Pantocratorian court etiquette
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 Pantocratoria, but rather a roleplaying guide to Pantocratorian manners and forms of address.
Contents
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 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 Despot, 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.
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).
