Nobility Ranks of the Shiga Kingdom

Nobolity Ranking of the Shiga Kingdom. (Written from memory, please edit if you find any discrepancies)

Introduction
Despite it coming off as something like military promotions and civil offices that can be done by anyone with the appropriate rank, it is actually a very serious matter as the city cores have rules regarding nobility and who can use them

Royalty:

 * Reigning King/Queen - has the authority to bestow nobility.
 * Crown Prince/Princess - Has no formal authority, but owns a social status equivalent to a Duke
 * Prince/Princess - Has no formal authority, but owns a social status equivalent to Marquis

Upper Nobles:

 * Duke - Governs multiple cities and a especially large area comparable to several Earldoms called dukedoms.
 * Marquis - In principle not much different than Earl except that they have additional military rights as those territories are usually on borders with other countries or have things like large monster infestations nearby, can also serve as a viceroy in a Dukedom
 * Earl - Govern a city and surrounding territories called Earldoms, e.g. Seryuu Earldom.
 * Viscount - A title reserved for those who are to assist Earls and sometimes Marquis's in governing their city as a viceroy

Lower Nobles:

 * Baron - In principle not much different as Earl, but unlike them, they don't govern over any city. This title is reserved for those who govern more over land and resources rather than people. The exception to this was the Muno Barondom.
 * Baronet - A title reserved for medium level civil officials in cities.
 * Chevalier/Gentleman - Equivalent to modern day knighthood, addressed as sir or dame, this title can be given by any who command a city core.

Honorary nobles
In addition to bestowing normal nobility. People can also be bestowed honorary nobility. This is reserved for those who have done a massive and meritorious deed. Those who are bestowed with honorary nobility have the exact same social privileges as of their legitimate counterparts but they only apply for the life of their owner and do not pass down the generations.

While legitimate titles are reserved for those who have a permanent place in society and are in active service of the government. It is very rare for there to be a upper noble without a permanent station somewhere in the nation or equivalent territory.

Rules
Peerage can only be granted by a person in control of a source, and only in the boundaries of the hierarchy, Only the King himself can bestow the ranks of Baronet and above.

Only upper nobles are allowed to serve as viceroys inside territories of the government with a tenure of 5 years before being replaced by another of equal rank by law. Those with territory and city are required by law to have a viceroy due to the rules of the city core and with the exception of Dukedom's, viceroys are assigned to the noble by others.

Only the first-born sons of full nobles are able to inherit the rank, causing younger sons and fallen nobles to often enter the once-in-three-years martial tournament, in hope of joining the Shiga Eight Swords who hold rank equal to honarary Earls.