What are the church and feudalism hierarchy ranks for Medieval Europe?
OK first, don’t use the term “feudalism.” Medieval historians have pretty much dropped the term. The church hierarchy has nothing to do with feudalism — it’s just the church hierarchy, and is still in use. Below the priests are deacons (in some places with an archdeacon), then the “minor orders” of subdeacons, exorcists, acolytes, readers/lectors, and doorkeepers. The rankings of nobility depend on where exactly you’re talking about. Originally there was not a strict ranking of titles, but by the time you get to the later Middle Ages the titles start to get into a specific order. “Duke” was originally a Roman office for the commander responsible for defending a large region, and becomes a term for the ruler of such a substantial region. “Counts” were officials responsible for governing specific cities in the Roman empire, and in medieval Europe become the main royal officials on the ground. But by the time you get to, say, the twelfth century there are counts who are just as powerful
