Nobility/Hierarchy

Nobles follow a strict system of hierarchy that is primarily based on the average amount of mana a family has. There are also a range of titles which indicate not status, but rather governorship of land.

Nobility are ranked into three primary tiers (laynoble, mednoble, and archnoble), as well as two higher-ranking subsets of archnobles: the archducal family and royalty. Tiers reflect average mana capacity and hierarchical status, but they do not reflect wealth, land ownership, influence or other factors.

If a child has significantly more or less mana than the rest of their family, they may move up into a higher tier or fall to a lower tier. This is usually done through adoption or marriage. (Alternatively, if the child is young enough, they can be baptized as the natural child of a new family.)

A family that consistently displays mana equivalent to a higher tier for three successive generations may seek permission to have its status changed to the more appropriate tier. Likewise, one that displays lower mana will likely have its tier involuntarily reduced.

Royalty (王族, ouzoku) are the governing family of Yurgenschmidt and the highest-ranking nobles in the country. They have the highest amount of mana and often have all seven mana attributes. In addition to ruling the country, they also serve the same function in the Sovereignty that an archducal family serves in its respective duchy.

The royal family consists of the current Zent (also called the King or Queen), their first, second and third spouses, and their heirs (who have the title "Prince" or "Princess"). It is possible (typically only for archduke candidates of greater duchies) to marry into the royal family; however, they will not become heirs to the throne by doing so.

Due to their status, all other nobles in Yurgenschmidt, including archdukes and their families, must comply with the orders of royalty and show appropriate deference and respect.

Spoiler from Part 4 Volume 5 Unlike other nobles, children of the royalty are not debuted in the winter, but rather in spring during the archduke conference.

It is also a rule that a member of the royal family must be present at the Royal Academy for the entire length of each term. If a royal child is currently attending the academy, they will fulfill this role of overseer. If no child is of that age, usually an adult will be sent to fulfill this duty. In very rare occasions it is also possible for a child too young to attend the academy to take over this role, though that does not mean they attend as a student and join courses themselves. Such was the case in the year following Prince Anastasius' graduation and engagement. Due to having to take case to fill the land and the magic tools of the regions he has so recently be put in charge of, he could not take over this role and likewise Prince Sigiswald was busy with other duties, likewise connected to his recent elevation to successor. This left only Prince Hildebrand to take up the mantle, despite only having been baptised in the very same year. Due to not being a student, the third prince didn't wear black clothes apart from the black cape that signified a member of the sovereignty.

See also:


 * Zent

The archducal family (領主一族, ryoushu ichizoku) is the governing family of a particular duchy (such as Ehrenfest). They typically have more mana and more attributes than other nobles in the duchy, even other archnobles; that is because members of the archducal family with less mana are typically not chosen to remain in the line of succession.

The archducal family consists of the current Aub (also called the archduke or archduchess, their first, second and third spouses, and their heirs (who have the title "archduke candidate"). The first spouse of the Aub takes the lead in handling diplomatic events inside and outside the duchy, while the other spouses primarily remain within the duchy.

Lower-status nobles may enter the archducal family's line of succession by adoption. While they have the same official position, adopted heirs are considered slightly lower in social status than biological heirs.

See also:


 * Aub
 * Archduke Candidate

Archnobles (上級貴族, joukyuu kizoku) are the highest-ranking of the three main tiers of the nobility, although they are still outranked by mambers of the archducal family and royalty. Archnobles represent approximately 1 out of every 8 nobles in Yurgenschmidt, and typically have high amounts of mana, as well as up to all 7 mana attributes.

Archnobles are typically leaders and central figures of political factions; they are expected to extend their protection over lower-status nobles in exchange for service and loyalty. They are expected to be trailblazers and trendsetters in matters of fashion and policy, and are looked down on if they follow trends set by those lower in status.

Due to their generally high family wealth and disposable income, many archnobles view it as improper to take paid work other than serving as a knight, attendant or scholar. They can typically afford to buy luxury goods without worrying about price, and are expected to dress in fine clothing appropriate to their social station. Because of their high amount of mana, they can more easily handle enhancement magic and other intensive techniques.

An archnoble who governs a province as a giebe is called a "Count" or "Countess".

Mednobles (中級貴族, chuukyuu kizoku) are the middle tier among the nobility, making up about half of all nobles in Yurgenschmidt.

With more mana than laynobles, but less than archnobles, mednobles can typically engage freely in activities requires moderate amounts of mana. For example, archnobles and mednobles play the mana-using chess game gewinnen, while laynobles do not. However, most mednobles lack the mana to use enhancement magic or other intensive techniques.

While mednobles typically don't struggle to make ends meet, they have a limited budget and can't afford to buy many luxury goods. The mednobles who purchase study tools in Rozemyne's playroom prioritize items like karuta, which can be shared freely among all their children. Both mednobles and laynobles avoid aligning closely with political factions and seek out archnoble patrons to protect them from other high-ranking nobles.

A mednoble who governs a province as a giebe is called a "Viscount" or "Viscountess".

Laynobles (下級貴族, kakyuu kizoku) typically have very little mana and often have little wealth; some laynoble familes are poorer than wealthy commoners. Nevertheless, even laynobles treat the lower classes with scorn and contempt.

In order to survive noble society, laynobles shift factions constantly based on trends and current events. Because they typically have fewer financial resources, laynobles engage in paid work for nobles of higher status. A common way to do this is by transcribing books, a task which requires no mana.

Laynobles can more accurately sense small quantities of mana, because it's easier to detect mana similar to one's own. This means layknights like Damuel are a good choice for scouting out opponents like Devouring soldiers.

A laynoble who governs a province as a giebe is called a "Baron" or "Baroness".

Titles (as opposed to noble tiers) denote governorship of land and the right to inherit that governorship. The three main titles (Zent, Aub, and Giebe) each have one or more courtesy titles associated with the position, which can be used as appropriate to the situation. For example, the "Archduke of Ehrenfest" is synonymous with the title "Aub Ehrenfest". Likewise, a mednoble giebe such as Giebe Gerlach can also be correctly called "Viscount Gerlach".

The spouse of a landed noble may be referred to using the corresponding courtesy title, but not the formal title. For example, the husband of an archduchess may be referred to as an archduke, but not as the Aub. Likewise, the first wife of a mednoble giebe (viscount) may be referred to as a viscountess, but not as the Giebe. If there are multiple wives, only the first wife will receive the courtesy title; however, all spouses of a landed individual have a higher status as members of the governing family. They rank below the title holder, but above the heirs to the title.

Title holders may abdicate their position in order for their designated heir to take over the role. If they do so, they will maintain a significant level of status and authority owing to their prior position, however it will be informal in nature.

Contrary to common expectations, the oldest son is not automatically set to inherit a title; there is a preference for male heirs over female ones and a somewhat milder preference for earlier-born children, but ultimately the amount of mana is usually the deciding factor and if one child has clearly more mana they will typically be the presumptive heir to a title.

These titles do not correspond to any particular hierarchical status. They can be used as a term of respect for any noble, as applicable.

 See Honorary Titles of the Nobility

Each spring, the duchies of Yurgenschmidt are formally ranked based on their political influence, economic growth, contributions to new research or technology, and the performance of their students in the Royal Academy. The status of nobles within those duchies is likewise impacted.


 * Between Duchies: When nobles of similar status have a conflict, preference is usually given to the one from a higher-ranked duchy. For example, an archnoble from a greater duchy would usually take precedence over an archnoble from a lesser duchy.
 * Between the Sovereignty and a Duchy: Nobles of the Sovereignty always rank above other nobles from the same tier: That is, a Sovereignty mednoble will always rank above a Klassenberg mednoble, although Klassenberg is the highest-ranking duchy. However, a Sovereignty mednoble would still be considered lower in status than any archnoble.

Royal Academy Professors are an exception. For the sake of maintaining order, professors are always considered of a higher rank than their pupils in matters concerning education. However, this rule is often more true in theory than in practice. As Solange experienced, many high-status students will ignore the requests of a professor who is lower in status.

Students who show themselves very capable in their first two years at the Royal Academy sometimes get the option to join the Sovereignty from their third year onwards. However, archduke candidates cannot join the Sovereignty under any circumstances, because doing so could leave the Aub without a successor. The only way for an archduke candidate to join the Sovereignty is by marrying a member of the royal family.