Jane Austen Rank and Class in the Regency Period

In Jane Austen's time, English society revolved around a social hierarchy. Everything you said or did reflected much on your position in the world. Ones rank (title, or lack thereof) greatly determined social class and benefits of the good life. Royalty always held the highest position by default, but even among royals, a pecking order-of-rank existed and, in some form, still exists today.

Below is a basic listing of various ranks and their respective orders, useful in piecing together a perspective from which Ms. Austen herself approached much of her writing.

Royalty (called “your Majesty” or "your Highness") :
King
Queen
Prince
Princess

Nobility (called “Lord/Lady”):
Duke
Marquis
Earl
Viscount
Baron

Commoners (called “Sir/Lady” or “Mister/Mrs.”):
Baronet
Knight
Landed gentry (land-owners)

*To distinguish between a noble Lady (i.e. daughter of an earl) and a non-noble Lady (i.e. wife of a knight), the first name of a noblewoman was used with her title. For example: Lady Catherine de Bourgh is of noble lineage while Lady Lucas is not.

Other Gentlemen (called “Mister” or rank title "Captain, Colonel, etc."):
Affluent businessmen
Navy and Army officers
Clergymen