Every Badge has a level. Badges with higher levels are (normally) more rare.
The higher a players level becomes in the game, the higher badge levels they are going to produce.
In the fight for region rulers the level of a badge doubles a fighting power. I.e. A badge of level 3 has 3 times the influence towards ruler, as a badge of level 1.
Related Statistic: Statistics: Contested Ruler Regions