As we have seen historical titles and the courtesies usage in period are different than usage in the SCA. The Kingdoms of the SCA are constructs we have created to study general concepts of the middle Ages. They allow us to experience similar things that might affect people of good birth in period. Fealty, awards, court life and responsibilities are things that affected people in the Middle Ages and affect us. The hierarchy of rank is a perfect example. Since Andrew Johnson the equality of all Americans have been stressed and if you look at it carefully you will notice that American's in general think of themselves as equal to Lords and Ladies in Europe. You can some of the differing concepts if you look at the interactions of the Dons of early Texas and the Americans coming into Texas. The Dons of early Texas were of very good blood and many of the Americans came from old world peasants. The Americans thought of themselves equal to the Dons. Ansteorrans (due to Duke Jonathan insistence) has all ways based our concepts of ourselves on the Corpora statement that we were all gentry. We have all have good blood. It is that concepts that keeps our Crown List open. In the 12th century and earlier people of good birth served as servants in their youth and people of lesser rank always served those of greater rank. Books like the German Parceval stress the equal, but not equal relationship people of good birth. Just because someone does not have titles and lands there is no reason to be impolite to him or her. In Ansteorra there is not to much a difference between a duke and regular member of the populace. There is nothing barring the way for a member of the populace to become a duke. Other kingdoms take differing views and many people in them see themselves as peasants. To them there is a lot of space between a duke and the populace. They even close their Crown List. Each culture we study has different concepts considering rank. In Scandinavia there are "noble" families. This was true in really ancient Greece and Ireland. Only members of these "noble" families could be King. One of the Objection to Harold Godwinson was he didn't come from on of the "noble" families and therefore should not be King. He was married to an Alting princess so there wouldn't had been a problem with his children. Duke William of Normandy came from a line of Scandinavian nobles but to support his claim he married a woman from King Alfred's line. Limiting who could be king kept things in line. It was after King Brian Boro that conflict over the Throne at Tara in Ireland started to be hot and heavy. Not ever Viking who went to Midagard thought they could come home and buy a kingship. That was only true of King Harold Hard Fist because he was of the right family. Groups like the Norman's of Sicily sort of did what they did on the sly. They didn't claim kingship until King Olaf made Roger of Sicily a "Kings". Kings can make Kings. Kings of Ansteorra sometime count their right to be kings because they come from the Ancient line of Atenveldt through their ancestor King Jonathan. He was already of Royal blood so he didn't need a King (Theo) to crown him. Look at your time period and check out what you would think about rank. If you find it different from what we do in Ansteorra please remember you are in Ansteorra not England or France or etc. You can persona play with this difference to show people about your culture and persona. There are some practical aspects of doing this. I will discuss them later. Have you ever done some persona play involving rank or titles or courtesies? Please write us about what you have done. Willow _____________________________________________________________ Click to become a master chef, own a restaurant and make millions http://track.juno.com/s/lc?u=http://tagline.untd.us/fc/CAaCX09ttJ0EoVXxzLv97uKWPFPrZECO/