Title
Rank
Emperor / Emperess
Above the range of noble ranks is the emperor and the Imperial family. The emperor is the ultimate object of thousands of oaths of loyalty and fealty. This title comes from the ancient French emperor, from the Latin imperator) which originally meant “commander” in the Roman Republic.
King / Queen
The first among peers (responsible for Kingdom, war and peace). A king is the second highest sovereign title, only looking up to an emperor. A government that has a king or queen with limited power is called a constitutional monarchy (such countries include Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan).
Archduke / Archduchess
Each of the six Imperial domains has an archduke exercising overall control and acting as an intermediary between the Emperor and the other levels of nobility. Archduke, therefore, is always a landed title.
Duke / Duchess
The fifth level of noble rank is the duke, who if landed is associated with a subsector or sector. The power of the duke depends on circumstances and the situation within the sector, but generally in the absence of an archduke, one duke within a sector rises to power and comes to be the sector duke, who is the ruler of that sector. The fief associated with a landed duchy will be on a single world, generally no more than 100,000 square kilometers. The territory of a duke or duchess is called a duchy. The status of a duchy can be in the form of a sovereign state or a territory part of a kingdom.
Count / Countess
(known as an Earl in modern Britain) Territorial prince with royal blood. Originally an official of the King, he became independent in the course of the 9th century (responsible for the county). The fourth level of noble rank is the count, who if landed is associated with a cluster of worlds (usually no more than two or three). The fief associated with a landed county will be on a single world, generally no more than 10,000 square kilometers.
Marquis / Marchioness
The third level of noble rank is the marquis, who if landed is associated with a single world. The fief associated with landed marquisates will be on a single world, generally no more than 1000 square kilometers.
Lord / Lady
Related to the county families, they were initially officials of the Count, who became independent in the course of the 9th century (responsible for the Lordship: castle and its jurisdiction).
Baron / Baroness
The second level of noble rank is the baron, the lowest level accorded membership in the peerage. Barons are referenced in several different styles, which include the use of prefixes to the surname. The fief associated with landed baronies is on a single world, generally not more than 100 square kilometers.
Baronet
At the first level of noble rank, but ahead of honorific knights, is the baronet. This is a special form of minor baron awarded by an archduke.
Knight / Dame
The lowest of noble ranks is knight, which is awarded in recognition of achievement or service. As such, a knighthood is coveted by non-nobles and is seen as more attainable than membership in the peerage. Combatant on horseback and assistant to the Lord, he was responsible for ensuring the rights of the Lord on a local scale.
Esquire / Esquiress
a rank of gentry originally derived from Squire and indicating the status of an attendant to a knight.
Gentleman / Lady
the basic rank of landed gentry (ranking below Esquire), historically primarily associated with land.
Surf
It depended on a land lord, to whom he paid a fixed tax (census) for his dependence and rights of use of the banalités (facilities like mill, press, oven, ...) at the same Lord or another who installed said elements in the previous land.
VIA MARRIAGE
Hereditary titles can also transfer by marriage. The specifics depend primarily on whether either partner is landed.
Where either spouse has an Honorific title, both partners assume the highest title either has, retaining the same Landing (if any). So if the Marquis of Moran were to marry Duchess Maria, they would become the Duke and Duchess of Moran.
When both partners are landed, they assume both titles. So if the Marquis of Moran were to marry the Countess of Kinorb, they would become the Count and Countess of Kinorb, while also holding the responsibilities of Marquis and Marchioness of Moran.
When one partner is elevated in rank, the other follows suit. If Countess Fostriades were to be elevated to Duchess, her husband would not be mentioned in the ceremony or announcements -- they would all mention only the Countess. Nevertheless, when she became Duchess Fostriades, her husband would automatically assume the title Duke.
A common female who married a Nobleman would assume the title of the Nobleman and rise in status. This varies between countries.
In many cultures if a noble female marries a common man; she has to forfeit her noble status altogether. Many people may not have known that Prince Philip actually renounced his claim to two thrones when he married Queen Elizabeth II. The Duke of Edinburgh was actually born as a prince in both Greece and Denmark.
King Edward VIII's made a bold move to abdicate the throne after less than a year when he married Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.
When Japan’s Princess Mako married her college sweetheart, she gave up her crown, royal status, and her place in the royal family.