Social Rank

Rank 1: Empress
Rank 2: Sovereign Prince or Princess
Rank 3: Grand Dukes or Grand Duchesses
Rank 4: Margrave or Countess Palatine, Viceroys or Viziers of the Sotherian Caliphate
Rank 5: Earls, Counts, or Countesses, Chancellors of the Interior Ministry
Rank 6: Baronets or Baronesses, Chancellors of the Exterior Ministry
Rank 7: Imperial Knights
Rank 8: The Aristocracy (Unlanded Lords and Ladies), or Aristocratic Foreigners
Rank 9: The Peasantry, non-Aristocratic Foreigners, Commoners or Serfs
Rank 10: Pariahs

There are exceptions to this rule, such as the Margrave of Hyborea who is very powerful considering the size of his lands and the military strength available to the Thaynes. Therefore he is considered on par with the Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses. Margrave is a military title granted to the aristocracy and due to these realms often being situated in the Border Marches they are very prestigious and can wield great influence in the Empire's politics. After all, nobody wants the Countess Palatine or the Margrave to withdraw their forces to their fortress-cities and simply allow the monsters into the heart of the Empire.

There are certain positions within the government which are granted the same kind of authority and respect within the Illyrian empire as some of their noble counterparts. Such as the Viceroys who may serve as Regent for a territory granted by the Empress or otherwise recuperated under the direct authority of the crown. Viziers are essentially Viceroys of the Sotherian Caliphate and serve as governors for some of the outlying territories of the nation-state.