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Category: History
Description: Why does Marie von Reibnitz Kent go by the monicker of Princess Michael? If you've ever wondered what the difference is between a duke, a grand duke, or an arch duke--and how and why such things came to be, here are some answers. It turns out that the ranks and titles of nobility follow a strict hierarchy that cuts across national boundaries and dates back to medieval and ancient times. As to military ranks, what is a field marshal? What's a five star general? Who is the second highest military officer in U.S. history? When did Congress enact a law that no general shall ever outrank George Washington? Was there ever a Duke of Earl? These and many other questions find their answer here.
eBook Publisher: Clocktower Books and Far Sector SFFH (magazine), 2009
eBookwise Release Date: October 2009

11 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [77 KB]
Words: 11691
Reading time: 33-46 min.
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

Understanding ranks and titles is an eye-opening revealer of how history hangs together. The feudal ages shaped not only a thousand years of history, but the organization of all monarchial Europe, even down to the present day. And the titular roots and concepts of these monarchies lie as far back as ancient Rome and beyond, in Neolithic kingship.

Have you ever wondered what a duke really is? How about arch dukes and grand dukes? And those barons, baronets, counts, princes, and so on. Is it just a random gaggle of people with strange names (e.g., Princess Michael of Kent), or is there a fundamental structure that has held the ruling classes together for centuries? How did this system come about? Will there ever be another Napoleon? Another Kaiser?

Did you know that Congress passed a law saying no U.S. military commander can ever outrank George Washington? So who is the second-highest-ranking general in U.S. history, who also can never be outranked?

Likewise, in militaries around the world, rank structure tends to be very similar. There's a reason for that. When countries go to war together as allies, they can only function in unison if they have a mutually understandable rank structure. For example, when top U.S. generals like Dwight D. Eisenhower was appointed commander of all Allied Forces, he was made a five-star general to be at least on the same plane as the field marshals he was to command.

We'll look at Burke's Peerage and learn the ranking structure from Queen Elizabeth II on down. It's a complex topic, and we can only skim the treetops, but it's a fascinating and informative journey that sheds light on many mysteries ... like, what's a morganatic marriage?

We'll trace the origins of empire back through history, explaining why Augustus Caesar had many titles, but there was one he could not have: king. And yet the Roman Empire was a monarchy--an absolute monarchy--in all but name.

We may never be able to figure out human nature, or why most dogs have black lips, but you'll understand the world a bit better after reading this article.