Difference between revisions of "Pantocratorian court etiquette"

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== Courtesy Titles ==
 
== Courtesy Titles ==
 
Characters with a courtesy title are an heir to an estate. Such individuals are awarded a courtesy title based on a declension of titles (Duke -> Marquis -> Count). For instance, [[Jacqueline d'Adrienople|Princess Jacqueline]] is the heiress of the Duc d'[[Adrienople]], and may therefore use the courtesy title of Marquesse d'[[Adrienople]], and her heir is her daughter [[Helen Capet|Princess Helen]], who may therefore use the courtesy title of Comtesse d'[[Adrienople]].
 
Characters with a courtesy title are an heir to an estate. Such individuals are awarded a courtesy title based on a declension of titles (Duke -> Marquis -> Count). For instance, [[Jacqueline d'Adrienople|Princess Jacqueline]] is the heiress of the Duc d'[[Adrienople]], and may therefore use the courtesy title of Marquesse d'[[Adrienople]], and her heir is her daughter [[Helen Capet|Princess Helen]], who may therefore use the courtesy title of Comtesse d'[[Adrienople]].
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== See Also ==
 +
*[[Pantocratorian Imperial usage of styles in correspondence]].
 
[[Category:Pantocratoria]]
 
[[Category:Pantocratoria]]

Revision as of 23:23, 1 January 2006

Pantocratorian court etiquette is a topic about which vast volumes could be written (and indeed, have been written IC). This article is not an exhaustive description of etiquette at the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator, but rather a roleplaying guide to Pantocratorian manners and forms of address.

Forms of Address

The Emperor

The Emperor is referred to as His Most Catholic and Imperial Majesty, His Imperial Majesty, or His Majesty (in order of formality). When first introduced to the Emperor, it is appropriate to refer to him by the first and most formal form of address. When first addressing him in conversation, any of those forms of address is appropriate, after which he may be referred to as Monseigneur, Sire or monsieur (but never the latter in the presence of his brother Prince Basil). Continuing to refer to him as majesty is not inappropriate, but is generally more awkward.

The Despot of New Constantinople

The Emperor's eldest son is the Despot of New Constantinople and Dauphin of Viennois, and is referred to as His Imperial Highness or His Highness. When first introduced and when first addressing him in conversation, either of these forms of address is appropriate, after which he may be referred to as Monsieur le Dauphin, Monseigneur le Despote, or simply monseigneur or monsieur (but never the latter in the presence of his uncle Prince Basil, nor the former in the presence of the Emperor). Continuing to refer to him as highness is not inappropriate, but is generally more awkward. Citizens of the Despotate of New Constantinople often refer to him as Sire, although this is not technically correct (it is certainly not frowned upon in any event).

Monsieur de France

The eldest brother of the King of France (that is to say, the Emperor) is styled Monsieur de France, or Monsieur. In addition to his standing as a prince (the forms of address for which are described below), Prince Basil is referred to as Monsieur. It is necessary to differentiate between him and any other "monsieurs" present when in the presence of Prince Basil - whereas one might normally refer to a duke in a conversation as "monsieur", if Prince Basil was present, it would be necessary to refer to the duke as "Monsieur le Duc", for in Prince Basil's presence, the term Monsieur by itself always refers to him.

Princes and Princesses

Princes and princesses are referred to as His/Her Imperial Highness or His/Her Highness when first addressed in conversation or introduced, after which they may be referred to as Monsieur le Prince or simply monsieur in the case of a prince, as Madame la Princesse or simply madame in the case of a married princess, or as Mademoiselle la Princesse or mademoiselle in the case of an unmarried princess. Only princes and princesses born of the Emperor or a male descendant are referred to as His/Her Imperial Highness - for princes and princesses born of a princess, the title "imperial" is dropped. For instance, Her Imperial Highness Princess Jacqueline was referred to only as Her Highness until she married Prince Basil, because she was a princess by virtue of being the child of an Emperor's daughter. Naturally once she married, her husband's superior form of address transferred to her (although the reverse would not have been the case).

Members of the Imperial Family

The following table may prove a useful quick reference for roleplays. In the case of forms of address such as "Monsieur le Prince", these may be condensed to "monsieur" when it isn't necessary to differentiate between monsieurs. In the case of forms of address such as "Madame la Princesse de Langeais", these may be condensed to "Madame de Langeais" or simply to "madame" when it isn't necessary to differentiate between madames.

Character Full Title Initial Form of Address Subsequent Forms
Andreus I Capet His Most Catholic and Imperial Majesty Emperor Andreus, By the Grace of God, Emperor of Pantocratoria, Autocrator of the Romans, Caesar Augustus, King of France and Navarre, Equal of the Apostles, God's Vicegerent on Earth, the Very Christian, the Most Pious, Sebastocrator, King of Kings Ruling over Rulers Your Imperial Majesty Sire
Andreus Capet His Imperial Highness the Most Pious Purple-Born Prince Andreus, Despot of New Constantinople, Dauphin of Viennois Your Imperial Highness Monseigneur le Despote
Constantine Capet His Imperial Highness the Honourable Purple-Born Prince Constantine, Member of the Imperial Parliament for the seat of St John Chrystostom Parish, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Your Imperial Highness Monsieur le Prince
Anna Capet Her Imperial Highness the Most Pious Purple-Born Princess Anna, Crown Princess of Excalbia, Princess of Langeais Your Imperial Highness Madame la Princesse de Langeais
Theodora Capet Her Imperial Highness Princess Theodora Porphyrogenita Your Imperial Highness Madame la Princesse de Holista
Zoë Capet Her Imperial Highness Princess Zoë Porphyrogenita Your Imperial Highness Mademoiselle la Princesse
Basil Capet His Imperial Highness the Right Honourable Purple-Born Prince Basil, Monsieur de France, Member of the Imperial Parliament for the seat of the Cathedral of Christ Pantocrator, Leader of the Opposition Your Imperial Highness Monsieur
Jacqueline d'Adrienople Her Imperial Highness Princess Jacqueline, Madame de France, Marquesse d'Adrienople (courtesy title only) Your Imperial Highness Madame
Helen Capet Her Imperial Highness Princess Helen, Comtesse d'Adrienople (courtesy title only) Your Imperial Highness Mademoiselle la Princesse
Marie Capet Her Imperial Highness Princess Marie Your Imperial Highness Mademoiselle la Princesse
Irene Capet Her Imperial Highness the Right Honourable Most Pious Purple-Born Princess Irene, Member of the Imperial Parliament for the seat of the See of New Rome Your Imperial Highness Mademoiselle la Princesse

Other Nobility

There are many other ranks of nobility in Pantocratoria, some of which are described below. Some basic conventions about addressing nobles do apply across all ranks however. The first is that while the wife of a nobleman takes on his titles if they are greater than her own, the reverse is not true - the husband of a woman who is a duchess in her own right is not a duke by virtue of marrying her, for instance. In addition, it is perfectly correct to condense names to "Monsieur/Madame/Mademoiselle de <<PLACENAME>>" irrespective of the rank of title, so long as there is no ambiguity created as a result. For instance, it is acceptable to condense "Monsieur le Duc de Montmanuel" to "Monsieur de Montmanuel", and "Mademoiselle la Comtesse d'Adrienople" to "Mademoiselle d'Adrienople". However, if M. le Duc de Montmanuel had a son, one couldn't call him "Monsieur de Montmanuel" because it would be necessary to differentiate between him (Monsieur le Duc de Montmanuel) and his son (Monsieur le Marquis de Montmanuel).

Dukes and Duchesses

The rank of duke is the highest currently held by somebody not directly a member of the Imperial Family in modern Pantocratoria, although in pre-Francophone times, grand dukes existed holding the Greek title Μέγας Δουξ (Megas Dux). A duke or a duchess is the direct vassal of the Emperor, either in his capacity as Emperor of Pantocratoria for duchies corresponding to actual regions in the Pantocratorian Archipelago, or in his capacity as Autocrator of the Romans for titular duchies corresponding to regions historically held as part of the Roman Empire but no longer under his control, or in his capacity as King of France for titular duchies corresponding to regions of France over which he reigns in theory only. The appropriate form of address when first meeting or speaking to a duke or a duchess is Your Grace, and in subsequent conversation it is appropriate to address the duke or duchess as Monsieur le Duc de <<Duchy>> or Madame/Mademoiselle la Duchesse de <<Duchy>>. It is usual to condense these addresses to the form described above, or simply to monsieur, madame or mademoiselle.

Marquises and Marquesses

The rank of marquis comes right underneath duke, and is a relatively new title, being introduced during the reign of Manuel VII Comnenus. An actual marquis is the direct vassal of the Emperor, although there are marquise who hold the title as a courtesy title (see below). The actual title is held from the Emperor in his capacities as described above. The appropriate form of address when first meeting or speaking to a marquis or a marquesse is Monseigneur le Marquis or Madame/Mademoiselle la Marquesse, and in subsequent conversation it is appropriate to address the marquis or marquesse as Monsieur le Marquis de <<Place>> or Madame/Mademoiselle la Marquesse de <<Place>>. It is usual to condense these addresses to the form described above, or simply to monsieur, madame or mademoiselle. It is important that one not continue to refer to a marquis as "monseigneur" after the first address; to do so is considered inappropriate, and certainly isn't regarded as a mark of respect for a marquis.

Counts and Countesses

The rank of count has existed in Pantocratoria since first settlement, when they were styled komes. A count or countess can be a vassal of either the Emperor, the Despot of New Constantinople, or a duke or duchess. The appropriate form of address when first meeting or speaking to a count is Monseigneur or Madame/Mademoiselle, and in subsequent conversation it is appropriate to address the count or countess as Monsieur le Comte de <<Place>> or Madame/Mademoiselle la Comtesse de <<Place>>. It is usual to condense these forms of address to the form described above, or simply to monsieur, madame or mademoiselle.

Lesser noble titles

There are a number of lesser titles whose forms of address are identical, or nearly identical to those forms for counts and countesses, the only difference being that from baronets down, the term Monseigneur is not used.

Exarch

The title of Exarch is a pseudo-noble one. It is a viceregal position, inherited from father to eldest son, and has many characteristics of a monarchy. However, the title was not invested with any inate nobility at its creation, and has never been officially regarded as a noble one. The Exarch of New Jerusalem was created as the most senior of the military governors (strategos) of Pantocratoria's provinces when the Exarchate of New Jerusalem was first established. He doesn't hold a fief from the Emperor, but rules the Exarchate of New Jerusalem in the Emperor's name. The appropriate form of address for the Exarch is Your Excellency, after which it is acceptable to refer to him by his title and last name, Exarch Comnenus. The informal French styling is Monsieur l'Exarch de Nouveau Jérusalem, which is regarded as polite, however all nobles of the rank of count or higher simply refer to the present Exarch as "Comnenus", as they might refer to any other commoner.

Ecclesiastical

The following forms of address may be employed when dealing with Pantocratorian Roman Catholic Church leaders.

Cardinals

When first addressing a cardinal, it is appropriate to refer to him as Eminence Révérendissime or Most Reverend Eminence. Instead of employing this form of address, the Emperor of Pantocratoria may refer to him as Monseigneur le Cardinal or Monsieur le Cardinal (although there is no hard rule about which form is employed, the Emperor tends to refer to nuncios from the Holy See as Monseigneur le Cardinal and other cardinals Monsieur le Cardinal). It is considered to be underneath the cardinal's dignity for a person of any lesser rank than the Emperor (in his capacity as King of France) to be referred to in this fashion by anybody else - even persons who consider themselves to be of equal rank to the Emperor are advised not to employ the form of address reserved for him. After the opening address, a cardinal is referred to as Your Eminence.

Bishops

Both bishops and archbishops are referred to as Your Grace or Your Grandeur.

Monsignori

Monsignori are referred to as Monseigneur.

Priests

A priest is referred to as Father or Reverend Father. Additionally, a parish priest may be referred to as Monsieur le Curé or Monsieur le Chanoine.

Judges

All judges are styled Monseigneur de la Justice - this title can be shortened to monseigneur. A female judge is called Madame de la Justice or Mademoiselle de la Justice. There are no different forms of address for higher or lower ranks of judges - the seniority of a judge is determined by the court at which he or she serves. Therefore, while a judge at a magistrate's court is less senior than a judge at a criminal court, they are both styled in the same fashion.

Courtesy Titles

Characters with a courtesy title are an heir to an estate. Such individuals are awarded a courtesy title based on a declension of titles (Duke -> Marquis -> Count). For instance, Princess Jacqueline is the heiress of the Duc d'Adrienople, and may therefore use the courtesy title of Marquesse d'Adrienople, and her heir is her daughter Princess Helen, who may therefore use the courtesy title of Comtesse d'Adrienople.

See Also