Nobility of Packilvania
The nobility or aristocracy of Packilvania comprises the social class that has received noble titles from the Sultan of Packilvania. Members of the nobility can pass their titles to their children by way of agnatic primogeniture. The nobility of Packilvania had existed in some form of thousands of years. When Iktan the Devout united the tribes of Packilvania, he gave the Lords that support him titles and the right to rule over a part of and collect rent from vassals who lives in Packilvanian territory.
The nobility remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years until 1918 when Zerah Demir IV was deposed by the Packilvanian Communist Party under the leadership of Gideon Muktan following the Great War. The nobility was reestablished in 1985 when the Parliament of Packilvania was reconstituted by the Carriers of Mercy and subsequently appointed Amhoud I as Sultan of Packilvania and made the Bedonite dynasty the royal family of the country. The Sultan typically gives out titles as favours to his political allies.
List of titles
| Male Version of the Title | Female Version of the Title | Style | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince (Mamlukmne) | Princess (Mamlukmnelea) | Your Imperial Highness (muWaloof muShah) | 12,000 |
| Grand Duke (Bas Nagus) | Grand Duchess (Bas Naguslea) | Your Grace (muRahman) | 1 |
| Duke (Nagus) | Duchess (Naguslea) | Your Grace (muRahman) | 2,500 |
| Marquis (Ras) | Marchioness (Raslea) | The Profound Estimable (muBasihtiramtan) | 6,700 |
| Earl or Count (Lij) | Countess (Lijlea) | The Profound Estimable (muBasihtiramtan) | 15,800 |
| Viscount (Lijmne) | Viscountess (Lijmnelea) | The Profound Estimable (muBasihtiramtan) | 28,700 |
| Baron (Baron) | Baroness (Baronlea) | The Esteemed (muIhtiramtan) | 46,200 |
Traditions and etiquette
Before the First Packilvanian Civil War in 1918, most of the prestige of being a noble came from the ownership of land and access to this class was heavily guarded. In the modern era, the Sultan awards titles to people who are political allies. As such, many of these people are already wealthy or prominent. Furthermore, the secondary purpose of the nobility was to entrench the members of the Carriers of Mercy who had supported and were instrumental in the ascendancy of the Bedonite dynasty but were not part of it. Thus, the nobility preserves and recognises their contributions.
Many of the more important members of the Carriers of Mercy were former members of the Communist Party so many of them had never really been exposed to the old traditions and etiquette that governed the old nobility. However there was a sizeable chunk of the old aristocracy who returned to Packilvania and who had their titles restored. They helped to shape a simpler system of rules that nods to but does not replicate the highly stratified social order that existed under previous dynasties.
For the most part nobles are treated like ordinary people except that people are expected to give a slight bow and to call them Sir or Madam (Sheikh or Sheikha respectively). The power or significance of a noble arises largely from their proximity to the royal family and their political, military or professional accomplishments.