Westerland Allodial Titular Nobility

The Westerland Allodial Titular Nobility is, apart from being quite a mouthful, a group of individuals who own titles that are exempt from feudal obligations, as defined by the Westerland Feudal Traditions, and the concept first came around when the Churches started demanding land of their own, and did not want to be taxed or levied any feudal obligations, giving others the same idea - and as such, this is a core element of Westerland Society and Culture, as well as an important part of the Westerland Peerage.

Rank and structure
Unlike other types of nobles, the allodial titular nobility do not have any kind of hierarchy, and are viewed as equals in social standing, as all of them are "exempt" from the social hierarchy, regarded as being directly under the King, though in reality, naturally there is a significant social difference between these.

Knight-Exempt
Lowest among the titular nobility are those who hold a Knighthood given in exemption - an honor bestowed, typically exclusively by the King (though sometimes the King may have given, or been forced to give such an authority to certain chivalric orders).
 * One might wonder what exactly the purpose of a Knighthood is, if it does not come with Feudal Obligations, but Knighthood opens doors.
 * To read more about Knighthood, see Westerland Chivalric Traditions.

Land-Lord
A Land-Lord is a person who owns a significant amount of land, though in reality, Land-Lords were typically Manor-Lords that had been granted freedom from their feudal obligations. Later in, in the Colonial Era and even in the latest stretches of the post-imperial Era, Land-Lords were simply called Manor-Lords as the feudal version of the same title no longer existed.
 * A Land-Lord typically had so much land that they had several tenant farmers working under them, and sometimes so many that they ruled over their own settlements.

Lord-Exempt
A person who holds a Lordship, in which they are permitted to keep their title, without this title holding any significance beyond the title itself.