Nobility of Tosānchi

The Tosānchinese nobility is a historical social class in the country. Many of today's noble clans descend from the country's past 100+ Emperors in some way or another.

There are three types of noble families. These are: - Imperial: these are the official cadet branches of the Imperial Family, and are made up of all the descendants of the past four predecesors of the current Emperor. Upon Emperor Tastuliro's death in 2020, three Imperial clans were downgraded to Royal class, and thus only 9 Imperial families remain. - Royal: these noble clans compose those families who were founded by a non-inheriting Imperial Prince of the past. Currently, there are 300 clans that claim such a distinction, and around another hundred have died out. - Noble: these noble clans were historically founded by non-royal aristocrats of the ancient past whom the Emperors granted titles and power. Due to Imperial Princesses marrying these clans in the past, many of these have royal lineage despite not being considered royal themselves. Currently, around 5,000 clans of various noble titles claim this rank, including those whom were founded by ancient Tianqian noble refugees. -Non-Tosānchinese: these clans are quite recent, as they are composed of all non-Tosānchinese noble and royal descendants of the past aristocracies of the national minorities who were recognized in 1979. Around 500 clans claim this distinction. - Martial: this category is extremely rare, as it is composed of the descendants of brave commoner soldiers the Emperors opted to recognize. Currently, only 67 clans have this status, and it is the only class of nobility that was not granted any titles nor necessarily formed part of the aristocracy.