Hierarchies vary on country, style of government and time period.
This is a compilation of 17th and 18th century Titles, and Styles, in order of greatest to least of the best two examples of the two main types ( Kingdom and Empire.) I could think of, The United Kingdom and The Russian Empire.
These are the titles most people are familiar with, as they are both the most common and the most talked about in western media, here they are:
King/Queen: ( Sovereign of the Kingdom.)
Addressed as “ Your Majesty,”
Styled as “His/Her Majesty, The King/Queen.”
King/Queen Consort: ( Spouse of the Sovereign.)
Addressed as “ Your Majesty,”
Styled as “His/Her Majesty, The King/Queen.”
Crown Prince: ( Eldest son of the Sovereign, heir to the throne.)
Addressed as “ Your Royal Highness,”
Styled as “ His Royal Highness, Prince of Wales”
Princess of Wales: ( Wife of the Crown Prince.)
Addressed as “ Your Royal Highness,”
Styled as “ Her Royal Highness, Princess of Wales”
Prince: ( Son of the Sovereign.)
Addressed as “ Your Royal Highness,”
Styled as “ His Royal Highness, Prince (First Name) Duke of ____”
( Note, their spouse would be titled the same.)
Princess Royal: ( Eldest daughter of the Sovereign.)
Addressed as “ Your Royal Highness,”
Styled as “ Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal.”
Princess: ( Daughter of the Sovereign.)
Addressed as “ Her Royal Highness,”
Styled as “ Her Royal Highness, The Princess (First Name.)”
( The son of a Prince inherits the title “ Prince.” The daughter of a Prince inherits the title “ Princess.” As does his wife.)
Duke: ( Highest member of the peerage, can be royalty themselves.)
Addressed as “ Your Grace.”
Styled as “ His Grace the Duke of____”
Duchess: ( Highest member of peerages, often Royal or married to a Duke.)
Addressed as “ Your Grace.”
Styled as “ Her Grace the Duchess of____”
Addressed as “ My Lord,” or “ Your Lordship,”
Styled as “ The Most Honourable Marquess of___”
Marchioness: ( Below Duchess.)
Addressed as “ My Lady,” or “ Your Ladyship,”
Styled as “ The Most Honourable Marchioness of_____”
Addressed as “ My Lord,” or “ Your Lordship,”
Styled as “ The Right Honourable Earl of_____”
Countess: ( Below Marchioness.)
Addressed as “ My Lady,” or “ Your Ladyship,”
Styled as “ The Right Honourable Countess of___”
Addressed as “ My Lord,” or “ Your Lordship,”
Styled as “ The Right Honourable Viscount of_____”
Viscountess: ( Below Countess.)
Addressed as “ My Lady,” or “ Your Ladyship,”
Styled as “ The Right Honourable Viscountess of_____”
Baron: ( Below Viscount.)
Addressed as “ My Lord,” or “ Your Lordship,”
Styled as “ The Right Honourable Baron of_____”
Baroness: ( Below Viscountess, In her own right.)
Addressed as “ My Lady,” or “ Your Ladyship,”
Styled as “ The Right Honourable Baroness of_____” or, “ The Right Honourable Lady____”
Baroness: ( In her Husband’s Right.)
Addressed as “ My Lady,” or “ Your Ladyship,”
Styled as “ The Right Honourable Lady____”
( Eldest sons of the nobility inherit the Father’s title upon his death, until then, they are addressed the step below. Ex. “ The Duke of Champagne’s eldest son, The Marquess of Liquor.”)
These titles were a proper nightmare to research. Firstly, because they are more complex than English ones ( and often longer, too), secondly, because of the language barrier, and thirdly, because they are not in use anymore (obviously) you cannot be the ‘Grand Duchess.’ of a country that no longer recognizes that title.
Nonetheless, here are the old Imperial titles, put together to the best of my limited ability.
Tsar/Emperor: ( Ruling Sovereign.)
Addressed as “ Your Imperial Majesty,”
Styled as “ His Imperial Majesty, The Lord Emperor and Autocrat of all Russia.” or “ His Imperial Majesty.”
Tsarina/Empress: ( Consort of the Sovereign.)
Addressed as “ Your Imperial Majesty,”
Styled as “ Her Imperial Majesty, The Empress.” or “ Her Imperial Majesty.”
Tsarevich: ( Eldest son of the Sovereign, heir to the throne.)
Addressed as “ Your Imperial Highness,”
Styled as “ His Imperial Highness, the Lord Heir Tsarevich and Grand Duke.” or “ His Imperial Highness.”
Tsarevna: ( Wife of the Tsarevich.)
Addressed as “ Your Imperial Highness,”
Styled as “ Her Imperial Highness, the Tsarevna.” Or “ Her Imperial Highness, the Grand Duchess.”
Grand Duke: ( Son or grandson of the Sovereign.)
Addressed as “ Your Imperial Highness,”
Styled as “ His Imperial Highness, the Grand Duke.”
Grand Duchess: ( Daughter or granddaughter of the Sovereign.)
Addressed as “ Your Imperial Highness,”
Styled as “ Her Imperial Highness, the Grand Duchess.”
Prince of The Blood Imperial: ( Great Grandchildren of the male line.)
Addressed as “ Your Serene Highness.”
Styled as “ His Highness The Prince ( First name.) ( Patronymic Ex. Dimitrovich.) of the Blood Imperial.”
Princess of The Blood Imperial: ( Wife of a Prince of The Blood.)
Addressed as “ Your Serene Highness.”
Styled as “ Her Highness The Princess ( First name.) ( Patronymic Ex. Dmitrievna.) of the Blood Imperial.”
( Children of Grand Dukes and Duchesses inherit the title until Great-Grandchildren who are Princes and Princesses of The Blood.)
Prince: ( Highest order of nobility.)
Addressed as “ Your Serenity,”
Styled as “ His Illustrious Highness the Prince.”
Princess: (Wife of a Prince.)
Addressed as “ Your Serenity,”
Styled as “ Her Illustrious Highness the Princess.”
Duke: ( Bestowed by foreign courts, not a native Russian title.)
Addressed as “ Your Serene Highness,”
Styled as “ His Serene Highness the Duke.”
Duchess: ( Bestowed by foreign courts, not a native Russian title, wife of a Duke.)
Addressed as “ Your Serene Highness,”
Styled as “ Her Serene Highness the Duchess.”
Marquis: ( Bestowed by foreign courts, not a native Russian title.)
Addressed as “ Your Illustrious Highness,”
Styled as “ His Serenity the Marquis.”
Marchioness: ( Bestowed by foreign courts, not a native Russian title, wife of a Marquis.)
Addressed as “ Your Illustrious Highness,”
Styled as “ Her Serenity the Marchioness.”
Count: ( Step above a Baron.)
Addressed as “ Your Illustrious Highness,”
Styled as “His Serenity The Count.”
Countess: ( Wife of a Count.)
Addressed as “ Your Illustrious Highness,”
Styled as “Her Serenity The Countess.”
Baron: (Ranked below a Count.)
Addressed as “ Your Well-Born.”
Styled as “ The Well-Born Baron.”
Baroness: ( Wife of a Baron.)
Addressed as “ Your Well-Born.”
Styled as “ The Well-Born Baroness.”
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