Duchy

A duchy is the domain of a Duke or Duchess. Within the Star Kingdom of Manticore, a duchy is also an administrative district, which may contain one or more counties and/or baronies.

Any income producing holding associated with a patent of nobility may be considered “land.” This means that in additional to literal land, mineral and development rights, fishing rights, rights to a portion of the broadcast spectrum and other grants may be considered lands.

Regional administration

When the Star Kingdom was founded, the highest ranking peer in each of the former Manticore Colony administrative districts became the hereditary governor. In most cases these districts corresponded to duchies, so with few exceptions those holding a ducal title have regional executive powers and appoint Shareholders Court judges, subject to the confirmation of the regional legislature.

Many regional government functions reside with the duchy government and laws can vary by duchy, all subject to the Crown law, in the same way that U.S. state law cannot contradict Federal law.

For the most part, a ducal title is synonymous with a regional governorship. However, in exceptional cases an earl/countess, or even more rarely, a baron/baroness may be the highest ranking peer in an administrative district. In such cases, that peer has the same regional governor responsibities as a duke/duchess. A peer who holds such a regional governorship is referred to as a magister, regardless of their peerage rank.

Use in TRMN

Within The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc. a duchy is the fictitious territory, or "peerage land" bestowed on an duke or duchess. This award is presented to members that have demonstrated a consistently high level of work for the entire organization. Additionally, they have shown that they share the vision, mission, and ideals of TRMN and that they strive to obtain it within their areas of responsibility in the club. This is the third level of lands awarded, and is usually awarded to a member who is already an earl/countess.

The policy, as of 2017, is to award a land with a different name than that of the county which the earl or countess had held before.

See Also

Peerage: list of TRMN peers