Gregor Relak's Collected Essays and Lectures on Leadership and Governance/The Realm Hierarchy

Structure

The head of any realm is the Ruler. Underneath him are his Dukes, and Imperial Knights. They are beholden only to him, and hold much sway in the realm. Counts, Barons, and Marquis all swear to a Duke, and his Duchy. This is the basic unit of the hierarchy. Cities constitute a Duchy, and smaller regions swear fealty to them. Lords, and Knights are the rank and file of a realm, and control the vast majority of the armies. The pitiful noble finds no place in the hierarchy and is the lowest of the low. While claiming to be free, they are more trapped and powerless than they would ever care to admit.

Military Hierarchy

With far less intrigue the Military Hierarchy of a realm is simple, and deadly. At the pinnacle is the High Marshall, the General, the Sword of the King. Under him are his sub-marshals who control the armies of the duchies, and are appointed by the Dukes or army sponsors. These two tiers are capable of taking control of entire armies and arranging units as they see fit. Their command staffs are vast, and without hesitation. Unless you are given special dispensation, orders are followed without question. Suggestions are rarely taken unless you come from a distinguished family of note. While you may have a better idea, you best shut your mouth and do as you are told. Orders are orders, and if you fail to follow them, a stiff penalty will surely be coming. Pay attention, for at times those who feel they can issue orders are mistaken. Read well what your General writes in his bulletin for it may save your entire realm from defeat, for the smallest slip of a unit can be disastrous in the end.

Ranks

Outlaw

Little better than a common thief, an outlaw has been stripped of his nobility either through his deeds, or by word of mouth. A rogue beholden to a state, they can be captured and killed without any repercussion. Should you ever sink to such a level, I will never claim to have mentored you in the first place for you have disgraced all which I teach.

Noble

Do not let the connotation fool you. A noble can be as despicable as an outlaw. Merely they are sanctioned by the realm. Petty squabbling, and an irreverent attitude is common to these sort. Having not taken an oath of fealty they see themselves as 'freemen', and having certain rights. This is of course a contrived notion which is easily dispelled. Any common peasant does not hesitate to spit at them behind their back, and gossip runs rampant about their misdeeds. While nearly all young men start here, they quickly mature and grow into themselves as true men. They can thus be considered to be little more than boys pretending to have power.

Knight

A true and loyal friend of the realm. A knight has matured enough to recognize his place in the social order. Having offered or accepted an oath of fealty to a lord, certain privileges are available to him. Extra gold from his oath, prestige, and all that is right and good are bestowed upon him. The peasantry revere and respect him for his defense of their holdings. The lords value their advice, and their counsel is regarded as keen and insightful. Soldiers who follow his banner march forth with pride, and conviction for their liege is a tried and true veteran of battle.

Lord

Having performed duties as a knight, a lord is entrusted with the care of more than mere defense of the realm, and region. Justice, and virtue are his calling. Lords have been raised above the petty games which young men play and have been granted great power over the lives of men. Should a lord be truly great, he rewards his people, and his knights. The mainstay of both the core, and the fringe of the realm; Lords should never be discounted in matters of state. They wield the power of surrender, and betrayal. It is foolish to think that lords do not have ambitions, but the rewards often are enough to keep a man loyal. It is often a foolish ruler or Duke who ignores his lords in favor of the common man.

Duke

Some Dukes are as powerful as rulers, owning the loyalties of many lords, and controling vast estates and large cities. Their incomes make them dangerous foes, and if they are proficient and ruthless enough are often those waiting in the wings to be King or whatever title rulers take in the realm you belong to. Dukes often sponsor large armies and devote much of their attention to winning prestige for their Duchy. Capable of founding their own realm, or switching the allegiance of large portions of a realm to another crown they are to be respected by royals, and rarely fully trusted. Under the combined pressure of their Dukes even a powerful and popular King may think twice before they take a course of action that the Dukes oppose.

Royal

The Dictators, Kings, Prime Ministers, Chancellors, and Pontificates of the world. The unseen power they control is enormous. Often times in control of a region as would be a lord, Royals are so revered by all that only civil punishments can ever be bestowed upon them. Here is found the hotbed of revolt, of rebellion, and betrayal. Aligning yourself with a royal can be either lucrative or disastrous. Be very wary of their words, for even a lord is expendable to this sort. With little to lose, they gamble with others lives to ill effect. Even in power, many royals are despotic and unflinchingly perverse. Do not fear their whip, but do be careful of it. Love them will all your hate, and one day you too shall become one.