Rank

Your position within society is one of the most important attributes of a medieval human. While all characters in the game are noble-born, there is still a difference between a simple knight and a king.

Freeman

The lowest rank of the game, reachable only through a judge accusing you of treason or a ruler disputing your title of nobility. A freeman can still walk about as he pleases, but can only recruit a limited number of armed men and many pieces of internal realm information are not available to him. He also can not visit tournaments.

(Lesser) Noble

Your initial rank whenever you join a realm, the lesser noble is a noble without alignment, not having sworn fealty to any lord. Like the freeman, he can only recruit a limited number of soldiers. A few advanced options within the realm are hidden from him, and he can not be appointed to any government position or given a region to command. A noble can be elected to one of the four major government positions.

Knight

A full noble, having sworn fealty to a lord and thus having integrated himself fully into the realm hierarchy. This is the most common rank within most realms. A knight sworn to a region lord becomes a part of the duchy to which that region belongs. A knight has full access to all functions available to a troop leader, can be appointed as a local lord of a region in the duchy of which they are a part, and can be appointed as the Marshal of the army of that duchy. Knights can be elected to all government positions.

Lord

(Baron/Count/Marquis/Duke)
Landed nobility, a knight who has been entrusted with a region of the realm. In addition to knightly activities, landed nobility also controls the region entrusted to them and has many local command options. Lords can be elected to all government positions.

Royal (Relative)

Nobles with direct ties to the royal family. This rank is limited to the current ruler and members of his family, as well as former rulers and their family members if they were within the realm at the time of his rulership. Nobles joining the realm later may claim royal blood, but their claims are usually disputed or weak and do not affect the effective rank.

Royal relatives are always royal knights at least and are above the judge's ability to accuse or any new ruler's dispute option. They also can not be banned from the realm.