View source for Lords:Forms of address


=Forms of Address by Peerage=

== Forms of Address by Peerage ==
This section covers some of the default forms of address for the Peerage in TRMN. There is another section further down that covers various other gender and non-binary options. If in doubt, it is always acceptable to use their chosen title and Estate name to address a Peer (e.g. Earl Sutherland). In all of these examples, Estate stands in for the name of their [Estate] (e.g. Silver Lake)

=== Manticoran peerage titles ===
'''Grand Duchy''' — Formally referred to as: His/Her Most Serene Grace, The Grand Duke/Duchess of [Estate]; Addressed as: Your Grace (the first time) and Sir or Ma’am every time afterwards. If you are a friend, you may use the name of his or her duchy. Close friends and relatives may use first names, but only in non-formal social occasions.

'''Duchy''' — Formally referred to as: His/Her Most Noble Grace, The Duke/Duchess of [Estate]; Addressed as: Your Grace (the first time) and Sir or Ma’am every time afterwards. If you are a friend, you may use the name of his or her duchy. Close friends and relatives may use first names, but only in non-formal social occasions.

'''County''' — Formally referred to as: The Most Honorable The Earl of [Estate] or the Most Honorable The Countess of [Estate]; Addressed as: Lord [Estate] or Lady [Estate] - the first time - and My Lord or My Lady every time afterwards. If you are a close friend or relative, you may use simply the name of the county.

'''Barony''' — Formally referred to as: The Right Honorable The Baron [Estate] or The Right Honorable The Baroness [Estate]; Addressed as: Lord [Estate] or Lady [Estate] - the first time - then My Lord or My Lady. If you are a friend or a relative, you may simply use the name of the barony.

'''Knighthood''' — Formally referred to as: Sir John Smith, KSK or Dame Jane Smith, KSK. The post-nominals must always be used, and should be announced in order of precedence, rather than in order of seniority; Addressed as: Sir John, or Dame Jane.

=== Andermani peerage titles ===
'''Fürstentum''' — Formally referred to as: His/Her Most Serene Grace, The Fürst/ Fürstin von [Estate] (or Grand Duke/Duchess of [Estate] in English); addressed as: Your Grace (the first time) and Sir or Ma’am every time afterwards. If you are a friend, you may use the name of his or her duchy. Close friends and relatives may use first names, but only in non-formal social occasions.

'''Herzogtum''' — Formally referred to as: His/Her Most Noble Grace, Herzog/Herzogin von [Estate] (or The Duke/Duchess of [Estate] in English); Addressed as: Your Grace (the first time) and Sir or Ma’am every time afterwards. If you are a friend, you may use the name of his or her duchy. Close friends and relatives may use first names, but only in non-formal social occasions.

'''Grafschaft''' — Formally referred to as: The Most Honorable The Graf/Gräfin von [Estate] (or the Most Honorable The Earl/Countess of [Estate] in English); Addressed as: Graf/Gräfin [Estate] - the first time - and My Lord or My Lady every time afterwards. If you are a close friend or relative, you may simply use the name of the county.

'''Baronie'''— Formally referred to as: The Right Honorable Freiherr/Freifrau von [Estate] (or The Right Honorable The Baron/Baroness of [Estate] in English); Addressed as: Frieherr/Freifrau von [Estate] [or Lord/Lady [Estate] - the first time - then My Lord or My Lady. If you are a friend or a relative, you may simply use the name of the barony.

'''Knighthood''' — Formally referred to as: Ritter John Smith, KSK or Ritterin Jane Smith, KSK (or Sir John or Dame Jane in English). The post-nominals must always be used, and should be announced in order of precedence, rather than in order of seniority; Addressed as: Ritter John, or Ritterin Jane.

=== Grayson peerage titles ===
'''Councilor''' — Formally referred to as: His Lordship/Her Ladyship the Councillor [Estate]; Addressed as: My Lord or My Lady (the first time) and Sir or Ma’am every time afterwards. If you are a friend, you may use the name of his or her estate. Close friends and relatives may use first names, but only in non-formal social occasions.

'''Steadholder''' — Formally referred to as: His Lordship/Her Ladyship the Steadholder [Estate]; Addressed as: My Lord or My Lady (the first time) and Sir or Ma’am every time afterwards. If you are a friend, you may use the name of his or her estate. Close friends and relatives may use first names, but only in non-formal social occasions.

=== Havenite peerage titles ===
'''Planetary Governor''' — Formally referred to as: The Most Honorable (full name); Addressed as: Planetary Governor (last name – the first time) and Sir or Ma’am every time afterwards. If you are a friend, you may use the name of his or her planet. Close friends and relatives may use first names, but only in non-formal social occasions.

'''Senator''' — Formally referred to as: The Honorable (full name); Addressed as: Senator (last name – the first time) and Sir or Ma’am every time afterwards. If you are a friend, you may use the name of his or her district. Close friends and relatives may use first names, but only in non- formal social occasions.

=== Other forms of address ===
'''Cadet Peers of a Hereditary Landed Peer''' — Formally referred to as: The Lord John Smith of (holding) or the Lady Jane Smith of [Estate]; Addressed as: My Lord or My Lady. Close friends and relatives may use first names.

'''Subsequent sons and daughters of a Hereditary Landed Peer''' — Formally referred to as: The Honorable John Smith of [Estate] or the Honorable Jane Smith of [Estate]. Usually abbreviated in written references: “The Hon. John Smith.”Addressed as: Sir or Ma’am, or Mr. Smith/ Ms. Smith. Close friends and relatives may use first names.

'''Life Peerages''' - Life Peerages (without a letter patent)- follow the same general style and form of address, but the peer’s surname is used instead of a land title. For example, The Right Honorable Baron Smith.
Life Peerages (with a letter patent granting an estate) - follow the same general style and form of address as hereditary peers,
You can find more information on how to address peers as a part of the [Cartwright Inclusive Language Guidance].

== Courtesy Titles in the Peerage ==
Having been established in both canon and practice that courtesy titles are granted to a spouse when the Peer is legally married, and recognizing that not all partners, either by law or by choice, fall under those terms, courtesy titles are granted as follows:

'''Married Couple''' - If a Peer is married (in real life), their partner will receive the same privileges and title as the Peer, other than the option to be seated in the House of Lords.

'''Non-Married Couple''' - Defined as two people who are representing themselves as married or equivalent. If a Peer is in a non-married relationship, their partner may receive the same privilege and title as the Peer, other than the option to be seated in the House of Lords.

For the spouse/partner to receive the honors, the Peer need only declare such to the Lord Speaker.

'''Polyamorous Relationships''' - If a Peer is in a polyamorous or multiple partner relationship, and the partners are either married or representing themselves as married, the primary spouse, nesting partner or partner (hereafter “partner”) may (by declaration) receive the same privilege and title as the Peer, other than the option to be seated in the House of Lords.

Secondary and tertiary partners, also married or representing as married, may be called Lord/Lady FIRSTNAME of [Estate].

For additional partners who are married or representing as married to receive the honorific, the Peer need only petition the Lord Speaker.

In terms of the "same privileges and title" mentioned above, the title would have the appropriate gender form applied. For example the husband of a Countess would be referred to as Earl [Estate], and the wife of a Baron would be referred to as Baroness [Estate]. They could equally pick any of the gendered or non-gendered options detailed in this manual at the Peerage level of their spouse.

=== Announcement of courtesy titles ===
After receiving a petition from a peer The Lord speaker shall post to the peers:

Having been declared by Baron [Estate] to myself, the Lord Speaker, be it known that FULL NAME, is afforded the courtesy title of Baroness [Estate] with all the rights and privileges of said title.

The genders of the above can be swapped out as applicable. If the person being granted a courtesy title already holds a title in their own right then it should be given above after their name.

=== Knightly orders ===
There is no courtesy title for spouses of Knights in TRMN including the hereditary orders.

== Gendered Titles and the Peerage ==
TRMN has always strived to be an inclusive organization to all regardless of their gender identity. As such, we have established the following section to formalize some of the previously informal ways that gender identity has been approached within the peerage and offer some additional options that might better suit peers’ gender identity.

=== Selection of peerage title ===
There are several options that have been designed to allow peers to select a peerage title that best suits their identity. Every peer has the right to select which title they wish to be known by and have this respected and used by other peers and the membership at large. Generally, this is covered during the award of the peerage, but in the case that a peer feels like their gender identity has changed and they wish to use the other title they are able to change which they use. To change which title is used for them, the Peer needs to inform the Lord Speaker. The Lord Speaker will then ensure the relevant documents and wall of peerage are updated, and that the House of Lords is informed so that peers can use the correct title going forward.

=== Manticoran peerage titles ===
There are 4 levels of Manticoran Peerage. For each there is a masculine title, a feminine title, some neutral titles, and a version using the more generic Peer. Titles for each level are given below. In each example, “[Estate]” refers to their Estate name, e.g., New Essex.

'''Barony'''

The options for a Barony are: Baron [Estate], Baroness [Estate], Baronex [Estate], Baronel [Estate], Baronal [Estate], Peer Jones of the Barony of [Estate]

'''County'''

The options for a County are: Earl [Estate], Countess [Estate], Earlex [Estate], Earlel [Estate], Earlal [Estate], Countex [Estate], Countel [Estate], Countal [Estate], Peer Jones of the County of [Estate]

'''Duchy'''

The Options for a Duchy are: Duke [Estate], Duchess [Estate], Dukex [Estate], Dukel [Estate], Dukal [Estate], Duchex [Estate], Duchel [Estate], Duchal [Estate], Peer Jones of the Duchy of [Estate], Their Grace [Name] of [Estate]

'''Grand Duchy'''

The Options for a Grand Duchy are: Grand Duke [Estate], Grand Duchess [Estate], Grand Dukex [Estate], Grand Dukel [Estate], Grand Dukal [Estate], Grand Duchex [Estate], Grand Duchel [Estate], Grand Duchal [Estate], Peer Jones of the Grand Duchy of [Estate], Their Most Serene Grace [Name] of [Estate]

=== Grayson and Havenite peerage titles ===
Both the Graysons and Havenites have two peerages titles that are gender neutral by default. All Grayson peers are Steadholders or Councilors and all Havenite peers are Senators for Life or Planetary Governors.

=== Andermani peerage titles ===
There are 4 levels of Andermani Peerage. For each there is a masculine title, a feminine title, a neutral title, and a version using the more generic Peer. Titles for each level are given below. In each example “[Estate]” refers to their Estate name, e.g., Neu Potsdam.

'''Baronie'''

The options for a Baronie are: Freiherr [Estate], Freifrau [Estate], Freiherr*in [Estate], Peer Schulz der Baronie [Estate]

'''Grafschaft'''

The options for a Grafschaft are: Graf [Estate], Gräfin [Estate], Gräf*in [Estate], Peer Schulz der Grafschaft [Estate]

'''Herzogtum'''

The options for a Herzogtum are: Herzog [Estate], Herzogin [Estate], Herzog*in [Estate], Peer Schulz des Herzogtums [Estate]

'''Fürstentum'''

The options for a Fürst are: Fürst [Estate], Fürstin [Estate], Fürst*in [Estate], Peer Schulz des Fürst [Estate]

=== Courtesy titles ===
In the same way as a peer, their spouse or partner who is entitled to a courtesy title (as outlined in the courtesy titles section of this manual) may select any of the four options for that level of title.

In a similar way to peers, if a spouse or partner wishes to change which title to use, the peer needs to inform the Lord Speaker, who can make the necessary changes.