Nobility and titles of Rastaban
In Rastaban there are certain titles that the nobility are give. Such as (in ranking order) Queen, King Consort, Prince Consort, Prince/Princess, Duke/Duchess, Marquis/Marquise, Earl/Countess, Viscount/Viscountess, Baron/Baronne. The title of Baronet/Baronetess is hereditary, but it is not a peer. It is the equivilant of a knight. Also to be covered at a later time are the servants of the gods, priests and priestesses.
Inheriting
To outsiders of Rastaban the form of inheriting may seem a little odd. Does it go through the male line, or the female line? The answer is both, save for the position of Queen of Rastaban.
A law (which may be called a letters patent now) was created in the year 920 A.D. A serious problem was coming to a head just four year after Queen Elspeth II took the throne. The nobles were quarreling among themselves on how to handle succession. Some claimed that it should go through the male lines, other that is should be handles that the queenship - through the female line. Queen Elspeth put a stop to it when the next step in the matter appeared to be an act of violence. Queen Elspeth then created the "Law of Inheritance" in 920, which pertained to the inheriting of noble titles, later it would be amended to include civilians in 1231.
It stated that the eldest child of the one holding the position would inherit the title and all the privileges and responsibilities that came with the. The only position that was exempt from this was the inheriting of Queen of Rastaban. Only the eldest daughter may inherit the throne, if no daughters then the queen's eldest son's wife shall become queen, and the son is entitled to the equal title of King of Rastaban, though the queen still holds more power.
Another part of the law is that if the eldest child wishes to inherit the title they must take the name of the parent who holds it. Example: the oldest child of a current duke is a daughter. When she marries she will not take her husbands name, less she not inherit the duchy. Her children however have the option of taking their father's name or their mother's name.
In 1458 the "Law of Inheritance" was once again, this time by the immortal Queen Adela I, whose father had been a demi-god of Rastaban. This time is stated that if queen had no living issue she may name anyone that has at least a royal title (i.e. a princess-of-the-blood) to be her heir. Queen Cora took advantage of this law in 2004 by naming her first-cousin, HRH Lady Kishar Etain her heir apparent. Lady Kishar's mother, HRH Duchess L'aura, was Queen Julie III's younger sister. Queen Cora decided this once her younger half-sister, Princess Cally married the Emperor of Athan. Queen Cora explained that since Princess Cally had thus become empress of another nation she could no inherit the throne of Rastaban. Cally, however was allowed to keep the title of Princess of Rastaban and would be called such in Rastaban - not Empress of Athan. Also in 2004 Princess Cally and her husband became parents through a program called Design-A-Person™. This allowed the princess and her husband to conceive a child without partaking in the act. Queen Cora, in early 2005 also address this issue saying that Prince Sei, Princess Cally's son, nor his future wife would inherit the throne of Rastaban and that Lady Kishar was still the queen's Heir Apparent.
The queen has made it clear that her heir apparent will only change once she herself has issue or one of her brother's (Prince Daniel or Prince Dranon) marry and have issue.
Positions
With each title/rank there come special positions. The Queen of Rastaban is called Her Majesty. Explained below are the other positions given to nobles and members of the royal family. As well has whom gets to be called what. If her husband takes his wife's last name he will be called His Majesty. Only a Prince Consort will be addressed as His Royal Highness.
The children, nieces and newphews, as well as grandchildren and great-grand nieces and newphews all bare the position of His/Her Royal Highness. All children of the the queen are called prince or princess. They have the option of changing such when they married. An example of such is HRH Duchess L'aura. She was Princess L'aura of Rastaban, but on the day she married Duke Barton Etain of Leh'mu she changed her position to Duchess L'aura of Leh'mu, but maintained Her Royal Highness, and all of her children and granchildren would be His/Her Royal Highnesses. Duchess L'aura's husband however would no take His Royal Highness, since he didn't not inherit it, as it is a heriditary title.
The titles of Grand Ducal Highness, Serene Highness and plain Highness depend on how far removed from the royal bloodline they are.
(Information may be added and changed later.)
