The Qing Dynasty's knighthood system was the most rigorous and meticulous in history. The whole system includes two categories: clan titles and heterogeneous titles. Duke is one of the most confusing ranks, and many people can't tell the difference between a town, an auxiliary, and a first-class duke.
Clan titles: the distinction between those who enter eight points and those who do not enter eight points In the clan title, the concept of eight points and not eight points is particularly important. Before Chongde, the clan system of knighthood had not yet been formally established, and Nurhachi's sons and nephews were honored as "Belles".
After Huang Taiji changed to Yuan Chongde, he began to establish a ninth-class knighthood system. In the sixth year of Shunzhi, General Feng'en was added under General Fengguo, forming a tenth-class knighthood. It should be noted that in some historical sources, the prince and the eldest son (the son-in-law of the prince and the prince of the county) are also classified as clan titles, but in reality, they are only a temporary title, and may not be able to become a prince or county king.
In the thirteenth year of Qianlong, the clan titles were finally customized, and they were divided into fourteen ranks, including Prince Heshuo, Shizi, King of Doluo County, eldest son, Dorobele, Gushan Beizi, Feng'en Zhenguogong, Feng'en Fuguogong, Bu Bafen Zhenguo Gong, Bu Bafen Fuguo Gong, Zhenguo General, Fuguo General, Fengguo General, Feng'en General.
Among them, General Zhenguo, General Fengguo, and General Feng'en are divided into three classes. The idle clans are all topped with four grades.
How to distinguish between "eight points" and "not eight points"? The Qing Dynasty document "Qing Dynasty Continued Literature General Examination" records: "During the Mandate of Heaven, Nurhachi established the Eight Harmony Shuobeile Discussion System, each banner set up a family, and the nobles of the Eight Banners clan shared political and economic privileges according to the principle of "eight families divided equally", which is the origin of "eight points".
Later, it was stipulated that those who were named county kings, Baylor, and Beizi were all included in eight points, and some of the Zhenguo Gong and Fuguo Gong were included in eight points, and some were not included in eight points. The Zhenguo Gong and the Auxiliary Guogong who are in the eighth score also have Niu Lu, but the Gong who is not in the eighth point does not.
In general, "into eights" and "not into eights" is the difference in power. ”
In the early Qing Dynasty, the status of the Zhenguo Gong and the Auxiliary Guogong was quite high, and they had the power to participate in national decision-making. However, with the increase of imperial power, especially after Qianlong, the status of these clan princes gradually declined, and although they were still respected, they lost their real power and rarely appeared even on formal occasions.
Most of the first-class dukes in the titles with different surnames have real power, including military merit titles and honorary titles, and honorary titles mainly include Cheng'en Gong, the father of the empress, and Yan Shenggong, a descendant of Confucius.
In the sixteenth year of Qianlong, the Qing Dynasty established the nine-level and twenty-seventh-rank hereditary system, which was an important milestone in the development of titles with different surnames.
In the Qing Dynasty, titles with different surnames were mainly granted to Manchurian nobles and bannermen, and Han Chinese rarely obtained high-level titles such as duke, marquis, and uncle. First rank was not usually conferred lightly on ministers, and very few were awarded titles during the reign of each emperor.
These dukes, by virtue of their military exploits or the emperor's favor, held important positions in the court, such as scholars, ministers of military aircraft, or local governors. It is worth mentioning that dukes with different surnames are often associated with "hereditary replacement", and most dukes enjoy the privilege of hereditary replacement.
However, "hereditary succession" is not a permanent succession, but a fixed number of times. For example, the first duke can inherit 26 times, the second duke 25 times, the third duke 24 times, and the marquis and earl of the duke can be descended by one time.
Due to the large number of raids, it is generally referred to as hereditary succession.
In the Eight Banners system, the status of the Zhenguo Gong is significantly higher than that of the First Class Gong. Because the Duke of Zhenguo has Niu Lu and is the "master" of the Eight Banners, and the first-class duke, even if he has a different surname, has to recognize their status.
But in terms of power, the first class duke had the upper hand. They were usually close associates of the emperor, held important positions, and had more say. Moreover, the first-class duke is usually hereditary, while the Zhenguo duke is demoted to the throne.
Therefore, from the point of view of status and power, the two have their own merits and are difficult to compare directly.
The Zhenguo Gong and the First Class Gong have the same status in terms of Yulu, and they can get an income of 700 taels every year, both of which are super grade.