[Banestorm] Why is the Cardien Council of Lords full of barons and vicounts?

[Celjabba]

I agree that the number in the OP are way too high.

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

...if they're rich enough to be on the council, they're rich enough to bribe their way into higher titles - as Gold & Appel Inc says, money talks, but in that sort of culture, it should be saying 'give me a better title').

A possibility is that the titles are "set in stone", unlikely or unable to be "upgraded".
In such a system, a minor noble created baron of X would have his descendant several generation later still be Baron of X, even if they now own a third of the country and are the King most trusted advisor.
And the reverse for the much respected but powerless Duke of Y, whose ruined family now only own a small manor house.

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Another possibility, pride in the ancestry.
As a Rohan once said :
"Roi ne puis, duc ne daigne, Rohan suis "
"King I cannot, Duke i wont deign, I am Rohan"
Although to be honest ... her son did accept the duke title :)

In this case, you would have nobles that prefer the old and respected family title of baron/viscount rather than a newly created Duke with little history or respect.

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And yet another explanation, which iirc doesn't really fit Cardien but would make sense in some other places : there are only a few noble lines left, with many titles concentrated on one person.
So, the patriarch carry the family Duke title, and his sons, grand-sons, brothers, nephews, .. split the dozens minor family title between them.
If the old duke is really long-lived, you could have several younger family members on the council.