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The United Realms of Oronia.
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Oronian Nobility
The Oronian nobility is the peerage of the United Realms. The nobility of the constituent realms has played a major role in shaping the history, although in the present day they retain only the position in the formal order of precedence, the right to certain titles, and the right to an audience with the Oronian monarch.1. Oronian nobility
- Gentry
2. History
- Current role of the nobility
- Judiciary of Nobility
- Great Council
3. Titles and structure of the nobility
- Dukes
- Royal dukedoms
- Coronet
- Counts
- Royal countships
- Coronet
- Viscounts
- Barons
- Coronet
- Courtesy titles
- Hereditary titles
- Renunciation of peerages
4. Gentry styles and titles
- Knights
5. Characteristics of the nobility
- Legal identity
The Oronian nobility comprises of peers and their family members who bear courtesy titles or honorifics. Most members of the peerage are addressed as “Lord” (Don) or “Lady” (Doña).
All modern Oronian honors and peerage dignities are created directly by the Oronian monarch and take effect when letters patent are affixed with the Great Seal of the United Realms. The sovereign is the fount of honor and, as "the fountain and source of all dignities cannot hold a dignity from himself”, cannot hold an Oronian peerage.
Knights belong to the gentry. Other than their designation, they enjoy only the privilege of a position in the formal order of precedence in the United Realms.
Historically, these individuals were a socially privileged class enjoying a great degree of prestige and power in society, with many being rulers in the ancient and imperial eras. Most, if not all, of the families have resided in the current territory of the United Realms since the emigration of the Chilean Mapuche to the islands in the late 17th century. From then, these families ruled over the hundred or so petty kingdoms and city-states scattered across the islands. By the early 18th century, twenty families had formed the upper nobility as the Great Houses ruling over their respective kingdoms. The middle nobility consisted of the Major houses, whose rulers – once rulers of the former petty kingdoms and city-states – governed their feudal kings’ territories as dukes; and the Minor houses that made up the lower nobility and consisted of counts presiding over cities and towns. In the imperial era, the titles of the middle and lower nobility did not change; the upper nobility saw changes in their titles, with some of the former kings being lowered to grand dukes, grand princes, sovereign dukes, and lords paramount.
After the establishment of the then-Kingdom of Oronia as a sovereign nation and federation of monarchies headed by the other Great Houses, the Nobility Act of 1830 was enacted to allow families to receive the recognition of their status. The act was initiated upon the request of Felipe I in response to the realms’ seizure of all lands and properties of the former noble families. The realms’ governments argued that such possessions were only held due to their noble status and that without such status, the families no longer had any right to them. Although the royal charter vested the Crown with the power to grant titles, it was a daunting task to grant such titles to the hundreds of families. Thus, the act created the Judiciary of Nobility: families who wished to reclaim their noble titles would submit to the courts their requests of titles (duke or count), immediate properties (i.e., castles, country houses, farms, boats), and evidence of their claim. Once approved, the requests were then submitted to the Crown for royal assent. It also became custom for the Crown to grant peerages to senior members of government upon their retirement or end of term (i.e., former presidents, ambassadors) as well those elected or appointed to certain positions (i.e., Lords or Ladies Speaker of the House of Councilors, Lord Secretaries of the Royal Household Agency, Lord Magistrates); since 1901, however, most of these peerages have been life peerages and thus cannot be inherited.
Before the twentieth century, hereditary peerages descended solely in the male line. This practice was amended in 1901, allowing for titles of nobility to pass to the eldest daughter in the absence of male heirs. Since 12 November 2011, the eldest child, regardless of sex, inherits their parent's titles: this change was backdated to allow for noblewomen who previously fell behind their younger siblings to become the first in line of succession, or in some cases displace their sibling as the title holder.
In contemporary society, much of the historic social privileges associated with being a member of the nobility has become reduced, reflecting the present-day notion of egalitarianism: as stated in the Royal Charter, no privileges are attached to bearing a title of nobility, excluding coats of arms, titles to lands, position in the formal order of precedence, and the right to an audience with the Oronian monarch.
Many of the families still own and reside in castles and country houses, or villas. Most peers still belong to the elite, and they are as such present at royal events where they may hold court posts, are guests, or are objects of media coverage. Many of them own and manage companies, or have leading positions within business, banking, diplomacy, and NGOs. Peers have never been prohibited from running for or holding public office, and since the nation’s establishment in 1829, many peers have served in government positions at the local, realm, and national level: the nonroyal Carlist branch of the royal House of Küxal-Kofi is one of the most well-known political families in the United Realms. For years, leaders within the Mapuche Confederated Tribes prohibited the granting of citizenship to peers, claiming that doing so would threaten the integrity of the nation. In 2012, a referendum was held to determine whether such members should be allowed to join the tribal nation; with over 90% in favor, members of dynastic and noble houses were allowed to apply for citizenship, although dynastic members were (and still are) prohibited from running for public office.
The nobility is currently regulated by the Nobility Act, issued on 1 August 1830. The Judiciary of Nobility (Spanish: Poder Judicial de la Nobleza), created by the act, is administered by the Great Council, and operates in conjunction with the Office of Heraldry and Titles within the Royal Household Agency (Spanish: Agencia de la Casa Real, or ACR). The judiciary is an official state institution whose central court, the High Court of Nobility, oversees the courts of nobility attached to each district court. A claimant would submit to their local court of nobility their title requests, coat of arms, immediate properties, and evidence of their claim. Once the investigations of the claims are completed and verified, the requests are then submitted to the Office of Heraldry and Titles for royal assent; should the claims be more complicated or unclear, the case may be referred to the high court. The courts of nobility also hear all disputes relating to titles, inheritance, and heraldry; appeals to the decisions of the courts of nobility are heard by the appellate courts of nobility and the high court if their decisions are appealed, although the Crown acts as the “court of last resort”.
All members of the nobility, excluding life peers, have the right to join the Great Council (Spanish: Gran Consejo). Prior to the establishment of the Kingdom of Oronia, the Great Council, consisting of both dynastic and noble members, held significant power and authority, as its decisions were respected by all sovereign rulers, as well as the emperors of Komkiñepu. Its power significantly decreased upon the ratification of the 1829 Royal Charter, although the signatories were the members of the council. Since then, it has continued to act as a “court”, with its non-binding decisions seen as recommendations or official stances. Still, all dynastic and noble houses defer to its decisions; the realm and national governments also respect the council’s decisions, often answering its appeals for government intervention or response.
One significant power that the Great Council holds, per the Royal Charter, is choosing the new King or Queen of the United Realms should he or she die without a legitimate heir. This provision had more relevance when the succession laws of the House of Küxal-Kofi were based in agnatic primogeniture, as this is less likely to occur with the adoption of male-preference and more recently equal primogeniture. The National Emergency and Contingency Act of 1974 granted further powers to the Great Council: should there be no known living member of the royal house during a natural disaster or national emergency, the most senior member of the Great Council can be vested with the power and authority of the Crown until it is able to convene and elect a new King or Queen.
Titles and structure of the nobility
Characteristically, the Oronian nobility is structured and ranked very formally. These ranks are still important in social life and ceremonial life at court.
The eleven ruling houses of the United Realms do not belong to the Oronian nobility as they are above the social class that is the nobility. Thus, dynastic titles and styles supersede all those that are granted to peers.
Of the three peerages in the United Realms, the title of duke is the highest-ranking hereditary title. They are typically held by the Major houses who once governed their feudal rulers’ territories as dukes during the imperial era, although some Minor houses have been elevated to dukes.
The wife of a duke is known as a duchess, which is also the title of a woman who holds a dukedom in her own right, referred to as a duchess suo jure; her husband would also receive the title of duke. In the order of precedence in the United Realms, non-royal dukes without formal offices or positions generally take precedence before all other peers, in order of creation, but after royalty and certain officials.
The ceremonial, formal, and/or legal title of a duke or duchess is “The Most High, Noble and Potent Grace, Lord/Lady [Forename], [Ordinal] Duke/Duchess of [Dukedom]”. They are spoken to as “Your Grace” (Su Gracia) and addressed as “His/Her Grace, The Duke/Duchess of [Dukedom]”.
The eldest child of a duke or duchess is entitled to use the style and title “The Most High, Noble and Potent Lord/Lady [Forename] of [Dukedom], Count/Countess of [Countship]”; the eldest child of the heir apparent or heir presumptive is entitled to use the style and title “The Most High and Potent Lord/Lady [Forename] of [Dukedom], Viscount/Viscountess of [Countship]”. Younger sons and daughters are styled “The Most High and Potent Lord/Lady [Forename] of [Dukedom]”, while the grandchildren of a duke or duchess are styled “The High and Potent Lord/Lady [Forename] of [Dukedom]”. The great-grandchildren of a duke or duchess are styled “The Most Honorable Lord/Lady [Forename] of [Dukedom]”, with all other legitimate descendants being styled “The Lord/Lady [Forename] of [Dukedom]”.
A royal duke or duchess is a duke or duchess who is a member of the royal House of Küxal-Kofi. They are titles created and bestowed on legitimate children of the monarch, usually upon reaching their majority or marriage, although Prince Eduardo was created a royal duke after his abdication. As with any peerage, once the title becomes extinct or merges with the Crown, it may subsequently be recreated by the reigning monarch at any time.
The current royal dukedoms are:
Duchess of Ngantüpu, held by Queen Emilia of Puelania (1st creation)
Duchess of Pikantüpu, held by Princess Sofía of Fanelayasia (1st creation)
Duke of Puelanayapu, held by Prince Samuel of the United Realms (1st creation)
Duchess of Küxapapu, held by Princess Sofía of the United Realms (3rd creation)
Duke of Antüpu, held by Prince Joaquín of the United Realms (1st creation)
An Oronian duke or duchess is entitled to a coronet (a silver-gilt circlet, chased as jeweled but not actually gemmed) bearing eight conventional strawberry leaves on the rim of the circlet. The physical coronet is worn only at coronations. Any duke or duchess can bear their coronet of rank on their coat of arms above the shield.
Of the three peerages in the United Realms, the title of count is the second-highest ranking hereditary title. They are typically held by the Minor houses who were once the local rulers under the dukes of the imperial era, although the title may also be used by the heir apparent of a dukedom.
The wife of a count is known as a countess, which is also the title of a woman who holds a countship in her own right, referred to as a countess suo jure; her husband would also receive the title of count.
The ceremonial, formal, and/or legal title of a count or countess is “The Most High and Potent Lord/Lady [Forename], [Ordinal] Count/Countess of [Countship]”. They are spoken to as “My Lord/Lady” (Mi Don/Mi Doña) and addressed as “The Count/Countess of [Countship]”.
The eldest child of a count or countess is entitled to use the style and title “The Most High and Potent Lord/Lady [Forename], Viscount/Viscountess of [Countship]”, while younger sons and daughters are styled “The High and Potent Lord/Lady [Forename] of [Countship]”. The grandchildren of a count or countess are styled “The Most Honorable Lord/Lady [Forename] of [Countship]”, with all other legitimate descendants being styled “The Lord/Lady [Forename] of [Countship]”.
A royal count or countess is a count or countess who is a member of the Oronian royal family. They are titles created and bestowed on legitimate children of the monarch, usually upon reaching their majority or marriage. And again, as with any peerage, once the title becomes extinct or merges with the Crown, it may subsequently be recreated by the reigning monarch at any time.
The current royal countships are:
Count of Antüria, held by Tomás II of the United Realms* (4th creation)
*The Countship of Antüria is traditionally granted to the Crown Prince or Crown Princess of the United Realms upon turning eighteen. However, it has only been created four times, as previous heirs acceded the throne before they could receive the title. The countship merged with the Crown when Tomás II succeeded his father as King of the United Realms in 2023, but it is assumed that Crown Prince Roberto will receive the title when he is of age.
An Oronian count or countess is entitled to a coronet bearing four strawberry leaves (three visible) and four silver balls (or pearls) around the rim (two visible). The physical coronet is worn only at coronations. Any count or countess can bear their coronet of rank on their coat of arms above the shield.
The title of “Viscount of [Countship]” is a title given to the eldest child of a count or countess as their heir, as well as to the eldest child of the heir to a dukedom. The former is styled as “The Most High and Potent Lord/Lady [Forename], Viscount/Viscountess of [Countship]”, while the latter is styled as “The Most High and Potent Lord/Lady [Forename] of [Dukedom], Viscount/Viscountess of [Countship]”.
Of the three peerages in the United Realms, the title of baron is the lowest-ranking hereditary title. Unlike the other peerages, they are typically held by individuals rewarded for achievement or by those on retirement from important public offices. It is also the only peerage that is often nonhereditary: if it is specified that a peerage is to be held for the peer’s lifetime (i.e., a life peerage), the titles cannot be inherited. However, relatives and descendants of a nonhereditary baron or baroness continue to use the associated titles and styles and have their place in the order of precedence.
The wife of a baron is known as a baroness, which is also the title of a woman who holds a barony in her own right, referred to as a baroness suo jure; her husband would also receive the title of baron.
The ceremonial, formal, and/or legal title of a baron or baroness is “The High and Potent Lord/Lady [Forename], Baron/Baroness [Surname]. They are spoken to as “My Lord/Lady” (Mi Don/Mi Doña) and addressed as “The Baron/Baroness [Surname]”.
All children of a baron or baroness are styled “The Most Honorable Lord/Lady [Forename] [Surname]”, with all other legitimate descendants being styled “The Lord/Lady [Forename] [Surname]”.
An Oronian baron or baroness is entitled to a coronet bearing six silver balls (called pearls) around the rim, equally spaced and all equal size and height. The rim itself is neither jeweled nor "chased" (which is the case for the coronets of peers of higher degree). The physical coronet is worn only at coronations. Any baron or baroness can bear their coronet of rank on their coat of arms above the shield.
If a peer has more than one title, their eldest child may use one of their parent’s lesser titles "by courtesy". However, the parent continues to be the substantive holder of the peerage title, and the heir is only using the title by courtesy. The eldest child of the eldest child of a peer may use a still lower title, if one exists. In legal documents, the courtesy title is implied but not used directly, e.g., the name of the person is given then "commonly called [title]".
Courtesy titles are only used by the peer's eldest living child, and the eldest child’s eldest living child, and so forth; thus, other descendants are not permitted to use the peer's subsidiary titles. An heir presumptive (e.g., an aunt, nephew, or cousin) does not use a courtesy title. Spouses are entitled to use courtesy titles, and the children of holders of courtesy titles bear the styles and titles as would be theirs if their parents held the peerages by which they were known.
As stated before, hereditary peerages pass to the eldest child. However, it is possible for a peer to name an heir apparent that is not their eldest child, or otherwise make changes to the inheritance of titles and properties. Typically, a request is submitted to their local court of nobility: if there are no dispute to the change by current heirs, the court forwards the request to the Office of Heraldry and Titles for royal assent. Should there be disagreement, a hearing is held: appeals to decisions of the courts of nobility are heard by the appellate courts of nobility, appeals to their decisions are heard by the high court, and the Crown acts as the “court of last resort”.
Previously, this was rarely done as safeguarding the rights of inheritance is practically sacred in the United Realms. However, in recent years, families that have inherited multiple peerages had begun to alter their inheritance rules and divide their peerages amongst their children. This has been especially common among the Great Houses, who had intermarried for decades and were now seeing their houses and titles merge. One of the first changes was in 2011, concerning the royal dukedom of Ngantüpu. Queen Emilia of Puelania, the current king’s fifth cousin, became Duchess of Ngantüpu upon the death of her mother Queen Mia in 2012; Prince Juan José, as the eldest of her twin sons and heir apparent, became the Count of Ngantüria. However, Juan José is first in line to inherit not only the Puelanian throne but the ducal throne of Las Islas Kelücu as well, as his father Felipe II is the latter realm’s sovereign. Not wanting the dukedom to be perpetually bound to the thrones, Emilia named his twin brother Prince Andrés heir apparent to the dukedom of Ngantüpu.
To renounce a peerage, the peer must submit a request to their local court of nobility, who then forwards the request to the Office of Heraldry and Titles for royal assent. A peer who renounces the peerage loses all titles, rights, and privileges associated with the peerage; if they are married, so does their spouse. No further peerage (hereditary or life) may be conferred upon or inherited by the person. Upon royal assent, a renounced hereditary peerage descends to his or her heir; if there are no living heirs, then the peerage reverts back to the Crown.
Knighthood is conferred by membership of one of the pure dynastic orders of chivalry, such as the Royal Order of the Flame in Fanelayasia and the Princely Order of the Claw in Pikunicia. In addition, many Oronian orders of merit, such as the Royal Felipic Order in Fanelayasia, are part of the Oronian honors system, and the award of their highest ranks comes together with an honorific knighthood, making them a cross between orders of chivalry and orders of merit.
A male knight is styled as “Lord [Forename] [Surname] of the [Order of Knighthood/Merit]” and addressed as “Lord [Forename]”, while a female knight is styled as “Lady [Forename] [Surname] of the [Order of Knighthood/Merit]” and addressed as or “Lady [Forename]. The spouses of a knight, as well as their legitimate descendants are “Lord/Lady [Forename] [Surname]”.
Characteristics of the nobility
The modern Oronian nobility is known to be mostly traditionalist and royalist. In the United Realms of Oronia, there are approximately over 1,000 noble families, with some 10,000 members. Most of these families can trace their noble lineage to the 17th century. And again, as the United Realms is a democracy in addition to a constitutional monarchy, there are no legal privileges attached to bearing a noble title or being a member of the aristocracy, excluding coats of arms, titles to lands, position in the formal order of precedence, and the right to an audience with the Oronian monarch.
Every noble family has its own crest and titles: both are legally protected from copyright, and people who do not belong to the house are forbidden to use the titles or the crest. In the United Realms, the title forms part of the identity of the peer and is mentioned on the ID-card, although the title is not a part of the name. Assumption of peerages by those not entitled to any is prohibited and is punishable with a fine of up to $1,000 as stated in the United Realms Penal Code.
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