Styles and addresses
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 9:58 am
While searching through an old trunk of my mother's I found a book, a codex with the title "TITLES OF RESPECT IN DIRECT ADDRESS" by Iohannes de Tata, an old Spanish nobleman, Comte de Barcelona.
A style of office, also called manner of reference, or form of address when someone is spoken to directly, is an official or legally recognized form of reference for a person or other entity (such as a government or company), and may often be used in conjunction with a personal title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal capacity. Such styles are particularly associated with monarchies, where they may be used by a wife of an office holder or of a prince of the blood, for the duration of their marriage. They are also almost universally used for presidents in republics and in many countries for members of legislative bodies, higher-ranking judges, and senior constitutional office holders. Leading religious figures also have styles.
The second-person (singular and plural) possessive adjective your is used as a form of address (that is, when speaking directly to the person(s) entitled to the style(s); the third-person possessive adjectives his/her' (singular) and their (plural) are used as forms of reference (that is, when speaking about the person(s) entitled to the style(s).
This is a general overview of ways in which to properly address your superiors and inferiors.
Addressing is quite important, as it can let others see both the level of your RP, and your knowledge of diplomacy.
This of course, coupled with the manner of writing, creates the first mental image of your character, but, also of yourself.
Should you be careful in addressing and styling, and in the end, signing and dating your letters, you may stand better chances to gain a ministerial, diplomatic and social position. A judge that cannot spell his own name would, for instance, be quite the laughing stock. Albeit powerful. Politicians and rulers at times can prove to be quite ignorant, but in this century, literacy is quite hard to come by, and one that can sign his own letter, and not put a stamp instead is always appreciated.
Pope:
TO: Your/His Holiness-Holy father
A: Vostra/Sua Santita'-Santo Padre
Cardinal:
TO: Your/his most reverend eminence-monsignor
A: Vostra/sua reverendissima eminenza-monsignor
(if King, can use Monsignor Cardinal, Signor Cardinale-if peer Your Excelency, Vostra eccellenza)
Archbishop, nuncio, Papal legate, Patriarch of Aquileia:
TO: Your/his excellency-most illustrious lord-lord Archbishop-father Archbishop
A: Vostra/sua eccellenza-illustrissimo signor-signor Arcivescovo-Padre Arcivescovo
Bishop, archdeacon:
To:Your grace/his grace-most reverend-lord Bishop
A: Vostra/sua grazia-reverendissimo-padre Vescovo
Priest, cleric, deacon, monk:
To: reverend, lord, pious, father, brother
A: reverendo, don, signor, padre, fratello
B: Abbot, prior, guardian, general, badessa, nun, etc.
Secular Powers:
Emperor:
Most August Emperor of...
Most Illustrious Emp. of...
His Most.........................
Your Most.......................
Augustissimo Imperatore di.........
Illustrissimo Imperatore di...........
Sua/Vostra augustissima eccellenza Imp....
Vostra illustrissima eccellenza Imp..............
If minister or high nobility
My Lord emperor
Mio signor Imperatore
King, Queen:
Your/His Majesty
Vostra/sua Maesta
If minister or high nobility:
My lord
Mio signore
If de jure uxoris(consort):
Your/his/her royal highness.
Vostra/sua altezza reale.
Prince/ss, prince-bishop, lieutenant general:
Your/his highness
Vostra/sua altezza
Royal family:
same as prince-cousins Your/his grace
vedere principi, cugini Vostra/sua grazia
Ministers and vicar-generals:
Your/His excellency-My lord-Lord
Vostra/sua eccellenza-Mio signor-Signor
Duke, Marquis:
Your/his/her Excellency-grace-my lord/lady duke/duchess
vostra/sua Eccelenza-grazia-signor duca/marchese
Count, Viscount:
Your/his/her grace-my lord/lady + title
Vostra/sua grazia-signor/a + titolo
Baron, Governor:
Your/his grace-lord-lady+name
Vostra/sua grazia-signore-signora+nome
Knight:
Sir/noble <name>
Ser/messere, nobile <nome>
------------------------------------
Judges, judges general:
Your/his excellency-Honour
Vostro/sua eccellenza-onore
Academy director, rector:
Esteemed, (illustrius/egregious rare) <title>
Amplissimo/illustre/egregio/esimio <titolo>
Doctor, professor, magister:
Esteemed <ed.title>
Stimato<titolo d.ed.>
Colleagues:
Esteemed/dear colleague
Stimato/caro collega
Craftsmen, masters of arts and guilds(generally):
Master <name>/<title>
Mastro<nome>/<titolo>
Occupational, flavour, friendly, private, intimacy and situational addresses...innumerable.
Courteous treatment of esteemed persons, cortesia e galanza per gente che si stima:
Sir, Ser, Messere, Signor, monsegneur, senhor.
When speaking to groups and assemblies:
If inferior in rank to the persons within, use:
My lords, Noble lords, Esteemed Lords/Miei Signori, Nobili Signori, Stimati Signori
If peer to most, use:
Gentlemen/Gentili Signori
If superior in rank:
Gentlemen, Good masters/ Gentiluomini, Bona gente
If clerical group, bishop synod, council etc:
Reverend assembly, Most reverend assembly, Eminent assembly, Most reverend fathers.../Reverenda assemblea, Reverendissima assemblea, Eminente assemblea, Reverendissimi padri etc.
"TITLES OF RESPECT IN DIRECT ADDRESS"
A style of office, also called manner of reference, or form of address when someone is spoken to directly, is an official or legally recognized form of reference for a person or other entity (such as a government or company), and may often be used in conjunction with a personal title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal capacity. Such styles are particularly associated with monarchies, where they may be used by a wife of an office holder or of a prince of the blood, for the duration of their marriage. They are also almost universally used for presidents in republics and in many countries for members of legislative bodies, higher-ranking judges, and senior constitutional office holders. Leading religious figures also have styles.
The second-person (singular and plural) possessive adjective your is used as a form of address (that is, when speaking directly to the person(s) entitled to the style(s); the third-person possessive adjectives his/her' (singular) and their (plural) are used as forms of reference (that is, when speaking about the person(s) entitled to the style(s).
This is a general overview of ways in which to properly address your superiors and inferiors.
Addressing is quite important, as it can let others see both the level of your RP, and your knowledge of diplomacy.
This of course, coupled with the manner of writing, creates the first mental image of your character, but, also of yourself.
Should you be careful in addressing and styling, and in the end, signing and dating your letters, you may stand better chances to gain a ministerial, diplomatic and social position. A judge that cannot spell his own name would, for instance, be quite the laughing stock. Albeit powerful. Politicians and rulers at times can prove to be quite ignorant, but in this century, literacy is quite hard to come by, and one that can sign his own letter, and not put a stamp instead is always appreciated.
Pope:
TO: Your/His Holiness-Holy father
A: Vostra/Sua Santita'-Santo Padre
Cardinal:
TO: Your/his most reverend eminence-monsignor
A: Vostra/sua reverendissima eminenza-monsignor
(if King, can use Monsignor Cardinal, Signor Cardinale-if peer Your Excelency, Vostra eccellenza)
Archbishop, nuncio, Papal legate, Patriarch of Aquileia:
TO: Your/his excellency-most illustrious lord-lord Archbishop-father Archbishop
A: Vostra/sua eccellenza-illustrissimo signor-signor Arcivescovo-Padre Arcivescovo
Bishop, archdeacon:
To:Your grace/his grace-most reverend-lord Bishop
A: Vostra/sua grazia-reverendissimo-padre Vescovo
Priest, cleric, deacon, monk:
To: reverend, lord, pious, father, brother
A: reverendo, don, signor, padre, fratello
B: Abbot, prior, guardian, general, badessa, nun, etc.
Secular Powers:
Emperor:
Most August Emperor of...
Most Illustrious Emp. of...
His Most.........................
Your Most.......................
Augustissimo Imperatore di.........
Illustrissimo Imperatore di...........
Sua/Vostra augustissima eccellenza Imp....
Vostra illustrissima eccellenza Imp..............
If minister or high nobility
My Lord emperor
Mio signor Imperatore
King, Queen:
Your/His Majesty
Vostra/sua Maesta
If minister or high nobility:
My lord
Mio signore
If de jure uxoris(consort):
Your/his/her royal highness.
Vostra/sua altezza reale.
Prince/ss, prince-bishop, lieutenant general:
Your/his highness
Vostra/sua altezza
Royal family:
same as prince-cousins Your/his grace
vedere principi, cugini Vostra/sua grazia
Ministers and vicar-generals:
Your/His excellency-My lord-Lord
Vostra/sua eccellenza-Mio signor-Signor
Duke, Marquis:
Your/his/her Excellency-grace-my lord/lady duke/duchess
vostra/sua Eccelenza-grazia-signor duca/marchese
Count, Viscount:
Your/his/her grace-my lord/lady + title
Vostra/sua grazia-signor/a + titolo
Baron, Governor:
Your/his grace-lord-lady+name
Vostra/sua grazia-signore-signora+nome
Knight:
Sir/noble <name>
Ser/messere, nobile <nome>
------------------------------------
Judges, judges general:
Your/his excellency-Honour
Vostro/sua eccellenza-onore
Academy director, rector:
Esteemed, (illustrius/egregious rare) <title>
Amplissimo/illustre/egregio/esimio <titolo>
Doctor, professor, magister:
Esteemed <ed.title>
Stimato<titolo d.ed.>
Colleagues:
Esteemed/dear colleague
Stimato/caro collega
Craftsmen, masters of arts and guilds(generally):
Master <name>/<title>
Mastro<nome>/<titolo>
Occupational, flavour, friendly, private, intimacy and situational addresses...innumerable.
Courteous treatment of esteemed persons, cortesia e galanza per gente che si stima:
Sir, Ser, Messere, Signor, monsegneur, senhor.
When speaking to groups and assemblies:
If inferior in rank to the persons within, use:
My lords, Noble lords, Esteemed Lords/Miei Signori, Nobili Signori, Stimati Signori
If peer to most, use:
Gentlemen/Gentili Signori
If superior in rank:
Gentlemen, Good masters/ Gentiluomini, Bona gente
If clerical group, bishop synod, council etc:
Reverend assembly, Most reverend assembly, Eminent assembly, Most reverend fathers.../Reverenda assemblea, Reverendissima assemblea, Eminente assemblea, Reverendissimi padri etc.