duchy
Domain under nobility
A duchy is a territory ruled by a duke or duchess.
The term belongs to European feudal history, when duchies were significant political units below kingdoms: the Duchy of Normandy, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Some duchies persist as ceremonial or administrative regions, though few retain political power.
Royal family male
- consortRoyal spouse
- regentInterim throne holder
- heirOne who receives legacy
- dowagerTitled widow of nobility
archduke · crown · throne · coronet · dynasty · lineage · house · royal family
Feudal territory under lord
- vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
- liegeFeudal superior or subject
- manorLanded aristocratic residence
- serfdomFeudal bound labor
fealty · homage · suzerain · overlord · seigniory · feudalism · investiture · demesne
Area of control
- realmGoverned territory or sphere
- landsComes to ground
- bordersLines separating regions
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
enclave · province · region · seat · capital · castle · estate · holdings
Noble-ruled territory
- baronyAristocratic territorial holding
- earldomNobleman's rank and realm
- countyLocal administrative division
- viscountyNoble rank's jurisdiction
march · city-state · palatinate · electorate · archduchy · sovereign state · autonomy · succession
prince
Royal family male
dowager · archduke · crown · throne · coronet · dynasty · lineage · house · royal family · nobility
fiefdom
Feudal territory under lord
- vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
- liegeFeudal superior or subject
- manorLanded aristocratic residence
serfdom · fealty · homage · suzerain · overlord · seigniory · feudalism · investiture · demesne · nobility
domain
Area of control
demarcation · enclave · province · region · seat · capital · castle · estate · holdings · patrimony
principality
Noble-ruled territory
- baronyAristocratic territorial holding
- earldomNobleman's rank and realm
- countyLocal administrative division
viscounty · march · city-state · palatinate · electorate · archduchy · sovereign state · autonomy · succession · hereditary
- governancegovernance, government, democracy, vote, parliament
- governmentsdemocracy, monarchy, autocracy, oligarchy, republic
- medievalknights, castles, cathedral, kings, queens
- jurisdictionscounty, city, province, state, counties
- monarchiesmonarch, monarchy, kingdom, realm, sultanate
- nobilityking, queen, prince, princess, baron
duchyempire
Domain under unified control
kingdom · sovereign state · nation-state · superpower · realm
duchyrepublic
State with elected leaders
democracy · democratic state · commonwealth · federation · constitutional democracy
- grand duchessRoyal woman's high title
- grand duchyState ruled by grand duke
- duchess potatoesPiped, baked mashed preparation