Galian Social System

The systems of social stratification, ritual, and hierarchy are part of a larger social system collectively referred to as the "Galian Social System", or simply the Galian System. The population of the Galian Empire is organized into a strict social and political hierarchy, based historically around any given individuals social clout, but based historically on landed titles or increasingly wealth. While the majority of the Social System is unwritten and acts as a form of social code, it can manifest in particularly complicated ways, and is responsible for the notably complicated and abstract Galian etiquette.

Though it is not commonly done, the Galian Social system is intricate enough to allow for the ranking of the upper echelons of Galian Society by social prominence with accuracy to the order of individual noble titles. In practice much of the system is based off of one's perception of prominence and social importance, and thus us often ill-defined and fuzzy when dealing with peers, however when clear differences in rank, fame, or wealth come into play a more clear hierarchy is established.

Concepts
Prestige

An individual's prestige is determined by a number of factors, including the social value of past jobs or duties, the perceived value of their presently held titles, and how respected said individual is. Things which can boost an individuals prestige are often largely out of their control, but can include coming from a famous or historic family (Especially one of the Great Houses), holding a well known or special title (Such as a prominent city, industrial region, or well known Crown-Corporation), and from being a known and well respected expert or socialite. Ways which one can directly boost their prestige are by earning high degrees, awards, certifications, or by earning military valor -- with combat medals and ribbons being the most sought after.

Grandeur

Grandeur represents the luxury and ostentatiousness of one's lifestyle. Primarily intended as a way for an individual to express their prominence through wealth, means of raising one's Grandeur include luxuriant spending on expensive mansions, cars, luxury voidcraft, clothes, jewelry, and events. By spending heavily on the latest luxury goods, maintaining an extensive personal residence, and hosting lavish events (Such as coronations, debutants, holiday, and birthday celebrations), an individual is able to put their immense wealth on display, and broadcast their social importance to the world. Many members of Galian high society have gone bankrupt in the act of "Chasing Grandeur" however, and the immense expenses required to sufficiently elevate one Out of Rank can be enough to bankrupt most nobles without immensely profitable business endeavors, or uniquely profitable titles.

Import

Import represents the collective power and consequence of an individual's titles and duties. Differences in Import are one of the larger points of division between individuals within social ranks. For example, a County including a large and heavily developed area is generally considered to be far more consequential than a county covering a much larger but barren region of mining fields. The difference in notability and importance between the two titles would help to grant more social value to the smaller county over its larger but more bare counterpart. Similarly military appointments possess their own levels of import, with combat officer roles being valued over strategic, which are further valued over logistical roles.

Prowess

An individuals Prowess is, put simply, their ability in combat or warfare. This includes a larger set of physical and mental traits and is not exclusively restricted to physical combat aptitude. While a traditional means of elevating one's prowess would be to participate in the Dueling Circuit other means include proven abilities in the military, or through success in wargames or tactical simulations. Strategic or tactical skills are considered as valid as combat aptitude, though individuals seeking to maximize their social standing often study both.

Out of Rank

Any individual whose perceived social status places them outside the range of their peers is considered "Out of Rank". Such individuals are rare, and are often among the first considered for reassessment should one be possible. Individuals can be Out of Rank both the upward and downward direction, with title demotions most frequently resulting from financial difficulties. Out of Rank individuals can be the source of great controversy, as their prestige and social clout can often times challenge those of higher classes, and perceived slights by out of rank individuals can often lead to duels of honor, seeking to determine the superior party through elevation of Prowess. As Galian society does not like people to be Out of Rank for long, such individuals may find themselves rapidly promoted higher, or the subject of distrust until they are relegated to their rank of equilibrium.

Stratum
Galian society is divided into a number of major classes, with each tier possessing (Or specifically lacking) special rights and privileges. These divisions are immensely important to the Galian Social System as they dictate the primary hierarchy of social interactions, and generally divide society into its respective classes. While there are many interactions between classes, most social contexts have only those of the same class interacting with one another, excluding those on the extreme ends of each class. Most upwards or downwards progression between classes occurs to those who are Out-of-Rank, or more or less prominent than their title would imply. Below is a list of the various stratum of Galian society:

Nobility

The Nobility represent the highest class of Galian Society. Consisting of the ranks of Emperor, Arch-Duke, Grand Duke, Duke, Prince, and Marquis, the defining trait of the Noble class is their ability to grant lesser (landed) titles from their domains, and extract taxes or conscriptions from these lands. The nobility are an extremely small class consisting of a few thousand people spread across a couple hundred titles. Social mobility in and out of the Noble class is exceptionally rare, with only the recent promotion of Henry Oskar to Arch-Duke after he purchase the rights to the system of Hela-Sator from the debt plagued House Clair-Ranton. Generally Nobles receive the highest positions in the military, live exceptionally ostentatious lives, and are spoken of and speculated about endlessly in the media. Noble families often have tens-of-thousands of workers and servants in their employ, are suzerains to dozens of lesser aristocratic families, and frequently employ Knightly Households are personal retainers, companions, and elite soldiers.

Aristocracy

The Aristocratic Class are largely responsible for the management of the various lands and economic engines of the Empire. Unlike the Noble classes while an Aristocrats land may be subdivided into lesser demesne, it is the Imperial Bureaucracy, not the Aristocrat, which is responsible for the appointments to these lands. Despite this, members of the Aristocracy still enjoy lavish lifestyles funded from the taxation of their appointed lands, titles, or corporations. Social mobility within the Aristocratic class is high, with families rising and falling in prominence regularly. With millions of aristocratic titles, ranging from Count, Vicount, Baron, Baronet, and Lord spread across the Empire, the Aristocracy is the highest class a normal Galian citizen can reasonably expect to rise to, which rag-to-riches stories of meteoric rises from the Social Class to the Aristocratic Class being a staple of Galian fiction. Further, Aristocratic families often take one to two Knightly Families to serve as personal security or retainers, creating an array of roles for the lesser Squire classes.

Squirearchy

Consisting of hundreds of millions of families spread across the Empire, the Squirearchy is a massive class of individuals holding the ranks of Imperial Knight, Free Knight, or Squire, in addition to Subject Lords (Formerly Aristocratic Lords whose titled lands have been given to another family, in exchange for preserving their title). Members of the Squirearchy represent the most accomplished ordinary citizens in the Empire, being granted special rights and privileges for their achievements. Foremost of these is their respective title, with each member and their family first being promoted to Squire, then Free Knight and ultimately Imperial Knight if they are successful enough. While members of the Squirearchy live accomplished and luxurious lives, they pale in comparison to their wealthier counterparts in the Aristo-Noble families. Members of the Squirearchy, possessing only symbolic lands if any at all largely source their incomes from their labor, with Knights in particular being highly sought after in the business world. Most commonly, however, Knightly families enter into the service of larger Aristocratic or Noble families, serving as personal tutors, soldiers, bodyguards, advisors, or other specialized roles. Some prominent Knightly families have even been known to decline further promotion, instead seeking to stay permanently loyal to their master house.

Social Class

Villein

Social Rank
Among Aristocracy