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Culture of Urcea: Difference between revisions
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===Peerage=== | ===Peerage=== | ||
Despite being a relatively egalitarian society, Urcea does maintain an extensive system of {{wp|Life peer|life peerage}}, non-inheritable titles granted by the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]]. Titles are typically granted as a recognition of merit, both in public service or extraordinary work as a private individual. Many titles are granted to prominent members of [[House de Weluta]] who serve in official government functions. | Despite being a relatively egalitarian society, Urcea does maintain an extensive system of {{wp|Life peer|life peerage}}, non-inheritable titles granted by the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]]. Titles are typically granted as a recognition of merit, both in public service or extraordinary work as a private individual. Many titles are granted to prominent members of [[House de Weluta]] who serve in official government functions. A life peerage usually conveys a sense of social importance and carries with it some minor privileges, such as the right to be announced at public events such as theatrical showings. In formal ceremonies, a life peer has the right to enter any procession in the highest place of honor and may be seated at the most honorable position unless the King himself or a Bishop is in attendance, in which case the peer has second position or lower as the need presents. Peerages have a complex hierarchy of prestige which was simplified in 1982 to a four-tier system. The four tiers typically correspond to ranks of titles (barons, counts, dukes, and princes or their equivalent), but some more prestigious titles may appear in a rank above their normal tier. | ||
By law, only the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] may inherit titles. As a {{wp|courtesy title}}, the title of children or close relations of the King - ''Archduke'' or ''Archduchess'' - does not apply, as the title is less official and instead a social distinction. The last non-life peerage titles were gradually abolished in the 20th century. The [[Constitutional Settlement Act of 1902]] provided that all current holders of a hereditary title, as well as their heirs, were entitled to hold or inherit that title until their death, after which time the title reverted to the Crown. The last hereditary noble in [[Urcea]] died in 1978. In many cases, if an individual's ancestors held a hereditary title, an effort is made to grant them that title as a life peerage if they are to receive a title as meritorious recognition. | By law, only the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] may inherit titles. As a {{wp|courtesy title}}, the title of children or close relations of the King - ''Archduke'' or ''Archduchess'' - does not apply, as the title is less official and instead a social distinction. The last non-life peerage titles were gradually abolished in the 20th century. The [[Constitutional Settlement Act of 1902]] provided that all current holders of a hereditary title, as well as their heirs, were entitled to hold or inherit that title until their death, after which time the title reverted to the Crown. The last hereditary noble in [[Urcea]] died in 1978. In many cases, if an individual's ancestors held a hereditary title, an effort is made to grant them that title as a life peerage if they are to receive a title as meritorious recognition. | ||
As a life peerage might suggest, an individual holds the title, honor, and privileges of that peerage until their death, when it is not inherited by their children. A widow, however, may continue to be addressed by their predeceased spouse's title (i.e. "Duchess") and may continue to be received with the honor and dignity of the spouse of a peer until their own death. | |||
Records on peerages are retained by the [[Apostolic_King_of_Urcea#Household_Office_for_Grants_of_Title|Household Office for Grants of Title]]. | Records on peerages are retained by the [[Apostolic_King_of_Urcea#Household_Office_for_Grants_of_Title|Household Office for Grants of Title]]. | ||