • Viscount Atinemouth
  • Baron Atine

The Current Lord Chantris holds S.L. Chantris, S.L. Sun Harbor, D. of the Eastern Isles, E. Chantris, V. Dawnmount. The first Lord Chantris on his deathbed granted B. of Garen Island to the line of Richard, his youngest son. Richard's Charles built and opened a port in Begma on the River Atine, and applied for a new feif. Oberon granted the the family Sea Lord Atinemouth, Vicount Atinemouth and Baron Atine so that Charles could found his own house. Instead he remained in House Chantris the titles becoming "family" property. The family then granted all but Baron Atine back to him. Intending on using it to establish another cadet line. Thus the Chantris family has the main line the Lords Chantris, a junior line the Lords Atinemouth and soon a third the Barons Atine.

Lord

Anyone with enough land used for agriculture purpose (the rules involved complected formulas about acres tilled, acres in orchards, acres in pasture etc..) may apply to the king and their land declared a fief. Along with the fief comes the title of Lord usually Lord Lastname or Lord Lastname of Location.

The entire fief is then inherited as a unit and can not be broken up. The holder pays no taxes on the land, or on goods produced on the land so long as they are sold in the kings market. The holder is exempt from tolls on the kings roads so long as the goods are headed to or from the kings market. The holder may establish a single toll on each road that passes through his land for collecting money to maintain the road.

The holder must maintain a minimum number of acres in production or lose his title and privileges. He must provide and equip a certain number of troops in time of war. He must maintain the kings roads through his land.

When granted the fief is set at a certain amount of land. If at a later date the holder acquires more land the privileges do not apply to that land. The holder may have additional land annexed to his fief for a substantial fee, or if he holds enough outside lands apply for a second fief. Many of the large families have done this placing the second fief in the name of a second son, thus establishing a cadet branch of the family. The title still belongs to the family, but inherits along the secondary line.

Sons do not have a courtesy title though daughters are usually referred to as Lady. Inheritance is specified when the fief is created. Most are by written will of the current holder filed with the Kings clerk on investiture, thus the title could pass to someone with a different Lastname (but this would not change the title), or even be split among a number of sons. Titles can not pass to females.

Sea Lords

Similar in structure to a Lord but nautically based the title is granted to those who own of a certain number and size of ships as well as facilities for outfitting and repairing them. All ships must be capable of serving with the fleet in time of war. Along with the title is a small fief, usually consisting of the harbor where the port is located and the surrounding coast about mile inland. Additional lands may include areas of forest with trees suitable for ship building. The Title is usually Lord Lastname or Lord Lastname of Location.

Title holders are exempt from taxation on their own cargo. The may arrest and hold trials on ship or their own ports for crime committed aboard their ships. They may collect tolls at their own docks. They may also seize flotsam and jetsam cast up by the sea along a portion of the coast.

In addition to outfitting and providing crew for ships of the Navy Sea Lords are responsible for erecting dikes and banks as protection against the sea along a portion of the coast and may enter another's property to do so.

Typically Sea Lords are given a year and a day to repair or replace ships and facilities if they fall below the minimum requirements before their status is revoked.

Sons do not have a courtesy title though daughters are usually referred to as Lady. Inheritance is specified when the fief is created. Most are by written will of the current holder as with Lords.

Knighthoods

A knight is a non hereditary title issued for military service to the crown. The King or any Prince may make someone a knight. All knights are addressed as Sir Firstname and their wives as Lady Firstname. There are two Orders of Knighthood in Amber the Order of the Unicorn for land service and the Oder of the Jewel for sea service.

    The Order of the Jewel

    Created to provide an officer corp for the Royal Navy this Order is more numerous than the Order of the Unicorn. Currently only members of the Order can be promoted to and captain a ship of the fleet. Typically a man is knighted in to the order upon receiving his first command. Members of the Order of the Jewel may fly their own flag aboard ship, beneath the royal banner.

    The Order maintains ranks equivalent to the naval service ranks: Knight Capitan being the lowest rank, followed by Knight Commodore, Knight Rear Admiral, Knight Vice Admiral, and Knight Admiral. The Prince heading the Northern fleet is the head of the Order.

Patrician ------ Dukes are not called Lords, lower titles are Title and surname are often shared for lower ranks and modern creations For Viscount Bell of Ham: Never Viscount Ham. Possible: Vi-count Bell or Vi-count Bell of Ham. Signs as Bell or Bell of Ham. The signature of a peer consists of the title, without any prefix or Christian name. The Duke of Marlbrough signs "Marlborough". The only exception is for peers who are also members of the Royal Family, and have the rank of Prince - they sign using their Christian name only, so the Duke of Gloucester is "Richard". Titular titles: no land involved: Duke, Earl, Baron. Continental usage of nobility. Title holder is noble as well as descendant family members. While Lord X lives his sons A an B are both noble as are their children AA (son of A) and BA (son of B). Upon his death son A becomes Lord X, son B becomes a commoner, grandson AA stays noble and grandson BA becomes a commoner. If not a child of the current title holder the heir apparent of a title holder is also noble but not his children. In the above case if AA did not exist when Lord X died and A be came Lord X, B would be noble but not BA. Females can not inherit titles. 

Precedence	
	King
	Prince/Princess: no further titles
	Archbishop of the Church
	Lord High Chancellor
	Eldest sons of Princes
	Eldest sons of Princesses
	Ministers and envoys
	Dukes
	Earls
	Duke's Eldest sons
	Bishops
	Barons
	Earls Eldest sons
	Knights of the Order of the Jewel
	Barons Eldest sons
	Knights
	Officers of the Navy
	Officers of the Army
#######################################

Benedict
Eric
	Eric the First, King of Amber
	Eric, Lord of Amber p296 (while king)
Corwin
	Corwin, Lord of Amber p147 (after proclaiming himself king, letter to Eric)
	Corwin King of Amber
Caine
Bleys
Brand
Julian
Gerard
Random
Merlin
	Duke of the Western Marches, Earl of Kolvir - Corwin an Archduke?
Flora
	Lady Florimel
Vialle
	Lady Vialle (before marriage)


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Count- Comes -Companion
Knight- boy, youth, servant
Dragoon - FR. Carbine, musket from dragon - breathed fire
Duke - Dux leader
marquis - "ruler of border area" - march
baron - acc. of ber "military leader" - o.e. beorn nobleman
Thegen -o.e. military follower -> (Thain would be Modern Englis spelling)
	scottish: cheif of a clan, king's baron
Earl- O.E. nobleman, warrior






County has 5 -20 baronies.
Duchy: territory
Dukedom: rank or title




Oisen
Garnath
Arden
Eastern Isles
Western Marches
Baylesport
Purple Mtns
Jones Falls


Regency: Control over a large portion of shadow and the fleets and armies of Amber to do what one will there. Other family members are not allowed to go there or interfere.

Patronage system: everyone tied to a house


Senior appointments of Church and Government limited to nobles
	



Assuming Amiril is alive based on chart at top;
Amril: Duke
        Layern Duke
                William Earl
                        Alob Earl
                        Amril II Count
        Richard  Marquess
                Richard II Earl
                        Charles Earl
Emporer King Grand Duke (better Grand Prince) Prince Duke