Noble Ranks

Noble Ranks distinguish firm levels of authority between different types of nobility in the Helmut Kingdom. Two nobles with different titles, but at the same rank, can be considered to have similar levels of authority, though officially some titles will be higher even within the same rank.

There are ten recognized ranks of nobility. These ranks are taken from Chapter 29 of the Novel, "Reunion with Erich-nii-san".

Rank 1: The King
Rank one belongs solely to His Majesty, the King of Helmut.

Rank 2: The Royal Family
Below the King are the Queen, as well as any Princes or Princesses.

Rank 3-4: High Nobility
Ranks 3 and 4 are generally considered to have the same level of authority, but Rank 3 is typically reserved for members of the royal family who cannot claim Rank 2, while Rank 4 are not typically members of the royal family.

Rank 3: Other members of the Royal Family, and Dukes.

 * The Novel simultaneously suggests that Rank 3 has Dukes *and* other royals, but the only time we ever see Duke used is for a member of the royal family.

Rank 4: Marquis and Margrave

 * Margrave is the title of the noble who proxy-controls the major regions of the Kingdom, such as Margrave Breithilde in the South and Margrave Browig in the East.


 * In the translations of the Anime adaptation, Margrave Breithilde is introduced as a Duke.
 * This is likely because for American audiences, Margrave is a much less recognized title.
 * In Chapter 73 of the Novel, the King promotes Gerd Oskar von Browig, younger brother of the prior Margrave Browig and uncle to Karla von Browig, to the rank of Margrave but says that he is promoting him to the third rank.
 * This is a clear discontinuity with the list used here, but may be reconcilable on the basis that the Browig family was one of the oldest and most distinguished lines in the Kingdom, stretching back over 1000 years, which the Margraves of the West and South cannot similarly claim.

Rank 5: Middle Nobility
Unlike Ranks 3 & 4, two ranks with approximately equal authority, this rank is explicit in that the separate titles within the rank are formally of differing levels of authority. Listed in order from highest precedence to lowest:

Count/Earl

 * Earl is the British term for Count, and can be used interchangeably.
 * This is the third title Wendelin is granted, upon successfully starting development of the demonic lands on the edge of the Baumeister Knighthood.

Viscount

 * This is the title possessed by Cardinal Hohenheim, as well as the title Court Magician Christoph von Armstrong is granted after participating in the subjugation of the dragon in the grasslands (before that, Armstrong was a Baron).

Baron

 * This is the second title Wendelin is granted, after participating in the subjugation of the dragon in the grasslands.

Baronet

 * The Web Novel translation often lists this as "Associate Baron".
 * This is the first title Wendelin is granted, after successful subjugation of the Bone Dragon.
 * Katharina was granted an honorary Baronet title when her family nobility was restored, a rare honor as the Helmut Kingdom does not allow women to hold noble titles.

Rank 7-10: Knights/Pseudo-Nobility
The world of Hachinan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshou! treats Knights as a form of nobility, though with far less gravitas than the formal nobility ranks listed above.

Rank 7: Hereditary Knight

 * This is the rank that Artur Baumeister, as head of the Baumeister Family, held as lord of their territory.

Rank 8-10: Non-Hereditary Knights

 * Ranks 8-10 can be made hereditary by grant of the King, but are presumed to not be by default.

Hereditary Retainers (No Rank)
While retainers of higher-ranking nobles likely have noble titles and ranks of their own, there are many instances of Retainers who do not have their own rank, but are given hereditary status. This status is inferred from context, and is therefore not explicitly listed as a rank in the novel.
 * Erwin von Arnim, Wendelin's first retainer, holds a position that will become hereditary. Louise Yorande Aorelia Oufelbeik and Iina Suzane Hirenbrant, who were also Wendelin's retainers prior to becoming his fiancees/wives, likely would have been in a similar position.
 * Rhodrich, estranged son of the late Baron Ruckner and nephew of Minister Ruckner, is acting as territory governor of the Baumeister Earldom, a hereditary position. He refused to inherit his father's title as Baron, but it will be reinstated with his heir when they take his position as governor.
 * Klaus, former village headman for the primary village in the Baumeister Knighthood, held his position as a hereditary grant from the territory's lord, until he was forced to resign it following a coup attempt.

Non-Hereditary Retainers (No Rank)
Some retainer positions are because of special skills. For example, since magic has low heritability, it is not always necessary for a retainer magician without any rank to be made hereditary. This status is inferred from context, and is therefore not explicitly listed as a rank in the novel.
 * Brantark Ringstat is a good example of this. He is a retainer to Margrave Breithilde in the position of Head Magician, but because his power cannot be passed down, the position is not appropriate to make hereditary.
 * Despite this, Brantark has significant assets from his adventurer days, and as a deliberately single man is constantly involved with ladies from the red light district. In order to avoid a dispute over his inheritance with prostitutes claiming their child is his, Margrave Breithilde insists he get married and produce an appropriate heir.