Peerage

The hereditary peerage of Talossa has a long history. Drawing on contemporary notions of nobility, as well as contemporary notions of the nobility of yore, extraordinary acts in the service of the country have long been recognized by the Crown with peerages. Such hereditary grants of honour are extremely rare, and are usually awarded only in recognition of historical achievements and contributions. They serve as marks of distinction, even though they come with neither pecuniary reward or temporal power.

The Royal College of Arms maintains Burk's Peerage, an official record of the peerage of Talossa. Members of the peerage are entitled to enhancement of their achievements of arms consisting of a motto, a crowned helm, a crest, and mantling. Dukes alone are further entitled to adorn their achievements of arms with supporters.

Peerage of Talossa

The peerage of the Kingdom of Talossa consists of three ranks (from most to least exalted): duke (düc), count (conta), and baron.

Dücs

While Ian von Metairia was granted the general title of duke (on 23 February 2006 by the Regent for King Louis) and held it for many years before leaving Talossa, King John has expressed the opinion that duchies, along the model of other kingdoms of the world, be reserved to members of the royal family, with each of the seven total duchies of metropolitan Talossa being one of the seven provinces. The province of a duke is chosen by the King.

• His Grace and His Highness Patrick, Prince of Prospect and Duke of Florencia, elevated 6 August 2011 by King John.

Contas

A county in metropolitan Talossa is one of the cantons (called "parishes" in the province of Florencia) which make up the provinces. All provinces other than Florencia contain more than one canton. The county granted to any person elevated to the rank of baron is chosen by the person so elevated.

• His Lordship Danihel Laurieir, Cin., GST, the Count of Vuode, was elevated 23 February 2006 by the Regent for King Louis. Lord Dan's county is the Vuode canton of Vuode province, site of the founding of the nation and the residence of both King Robert I and the Count in his youth.
• His Lordship Ma la Mha, the Count of Thord and Baron of Hooligan, was elevated 8 September 2012 by King John. The Count retains his title as Baron of Hooligan, and prefers that title be used in address. Count Ma's county is equivalent to Thord Parish in Florencia Province.

Barons

Three persons currently hold baronies. A barony in metropolitan Talossa is a single city block. The barony of any person elevated to the rank of baron is chosen by the person so elevated.

• His Lordship Ma la Mha, Baron Tepistà (Hooligan), the Count of Thord, was elevated to baron on 11 November 2005 by the Regent for King Louis (for the specific reason that a peerage was required in order to allow the Senate to obtain a quorum). The barony of Hooligan is the triangular city block at the southwest corner of Prospect Avenue and North Street in Florencia Province, on which sits Hooligan's Super Bar, a Talossan landmark and site of the swearing in to the office of Seneschal of J. Harrison Wosniak on 16 March 1990. Another reason that the baron chose this block for his barony is because this city block is the smallest in the nation. On 8 September 2012, Hooligan was elevated to Count.
• His Lordship Quedeir Castiglha, Cin., elevated 23 February 2006 by the Regent for King Louis. Lord Q's barony is a city block within Florencia province.
• His Lordship Fritz von Buchholtz, UrN, Cin., S.H., GST, Baron of Capitol & Locust, elevated 26 December 2009 by King John. Lord Fritz's barony is the city block at the southwest corner of Capitol and Locust Streets, in Benito Province, chosen by the baron due to his love for the gyros sold at Oakland Gyros, located on that block.

Peerage of Cézembre

The province of Cézembre is technically a separate kingdom united under the Crown of the King of Talossa, and thus theoretically supports a second peerage. No members of this peerage currently exist, but its ranks have tentatively been determined to be earl (erel), marquis (marcheiça), and baron. The peerage supports a single earldom, contiguous with the island province itself, and two marquises may be enrolled in the peerage (one for each of the two zones of the province). The territorial extent of a Cézembrean barony has not been determined.