Kalistani Major History

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The Strict, Informal-not-Informal Rules of Imperial Etiquette and Privileges
Regency relaxed rules, but they are expected to return next year
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 15, 5538


His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick II Ananto, home on NSP Leave, talking to Eveari Socialite Danielle Andrews at Tea in June

As the Regency nears its termination when His Imperial Majesty ends National Service sometime next summer, it is important to reflect on the contrast between the informal etiquette and customs of the Regency and the rules of etiquette and propriety that will be re-established in the near future. It has been nearly a decade since there has been an actual sitting Emperor, and so, to help Kalistanis (and foreign visitors) shake off the rust and brush up on Imperial Etiquette and Customs, we present this handy dandy guide.

Titles of Nobility in Kalistan

All members of the Ananto family, whether married into it, or born into it, are Royalty and members of the Nobility. But not all members of the Nobility are Royalty. The only title that is hereditary is the title "Emperor or Empress" but any other title may be claimed by the Emperor or Empress for any reason. Most titles are granted to others as a matter of practice, and are often granted based on loyalty to the House, closeness in business dealings, or some extraordinary accomplishment. The Sovereign is free to create or destroy titles, but the decision to do so must be ratified by the National Assembly.

Royalty refers exclusively to members of the House of Ananto. Only Royalty may hold the title
Emperor/Empress,
Prince/Princess,
Crown Prince/Crown Princess.
Prince/Princess Consort is the title of the Spouse of the Current Sovereign in the event that there is no co-rule.

Members of the Nobility include all those who are granted titles by the Sovereign. These titles are
King or Queen- To refer to Nations regarded by Kalistan as integral to Kalistan but which are currently not politically controlled by the Sovereign;
Grand Duke/Duchess- Refers to either the Administrator of the Grand Duchy of Kalistan or the Grand Duchy of Ananto. The Grand Duke/Duchess is the Sovereign's Viceroy in that Administrative region. The Sovereign usually takes the title of Grand Duke/Duchess of Ananto for themselves, while appointing a close confidant Grand Duke/Duchess of Kalistan, who becomes the Sovereign's chief personal advisor.
Duke/Duchess- Administrative Head of one of the Duchies of Kalistan. Can either be a Royal or a trusted associate.
Count/Countess- Administrative Head of one of the many Sub-Duchy administrative divisions. Is often promoted by Duke or Duchess as a close associate of theirs.
Marquee/Marquess- An Honorary title equivalent to Count that accompanies significant land and incurs a tax liability and an annual public service requirement, but no administrative functions
Grand Mayor- The Crown's Representative and executive officer in Free Cities across the Empire that hold a revocable veto over the action of city councils
Baron/Baroness- Usually an honorary title that accompanies a small parcel of Land and incurs a tax liability and annual public service requirement, but no administrative functions.
Lord/Lady- An Honorary Title that comes with no land or Tax Liability or explicit Administrative functions, but does incur an annual public service requirement The Service requirement is usually involved in Upper level Duchy and Imperial Bureaucratic Staffing. Also receives the purely ceremonial title of Baronet/Baronette.
Sir/Dame- An honorary title that comes with being Knighted by the Sovereign, in recognition of service to the Empire or a specific high level of Achievement in some matter that brings prestige to the Empire. Also receives the purely ceremonial title of Knight of the Empire.

All members of the Nobility are considered "Peers" of the Sovereign. All appointments to the Peerage are considered to be lifetime appointments which are not transferrable to heirs, with the exception of those titles claimed by the Sovereign, who can bestow the titles on anyone they wish. All Peers are entitled to sit in the Upper House of the National Assembly, and only Peers may receive membership in the Ancient Order of the Grey Smoke (though membership is not guaranteed with Peerage.)

Addressing the Emperor, Members of the Royal Family, and Members of the Nobility

Kalistan is very formal about addressing members of the Royalty and Nobility. These rules can trip up Kalistani Nationals and foreigners alike.

All members of Royalty, excepting the Sovereign, when being addressed directly must first be addressed as "Your Majesty". The Sovereign may never be addressed directly in public and when being spoken about, must be referred to as "His Imperial Majesty" or "Her Imperial Majesty" first and then "His Majesty" or "Her Majesty". When writing about the Sovereign, the full address "His Imperial Majesty" or "Her Imperial Majesty" and then the customary Name "Emperor/ Empress [Given Name] [Number] Ananto" must be used first, in all cases, and then the Short title "Emperor/Empress [Name]" may be used. The only exception to this role is for those who have either retired or abdicated royalty, and then in this case, they are referred to in the manner of Nobility. Spouses and Parents are the only citizens allowed to refer to the Name of the Sovereign in public without the formal title, though expressing too much intimacy should be done rarely, to ensure a proper Distance between the Sovereign and the People.

All Members of the Nobility are addressed as "Your Highness" first, and then "Sir" or "Madam" in every subsequent reference. Non-Royal Nobility may be referred to by their Title, their Title and first name, or their Title and last name. The Nobility are entitled to claim the Title as an additional non-hyphenated last name, for example, "Grand Duchess Marta Greene Kalistan" to note that Her Highness is the the Grand Duchess of Kalistan.

Rules for talking about the Sovereign do not merely cover when someone who is lower in social status addresses the Dread and Almighty Emperor or Empress of Ananto and Kalistan. They apply to all mortals, including the Sovereign themselves. After all, talking about yourself when you are the physical embodiment of the entire Anantonese Nation is not just about you.

The Sovereign may never, in public, at any formal or informal setting, refer to themselves in the first person singular. "I" or "me" is strictly forbidden in all public settings. The sovereign may only use a form of the first person plural, to signify that they are speaking for the whole People of Kalistan.

The only exception to this rule is when the sovereign has either retired from public life, is serving as a regent in the name of the actual sovereign, or is in private with members of their immediate family only. If commoners are present, they may never refer to themselves in the first person singular.

The only member of the Royal Family entitled to posses a last name that is unhyphenated is either a future, current, or former Sovereign. In this case, the last name Ananto acts as a title, as in Emperor Fredrick, when he is invested will be THE Ananto, rather than just AN Ananto.

Physical Contact

The Person of the Sovereign is explicitly off limits in Kalistan. It is not permitted in any way for anyone, with the exception of immediate family members, to physically interact with the Sovereign in any formal or public setting.

No physical contact is permitted between Commoners and non-Royal Nobility and the Sovereign. In informal settings, commoners must remain a reverent distance from the person of the Sovereign. This prohibition extends from the moment the Sovereign is invested with Imperial Power.

There are to be no public displays of personal contact between members of the Royal family and the Sovereign. Private physical contact is permissible. The only exception is at personal family events such as weddings and funerals.

In Formal Audience

An Audience is a formal affair where a person seeks to elicit a policy from the Sovereign and their Government. The appeal of the audience could be a call for action, or may be a plea for acknowledgment of diplomatic credentials, or anything in between. It is an official function of the Sovereign, and the strictest protocol is maintained during formal audiences.

When attending a formal audience with the Sovereign, no person, save the Chancellor of the Empire, may approach the Sovereign to an arm's distance of the Sovereign's Person. All other attendees must remain further than 15 feet from the Sovereign at all times.

While a bow or a curtsey is not expected, it is not prohibited to show deference to the Sovereign when in their court.

The Sovereign is always the first to be seated, and the first to stand in any instance when sitting is called for. The Chancellor of the Empire always invites the guests to be seated, and guests, once seated, are expected to remain seated until invited to stand by the Chancellor.

The Sovereign may meet with no foreign citizen without the presence of the Chancellor of the Empire being present. The person requesting the formal Audience may not address the Sovereign directly, but should direct all questions and responses to the Chancellor. The Sovereign may ask questions of the person seeking the Formal Audience.

No weapons are permitted into the presence of the Sovereign.

The Sovereign may compel the presence in Audience of any Kalistani Citizen. Ignoring a Summons to an Audience is equivalent to ignoring a subpoena and carries with it legal penalties.

In Informal Settings (Teas, Parties, Public Speaking Events, Public Cultural Events)

Being Invited to Tea is code for "The Sovereign wishes to meet in an informal setting." Green Tea and a light pastry is served at these events, and they usually involve more than one guest. The Sovereign will schedule these events to provide an opportunity for more unguarded conversation or to give individuals a neutral ground to discuss matters among themselves. Unlike an audience, an informal meeting does not require any action on the Part of the Sovereign or the Government of Kalistan. Other informal settings include parties, public events and cultural events, where the Sovereign may ask certain individuals to attend as the Sovereign's Guests, but in doing so, some business may also be carried on.

At a tea or similar informal meeting, most rules listed under an audience are more like suggestions. Proximity to the Sovereign is usually permitted. Attendees may hold conversations with the Sovereign directly, though rules about addressing the Sovereign, Royalty and Nobility and physical contact are still maintained even in an informal setting

The Chancellor is not required to be present at informal meetings.

Informal Meetings can be held for the benefit of the attendees. The Presence of the Sovereign in this case serves the roll of facilitator, rather than participant. In this case, it is likely that the Sovereign will remain silent while the meeting is going on between the attendee, but will be present, as the outcome likely interests Kalistan as well.

Informal meetings can be legitimately proposed simply for the purpose of socializing. There are so few opportunities for the Sovereign to simply "hang out" so to speak, that they may schedule a ball or a dinner or may attend a concert with friends for the sake of living a somewhat normal life.

The Sovereign may, at will, waive the strictest titling rules in an informal setting. They may never waive physical contact rules.

Ignoring an invitation by the Sovereign is considered bad form and a personal slight to the Sovereign. There are only social consequences to ignoring an invitation, but no legal implications.