Bridgerton was a hit with Netflix fans when it was released in 2020. The English period drama, based on the popular Julia Quinn books, is a mesh between Gossip Girl and Downton Abbey with a hint of Reign. It is salacious, decadent, intriguing, and binge-worthy. The plots drag viewers in and hold them captive, salivating for the next episode and already for the next season (released March 25, 2022).
There is so much for fans to take in and digest while watching the series. To truly understand the character relationships and plot premise, viewers need to break down the status and rankings of the players in this royal game of life.
Updated on March 13th, 2022, by Lynn Gibbs: Bridgerton introduced an array of families in high-society London in the 1800s. Viewers saw the Bridgertons prepare Daphne for womanhood as she tried finding a potential husband in a sea of competitive women. Likewise, viewers got to know the Featheringtons, the Bassetts, and Queen Charlotte’s royal family. With so many high-class families searching for the same thing (love, acceptance, and security), fans couldn’t help but wonder how they all compared against their titles and rankings.
10 Title(less) Marina Thompson
Marina comes to the Featherington household to be introduced into London’s high society as marriage material. She is a distant cousin of Baron Featherington but has no status or title other than that distant connection.
She would be a lower-ranking female compared to the Featherington daughters and Bridgerton gals. Her hopes of marrying a man of high status are dashed due to her untimely, concealed pregnancy. Thankfully for her, a man of honor comes along to provide for her child and herself. Before leaving London, Marina had some of the best quotes on love while waiting to marry.
9 Lady Danbury
Lady Danbury was one of the best characters in Bridgerton. She is the woman responsible for picking up the pieces of a shattered young Simon and raising him to be the Duke set before us. Simon still struggled but imagine what would have become of him had this woman not stepped in and turned his life around.
The Grand Dame is a woman of power, wealth, and influence, but her title doesn’t rank her higher than many of the other women on the list. A Lady is the female equivalent of a Lord.
8 Baroness Featherington
The Baroness Featherington thinks herself pretty high and mighty. She is astute in finding solid matches for her daughters, who according to the family’s rank would have been referred to as “honorable.” She is dedicated to over-the-top fashion designs—which only she seems to think are actually “top,”—and perceives herself as an important guest at every high society event. Due to her perception of herself and the secrets within her family, the Baroness was one character fans couldn’t stand.
Considering Baroness Featherington’s rank, she might want to check herself and her arrogance. She falls in line behind Violet Bridgerton and feels a rivalry with the neighboring lady. Barons and their partners rank below Viscounts, Earls, Marquesses, and Dukes.
7 Baron Featherington
The Featheringtons live near the Bridgertons, and while the two families are well established in London high society, they are not of the same ranking. The Baron Featherington would rank beneath the now deceased Viscount Bridgerton.
Baron Featherington would have ranked below many of the high society men that fans see in the series. Barons are the lowest ranking in British nobility. As fans learned in the season 1 finale, the Baron was part of one of the biggest scandals and is no more, thanks to his very shady business handling. It looks like the women are the ones behind the wheels these days.
6 Viscountess Violet Bridgerton
Until Anthony takes a wife, Violet Bridgerton is the only Viscountess that fans see in the series. Daphne’s mother was elated when the Duke shows an interest in Daphne, and that is because Violet understands what a bump in rank such a marriage would allow. Her love for her family made her one of the most liked characters.
While a Viscountess is no Duchess, they are nothing to balk at either. Being the fourth highest-ranking lady in the land is a pretty big deal. Ladies like Mama Bridgerton do well in their own right; just look at the Bridgerton estate. Who wouldn’t want to live lavishly like that?
5 Viscount Anthony Bridgerton
Anthony Bridgerton is the eldest son of the Bridgerton family, and following the death of his father, he becomes a Viscount. In regards to rank, a Viscount follows a Duke, Marquess, and an Earl. He ranks higher than Lords and Barons.
Viscounts once held a position similar to a sheriff and were appointed by a member of the monarchy. At the end of the first season, Anthony hints at embarking on a quest to marry. A wedding would give fans another Viscountess in the mix, but the new Mrs. Bridgerton would still rank behind Daphne the Duchess.
4 Duchess of Hastings
Daphne Bridgerton went from the belle of the ball to a disgraced singleton—thanks to Lady Whistledown—to an actual Duchess. Daphne establishes herself as one of the highest-ranking ladies in the land following her marriage to Simon, Duke of Hastings.
She falls behind the Queen, and any princesses, but far ahead of the other main female characters, thanks to her marital arrangement. Her soulmate experience with Simon was one of the leading storylines in the series.
3 Duke of Hastings
Behind the kings, queens, princesses, and princes, Dukes rank next. A duke would oversee his Duchy, along with a Duchess wife. The Duke of Hastings is an essential character in the Bridgerton series, and he is one of the most eligible bachelors in the land. He has no desire to marry or settle down, but Daphne Bridgerton manages to snag him as her man and fix nearly all of his emotional wounds from the past. His issues with the past were the saddest parts of his character.
As fans saw in the last few scenes of the finale, the Dukedom will continue after Simon, Duke of Hastings, passes on. He and Daphne welcome a son into their lives; something viewers didn’t think would ever happen.
2 Prince Friedrich
Lovely Prince Friedrich of Prussia comes to court in search of a bride to bring home to his native land. While he camps out in the British Royal House, he is of the second-highest rank in the land. In his own land, he would have fallen behind his parents, the king and queen. He wouldn’t be as high in status as Queen Charlotte, especially considering he is a foreigner in her realm, but he is right up there in the royalty chain.
He had his eye on Ms. Daphne Bridgerton, and had she not been head over heels in love with that broody Duke; she would have had a good chance at becoming a royal in Prussia.
1 Queen Charlotte
When it comes to who is the big boss in Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte literally reigns queen. She sits on the throne, overseeing her kingdom and busying herself with parties and pairings of her people.
According to the British monarchy, the queen would only be outranked by her husband, the king. Fans don’t see much of Charlotte’s other half, as he is not in great mental health, but as he is still alive, she is second in command to his status only. As far as the main characters are concerned, the real-life Queen Charlotte outranks all.
