My uncle did the same, hes very touchy bout the subject. He payed for a title and be inscribed in heraldry.
Its so stupid. But in circles associated with critique of modernity it represents life or death, credibility or be a nobody.
Because they draw legitimacy from blood, tradition or family. Because these things matter everything to them. Maybe they matter nothing to you, but to them is everything.
They essentially offer what? nothing, pay attention, take a look, they offer absolutely nothing. So these people (includin my uncle) are in a very bad position they got no source to return to, which is why they purchase titles like ebola did. Hes giulio, not julius.
It may seem ridiculous from outsiders to conceive someone invents a social persona for this LARP. I cannot convey how seriously they take it.