Crabryan Alman nobility (Pacifica)

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Crabryan Alman nobility refers to the nobilities of Alman-speaking regions of Crabry, namely in the territories of today's Kliegme and Tepertopia. The nobilities of the region developed somewhat independently from one another, which created different noble traditions.

Kliegmean Alman nobility

Rudolf von Rüdiger-Bellinghausen, a prominent Crabryan Alman noble, Kliegmean hero, the Grand Duke of the Untied Crabryan Duchy, and the first head of the Alman Autonomous Oblast.
Konrad von Sternberg, a cavalry officer in the Karnetvorian Army and prominent commander during the Allied Occupation of Crabry.
Josef Friedrich von Lettow-Ermhau-Oetinggen, a Crabryan Alman noble, statesman, and the President of the Diet of the United Crabryan Duchy.

The Kliegmean Alman nobility was a privileged social class that existed in Kliegme, specifically in what is today the Alman Autonomous Oblast. These families came into prominence following the arrival of Alman-speaking settlers from what is today Weisserstein to Karnetvorian Crabry in the Xth century.

Kliegmean Alman nobility is sometimes divided into two categories: the Old Estates (alte Landgute) and New Estates (neue Landgute). The Old Estates are nobilities which originated from today's Weisserstein, while the New Estates are nobilities who were elevated to the position by the Karnetvorian authority or by their vast estates.

Today, the Alman nobility of Kliegme no longer retain any specific privileges. However, due to the nature of the Alman Autonomous Oblast, the old Estates retained their influence in the Oblast's political, economical, and social structure.

History

Arrival of the Almans to the Garanian Kingdom

Alman merchants, most of whom came from the Weissersteiner kingdom of Lowenia and are members of the All-Crabryan Company, arrived in small numbers into the Garanian Kingdom during the 17th-18th century. The arriving Almans were allowed to settle within Gara, near Gyeongseong (modern-day Gawrnov), which helped in modernization and creating a population well-versed in foreign affairs. The population of the Almans were heavily controlled by the Garanian government, who feared the Almans would colonize the region, similar to what the Australs did in modern-day NAGB.

Establishment of the Estates

The first estate to have been form was that of Lettow-Ermhau-Oetinggen, when Baron Albrecht von Lettow-Ermhau would purchase properties and create his own estate. Many other estates would follow, such as Sternberg, Hahn, Benckendorff, and Rüdiger-Bellinghausen. These estates were viewed with suspicions by the Garanian Kingdom however, due to these estates appearing as a possible source of contention between the ruling Garanians and Alman landowners.

Arrival of Karnetvor and empowerment of the Estates

In the 19th century, Garanian rule over Kliegme would collapse as the Kingdom was thrown into a secession crisis. This was used to the advantage of Karnetvor, who expanded their empire into the lands of the Garanian Kingdom. Under Karnetvorian Crabry, restrictions on the Almans were lifted and many prominent families would be empowered by the Karnetvorian authority through a series of edicts (ukase).

The nobility during the Great War

Several prominent members of the nobility would serve under the Karnetvorian banner during the Great War, such as Rudolf von Rüdiger-Bellinghausen, Konrad von Sternberg, Adolf von Hahn, and Josef Friedrich von Lettow-Ermhau-Oetinggen.

Post-Great War and Allied occupation of Kliegme

The end of the Great War saw the Imperialist powers of Karnetvor and Gianlucaland defeated by the now victorious Allies. The Allies would seek to establish an occupation government in Karnetvorian Crabry, hoping to destroy Karnetvorian influence in the area. The Kliegmean Almans, fearing for possible retaliation against them due to their ethnic background and their collaboration with the old Karnetvorian authority, would convene in a council in Phönixburg on XXXX. In this council, the Alman nobles agreed to resist the Allied occupation and eventually establish a homeland for the Almans in Kliegme.

These efforts would be spearheaded by Baron Rudolf von Rüdiger-Bellinghausen and Baron Josef Friedrich von Lettow-Ermhau-Oetinggen, both of whom were from one of the most prominent noble estates in Kliegme at the time. Their efforts would culminate in the formation of the United Crabryan Duchy, a constitutional monarchy which acted as the central government of the estates during the Kliegmean War of Independence, as well as the Crabryan Ducal Corps, the military force of the United Crabryan Duchy.

The United Crabryan Duchy and the Crabryan Ducal Corps would later agree to join the Kliegmean Provisional Government after 1958, deciding to fight for a "Free Almania within a Free Kliegme".

Kliegmean Alman nobility today

Following the establishment of the Federal Republic of Kliegme, the Alman nobility agreed to give up their privileges. However in return, the Alman nobles were allowed to keep most of their assets within the Alman Autonomous Oblast, and the nobility retains their influence within the AAO. Some of the more prominent and wealthy families were also able to retain some of their assets outside of the AAO.

The first governor of the Alman Autonomous Oblast was Rudolf von Rüdiger-Bellinghausen, who was the former Grand Duke of All-Crabry.

List of prominent noble families

House Arms Date established Category Estates Prominent members Notes
Aarnhausen 18th century New Estate
  • Aarnhausen
Benckendorff 17th-18th century New Estate
  • Benckendorff
Brümmer-Klottenburg 19th century Old Estate
  • Mödzell
  • Klottenbrück
Related to the Brümmer family
Drizen 19th century Old Estate
  • Neunzing
Eggenfurt 18th century New Estate
  • Eggenfurt
Hahn 17th-18th century New Estate
  • Hahn
Hauke 19th century New Estate
  • Haukestadt
Lettow-Ermhau-Oetinggen 17th-18th century Old Estate
  • Oetinggen
  • Dübennau
Cadet branch of the House of Lettow-Ermhau
Oeselhausen 18th century New Estate
  • Oeselhausen
Rüdiger-Bellinghausen 17th-18th century Old Estate
  • Phönixburg
  • Bellinghausen
  • Fellshaven
  • Eisennau
Cadet branch of the non-dynastic House of Rüdiger
Sternberg 17th-18th century New Estate
  • Sternberg
  • Neu Frigen

Tepertopian Alman nobility

The Tepertopian Alman nobility is a status group in Tepertopia and part of the wider Tepertopian Nobility.

The legal status of the Alman nobility is governed within the Nobility Order (Adelsordnung), a federal Act. While the Tepertopian Articles of Union declare everybody to be equal before the law in Art. 108 Sec. 1 and abolish privileges of the nobility in Sec. 2, in the same section they nonetheless explicitly recognise titles of nobility. Furthermore, Art. 17 Sec. 3 provides for the ennoblement of any person by the Protector on a merit basis. The abolition of all privileges but title in return for opening up reception of such titles is a result of a compromise between the liberal and the conservative authors of the Articles, since repealing the strict equality before the law ‒ which was introduced under the proto-republican Harmonist regime ‒ was feared to be widely unpopular, while without the support of the still-influential noble houses, instability for the new democracy was equally dreaded.

The Duchy of Grimmen and Principality of Lotce are the two States formally reigned over by Tepertopian Alman houses, namely the houses X and Y respectively. Furthermore, a number of Tepertopian Alman nobles continue to formally reign over a couple member states of the Pluvyan Federation.

History

Ranks of nobility

The ranks of the Tepertopian Alman nobility have been harmonised with the other nobility's through the Nobility Order.

Protector of Tepertopia

The current Protector of Tepertopia, Gerhard von Selingen, as well as many before him, is a member of the Tepertopian Alman nobility.

The noble status of the Protector of Tepertopia is governed directly by the Articles of Union. Art. 17 Sec. 2 stipulates that the Protector, should they not already be a noble, always has noble status by virtue of the office. However, due to tradition, they only receive the additional title Protector of Tepertopia with the style Your Grace, without actually being linked to a higher rank of nobility. This curiosity can be traced to the original foundation of the First Protectorate, where the various nobles governing their own territories did not want the then-rotating office of Protector to let the temporary holder out-rank someone who is otherwise their superior.

Hereditary nobility

Many Tepertopian Alman nobles are part of the hereditary nobility, the sub-class of Tepertopian nobility whose ranks and titles are inherited within the family.

Rank Style Notes
Archduke
Erzherzog
Royal Highness
Königliche Hoheit
Originally self-bestowed by the Archduke of Valetria to out-rank the Grand Duke of Vickel in a struggle for the federal Throne
Grand Duke
Großherzog
Royal Highness
Königliche Hoheit
Duke
Herzog
Ducal Highness
Herzogliche Hoheit
Prince
Fürst
Serene Highness
Durchlaucht
Landgrave / Margrave
Landgraf / Markgraf
Illustrious Highness
Erlaucht
Both defined to rank equally ‒ distinguished due to traditionally calling the governed territory Margraviate if located at the borders of the Protectorate, and Landgraviate if not
Baron
Baron
High Well-Born
Hochwohlgeboren
Exclusively to distinguish the Baron of Peninley, who used to be the only Count reigning over a federal State before the Barony became a member state of Pluvy
Count
Graf
High Well-Born
Hochwohlgeboren

Personal nobility

The personal nobility is the class of nobility which formed on the basis of Art. 17. Titles of personal nobility are not inheritable and are not associated with a particular territory that the noble reigns or used to reign over. Particularly prevalent among the Alman-speaking population during the founding era of the current Protectorate ‒ since government, and in return also much of administrative, business was traditionally conducted in Alman, leading to many civil servants being part of Alman communities ‒ the share of Alman personal nobility has decreased over time.

Rank Style Notes
Lord
Lord
My Lord
Mylord
Knight
Ritter
Sir
Sir
Untitled nobility
Untitulierter Adel
- "Standard ennoblement" for long-time faithful civil servants
Untitled nobility are distinguished by surname particles, such as "of" ("von")

Prominent families