Realm

A realm is a kind of ceremonial administrative division which serves in the granting of titles of Fortressian Nobility. Realms consist of novel divisions of Fortressian territory irrespective of existing provinces, cantons, etc.. The names of these divisions are then incorporated into the titles. Aside from the naming connection, and, ideally in the case of landed nobility, a grant of land being located within the realm, there are no other legal privileges associated with the realm. An archduke does not, in any sense, rule or govern or own their associated Grand Duchy, nor does a Duke rule or govern or own their Dukedom, etc. It may be that polities located inside the realms, such as municipalities or townships, establish certain ceremonial duties for their nobility, such as marching in a parade or cutting the ribbon at some grand opening, but these are not mandatory or even to be expected.

Only the Greater Nobility receives realms on the Honor Map, with the order of precedence, from greatest to least, being:

• Grand Duchy
  • Dukedom
    • County
      • Barony

Each sort of realm acts as a subdivision within the one directly above it on the order of precedence. A barony located within a county located within a dukedom located within a grand duchy. It is not always necessary that there be on the Honor Map a higher realm for one lower to exist in. For example, Archduke is a title reserved for the non-inheriting children of a reigning Princess, while Duke is one which may be granted to any citizen of the Principality, thus it would be expected that the number of dukedoms should far exceed the number of grand duchies, to the point where placing all dukedoms within the available grand duchies would be impractical or absurd, placing some dukedoms outside any higher realm. This is true for any realm, as we expect them to increase in number the lower down on the order of precedence. Similar variant situations, such as having baronies within dukedoms but outside any county, are also to be expected. The only kind of organization prohibited is having any realm located entirely within a realm lower on the order of precedence. There may never be, for example, a dukedom within a county, or a grand duchy within a barony.