Originally posted by Monarchist
His Majesty, Louis XII, King of France, has graciously conferred me the title of viscount for my faithful service to the Crown.
What are other titles of nobility that the sovereign may grant to his dutiful and capable ministers? Are they associated with certain level of victory points, either cumulatively or during the current monarch's reign? Or is another criterion employed for this purpose?
Monarchist
I think they are associated with an accumulation of VPs. I have received Duke and am now a Regent (I think that's the highest). Theoretically, I should have received Baron first (I was made a Viscount first), then Viscount, then Count (or Earl for England), Marquis (Marquess for England), and then Duke. Either I missed the messages for the other titles or they don't exist - I also think they only appear on New Year.
On the other hand, retired Prime Ministers are made Life Peers (non-inheritable), usually with the title of Viscount, so maybe I shouldn't receive a Baron title first. Also, I may be mistaken on this, but I think I was addressed as My Lord when made Duke, instead of the more proper Your Grace.
Of course, only the British really codified the table of precedence for the various titles of nobility. It wasn't unusual for a Baron to be more powerful than, say, a Graf (German count). And let's not get into Palatine titles.
My biggest beef with the titles is - Duke of what? Without lands attached it's simply a courtesy title! I should have received at least a lousy province where I could collect rents, exercise my droit de seigneur (I hope that's the right spelling - my French is rusty), terrorize the peasants, and do all the other things a feudal lord did.
