A Glossary of European

Noble, Princely, Royal, and Imperial Titles.

Mark Ode ard
!" #eptember $%%&

Outline.
1. Introduction. 2. Sovereigns and Sovereignty. 3. Nobles and Nobility. 4. Imperial Titles. 5. Ruling Titles. 5.1 Kings and ueens. 5.2 !t"er Ruling Titles. 5.3 T"e #ope. $. T"e %oly Roman &mpire and t"e 'erman System. (. Imperial) Royal) and Noble !**spring. +. #rince and ,-rst) 'rand .u/e) 0argrave) 1ount2#alatine) and 3andgrave. +.1. #rince and ,-rst. +.2. 'rand .u/e. +.3. 0argrave. +.4. 1ount2#alatine. +.5. 3andgrave. 4. Noble Titles. 4.1. .u/e. 4.2. 0ar5uess. 4.3. &arl) 1ount) and 'ra*. 4.4. 6iscount. 4.5. 7aron. 4.$. 7aronet.

1. Introduction.
1.1. .escription. T"is is a 8eb version o* a ,9 originally developed *or :alt.tal/.royalty;.

1.2. Scope. T"is document limits itsel* to collecting) organi<ing and de*ining t"e various imperial) royal) princely) and noble titles encountered in &urope and may be considered a 8or/ o* le=icograp"y. 9 good dictionary /no8s 8"en to provide additional in*ormation) especially 8"en t"e cultural or "istorical bac/ground o* t"e terms discussed are part o* somet"ing t"e e=pected readers"ip cannot be presumed to /no8 as a matter o* general /no8ledge. !n t"e ot"er "and) it s"ould be noted t"at t"is is not a *ormal 8or/> rat"er it is an ongoing t"ing developed *or my o8n education and entertainment as muc" as *or t"at o* anyone else 8"o may read it. 1.3. 3imitations. 9s stated) t"is attempts to limit itsel* to titles) and t"ese titles are e=clusively &uropean> in t"e *uture) I 8ould li/e see sections on non2&uropean titles) i.e.) Islamic and 9sian) but t"is *alls outside my present competence. !t"er 5uestions) suc" as speci*ic national usages are not as yet addressed in ade5uate detail. T"e 5uestion o* styles) i.e.) t"e 8ay a sovereign or noble is addressed ?@%er Royal %ig"ness@) @Aour 'race@B) is mentioned only in passing. T"ere are times) "o8ever) 8"en t"e distinction bet8een @style@ and @title@ is unclear) and I ma/e no claim to consistency or precision 8"en calling somet"ing a title. ,ranCois 6elde "as t"e most serene "ig"ness o* a site t"at discusses stylesD "ttpDEE12+.22F.1.1$4E"eraldryEtopicsE"ig"ness."tm 1.4. !rgani<ation. I "ave used t"e 7ritis" system as t"e departure point *or my discussions) as t"is is t"e one most *amiliar to t"e e=pected readers"ip. %o8ever) a maGor caution is necessaryD t"e 7ritis" system is narro8er) some8"at more e=clusive and altoget"er) muc' tidier t"an t"ose *ound on t"e continent) 8"ere one encounters a larger number o* titles and 8"at seems to be *iner gradations bet8een t"em. ,or e=ample) @prince@ is o*ten a grade above t"e merely noble but is not 5uite royal) 8"ile t"e distinctions bet8een t"e di**erent species o* @'ra*@ in t"e 'erman system ma/es a *ull correlation 8it" t"e 7ritis" system impossible. 1.5 6ersion %istory. #reliminary versions o* t"is 8ere posted on :alt.tal/.royalty; as 8ell as circulated privately. 9 version "as been posted to ne8s.ans8ers and alt.ans8ers. T"is 8eb version is a revision o* t"at and by t"e ne=t o**icial posting o* t"e ascii2version o* t"e ,9 ) t"e t8o 8ill "ope*ully be in complete accord. 1.$. Invitation. 9s al8ays) comments) corrections and /vetc"es are 8elcomed. Aou may respond on t"e ne8sgroup alt.talk.royalty andEor to me via e2mail. I do not claim to be in*allible 22 nor even completely accurate) t"oug" I ma/e every e**ort to be so. 0uc" o* t"is 8or/ represents t"e contributions culled *rom ot"ers more /no8ledgeable t"an I) and i* t"is is to develop *urt"er) additional suc" contributions are actively solicited. In particular) I 8ould li/e *uller in*ormation on t"e actual words used in t"e various &uropean languages *or titles suc" as @count@) @du/e@) etc)

as 8ell as in*ormation on t"e patterns o* noble titles *ound in eac" &uropean nation2 state. 1.(. 1redits. ,irst) I need to t"an/ t"e regular posters on a.t.r.) but especially) 3ouis &pstein) S"inGinee Sen) Hac5ueline Iimenes) ..9. Jillis) #atric/ !KS"ea) 'uy Stair Sainty) Stan 7ro8n) .even 0ercer) He** 3eader) Jilliam 9ddams Reit8eisner) 0ar/ 9nt"ony Rodrigue< and 0arlene &ilers Koenig. 9 very special t"an/s needs to be given to ,ranCois 6elde) bot" *or "is contributions as 8ell as "is "osting o* t"is 8eb page at "is site. 1.+. ,uture 'ro8t". T"ere is muc" t"at could and s"ould be added) Gust in terms o* titles) especially 'erman ones. I 8ould li/e to see individual sections dedicated to individual national usages. ,ranCois 6eldeKs 8eb site "as good material on t"e ,renc" practices> not"ing comparable) "o8ever) e=ists *or Iberian or Italian usages ?t"e latter o* 8"ic" is 5uite comple=B) and I really only touc" t"e sur*ace 8"en it comes to t"e multilayered and at times seemingly parado=ical system *ound in 'erman lands. 1.4. 1opyrig"t Notice. ,or non2commercial purposes only) t"is ,9 may be *reely copied) distributed or 5uoted in any medium 8it" t"e understanding t"at *ull credit s"all be given. 9ll ot"er rig"ts are reserved by mysel*.

2. Sovereigns and Sovereignty.

@Sovereign@ ?in t"e &uropean senseB is a tec"nical term) bot" noun and adGective. In times past) a sovereign (as sovereign) i.e.) ans8erable only to 'od *or "is actions. !nly t"e #ope is sovereign in t"is sense today ?as "ead o* t"e 6atican 1ity StateB) 8it" #rinces Rainier o* 0onaco and %ans29dam o* 3iec"tenstein coming a relatively close second. 0ore generally) a sovereign is any "ereditary "ead2o*2state) 8"atever t"e title) and 8"atever constitutional po8ers t"e sovereign may "ave. ,or t"e purposes o* t"is document) @sovereign@ re*ers to a ruling "ead o* state and need not be royal or imperial. 3u=embourg is "eaded by a grand du/e> 3iec"tenstein and 0onaco are "eaded by princes. 3iec"tenstein and 3u=embourg are bot" sovereign states and t"eir "eads o* state are sovereigns. J"ile #rince Rainier o* 0onaco is a sovereign) in strict terms 0onaco is not a sovereign state) its semi2dependent relations"ip to ,rance governed by treaty. 9ndorra is similarly not strictly a sovereign state. T"e 1"annel Islands and t"e Isle o* 0an are not part o* t"e Lnited Kingdom but *eudal dependencies o* t"e 7ritis" 1ro8n and also lac/ sovereignty) as do 7ritainKs various colonial le*tovers. 7e*ore t"e uni*ications o* 'ermany and Italy) t"ere 8ere a 8elter o* sovereign or essentially sovereign states ruled by variously2titled sovereigns 22 electors ?in 'erman)

@Kur*-rst@B) margraves) etc. T"e *amilies ruling t"ese *ormerly independent states are *or t"e most part still dynastically signi*icant today.

3. Nobles and Nobility.

Romans recogni<ed t"ree ordersD patricians) e5uestrians and plebeians) and earlier) be*ore t"e *oundation o* t"e republic) a *ourt"D royalty. 9dded to t"is) t"ere 8as t"e concept o* nobilis> to be noble meant you 8ere descended *rom someone 8"o "ad been 1onsul> being a patrician 8as necessary to become 1onsul ?t"oug" you could buy your 8ay inB) but to be noble 8as ine**ably grander) at least to t"e Roman 8ay o* t"in/ing. T"is "as been turned around a bit in Italy> in Italian cities today) a @patriciate@ e=ists 8"ic" is considered to be above @mere@ nobility. T"ese notions o* t"e Romans apply to present2day parlance. In t"e 7ritis" system) one can discriminate bet8een royalty) nobility) /nig"ts) gentry and commonsD *ive grades. T"e 'ermans tend to regard certain o* 8"at t"e 7ritis" regard as gentry as noble) and at t"e "ig"est levels) 8"at t"e 7ritis" de*ine as noble resembles 8"at t"e 'ermans regard as @princely@ and in general) continental systems as a 8"ole tend to "ave a broader de*inition o* @noble@. In essence) t"e nobility 8ere t"e lando8ners. To be a lando8ner you "ad to be prepared to defend your rig"t to own t"at land) and 8it" t"e progressive disorders t"at lead to t"e *all o* t"e Jestern Roman &mpire and t"e development o* t"e *eudal system in &urope) nobility became synonymous 8it" t"e military caste 22 an essentially sel*2appointed caste. In t"e Jest) it is nearly impossible to trace any noble lineage bac/ muc" be*ore 9. +FF ?t"oug" t"e old 'aelic nobility o* Ireland "as a special claim to anti5uity "ereB> anyt"ing be*ore 11FF is remar/able. T"e organi<ed system o* titles 8e "ave today is a rat"er late development) but @count@) and @prince@ go bac/ to t"e Roman &mpire. !nly 8"en it 8as recogni<ed t"at one mig"t "ave @betters@ ?i.e.) 8it" t"e organi<ation o* nation2statesB did t"e nobles start paying attention to titles) styles) and pedigrees. 9 distinction needs to be made bet8een @nobility@ and @peerage@. In t"e 7ritis" system) a peer is t"e "older o* t"e title) 8"ile a noble is a member o* a *amily "eaded by a peer. In t"e LK) suc" *amily members) 8"ile @noble@) are still tec"nically common) 8"ic" is not necessarily t"e case else8"ere. 0ore narro8ly) a peer also sits in parliament) as 8it" t"e 7ritis" %ouse o* 3ords or t"e *ormer ,renc" %ouse o* #eers. T"ere are some titles in t"e Lnited Kingdom ?e.g.) t"e Iris" peerage) 8"en t"e peer lac/s anot"er &nglis") Scots or LK titleB 8"ic" do not permit one to sit in t"e %ouse o* 3ords> t"us) in Scotland) t"e distinction o* a @3ord o* #arliament@. SeeD

"ttpDEE888./8telecom.comE"eraldryEmanor."tmlMT4 ?*ollo8 lin/ to @Scottis" ,eudal 7aronies@B Somet"ing also needs to be said about @title in*lation@. J"ile t"e 7ritis" system is tidily e=clusive) t"is is not t"e case in ot"er systems. 9s e=plained belo8) some systems ?as 8it" ,ranceB "ave long tolerated @courtesy titles@) a putative title o* nobility t"at "as no basis in *act. In ot"er cases) all t"e descendants o* a noble "ave a title) t"e title "older) as in Italy) being styled @.u/e o* Suc"andsuc"@) 8it" everyone else being titled @,irstname o* t"e .u/es ?or 0ar5uesses) etcB o* Suc"andsuc"@. ,ranCois 6elde 8rites about t"e ,renc" situationD Nowadays, anyone descended from a count uses the style of count (although "le comte Pierre de X" is distinguished from "Pierre, comte de X" who is the real title-holder). That makes it seem like many counts. Since there are only a out !""" authentic titles, the share of titles#$eerages to $o$ulation is similar to %ngland. In 'ermany) since t"e Jeimar Republic) all titles are considered part o* oneKs last name. T"us) a real title "older can @adopt@ an adult) and t"e ot"er8ise unrelated person t"en can become @Hoe Sc"muc/ .u/e o* Sa=ony@ ?t"is is t"e case o* NsaNsaKs "ubbyB> t"e practice is alluded to in 7illy JilderKs *ilm) &ne Two Three ?1agneyKs last *ilm be*ore 'agtimeB. T"en t"ere is t"e matter o* "o8 t"e nobility o* a previous state 8as incorporated into t"at o* a successor state or regime. T"is particularly applies to 'ermany as 8ell as Italy) but also applies to t"e case o* t"e Lnited Kingdom ?8it" t"e Scots and Iris" peeragesB and in ,rance) "o8 titles granted a*ter t"e ancien regime are "andled. T"e term @mediati<ation@ is o*ten applied "ere. !n occasion) all o* t"is becomes very involved) a topic "otly ?and voluminouslyB debated. !utside t"e 7ritis" system) t"e reader is cautioned about ta/ing any title at immediate *ace value) as a t"ousand years o* "istory) succeeding states) di**ering usages) vast 5uantities o* personal vanity) as 8ell as not a little *raud may be involved> it is not 8it"out good reason t"at .umas) Trollope) et al. "ad *un casting *au= Italian nobles as c"arming ?or not2so2c"armingB villains. &ven in 7ritain) t"e recent practice o* peddling lords"ips o* t"e manor ?*eudal le*tovers so devoid o* meaning t"at #arliament "as never seen *it to abolis" t"emB testi*ies to t"e problems> see "ttpDEE888./8telecom.comE"eraldryEmanor."tmlMT4

*or a discussion o* @&nglis" 3ords"ips o* t"e 0anor@ ?*ollo8 lin/B> especially see @1aveat &mptor@.

4. Imperial Titles.
3atin 'ree/ &nglis" 'erman ,renc" Spanis" Russian Imperator) Imperatri= 9uto/rator &mperor) &mpress Kaiser) Kaiserin &mpereur) Imperatrice &mperador) &mperatri< Tsar) Tsarina

@&mperor@ comes *rom t"e 3atin im$erator) roug"ly @commander@) a title 8"ic" ancient Roman armies @spontaneously@ "ailed a victorious general by> t"is entitled t"e general to a triump" ?a sort o* ancient Tournament o* Roses #arade and 7o8l 'ameB. It 8as one o* t"e titles o* t"e Roman &mperor. .iocletian divided t"e Roman &mpire into &ast and Jest) 8it" t8o emperors) eac" emperor being @Imperator@ and @9ugustus@. &ac" co2emperor "ad associates) termed @caesars@. T"is system proved un8or/able) but t"e division o* t"e &mpire 8as permanent by about 9. 345. T"e *all o* t"e Jestern &mpire is traditionally dated to 9ugust 23) 4($ 8"en !doacer 8as cro8ned King o* Italy. Romulus II) or alternately) Hulius II Nepos) is considered t"e last Jestern &mperor. @1aesar@) as a title o* t"e Roman &mperor) or an associate o* an emperor) entered bot" 'erman and Russian as t"e 8ord *or @emperor@ ?respectively) @/aiser@ and @tsar@B> t"e 7ulgarian 8ord @tsar@ is usually translated to @/ing@. In &nglis" and t"e 8estern Romance languages) @imperator@ 8as t"e 8ord t"at 8on out. T"e 7y<antineE&astern Roman &mpire continued up to 1453) 8"en 1onstantinople *ell to t"e *orces o* t"e !ttoman Tur/s under 0e"met II. T"e last 7y<antine &mperor 8as 1onstantine II. It "as been said t"at as Rome began and ended 8it" a Romulus) so 1onstantinople began and ended 8it" a 1onstantine. 9 list o* &astern and Jestern Roman &mperors is available at (m$erium 'omanorumD "ttpDEE888tc.n"mccd.cc.t=.usD443EpeopleEcr*F1EromeE

#ro*essor ,o=Ks main page is "ereD "ttpDEE888tc.n"mccd.cc.t=.usD443EpeopleEcr*F1E"istoryE !n 1"ristmas .ay) 9. +FF) #ope 3eo III cro8ned 1"arlemagne Roman &mperor) i.e.) Jestern &mperor. T"e &astern &mperor ?by no8) t"e 7y<antine &mperorB acceded to t"is. T"is is t"e start o* t"e %oly Roman &mpire) 8"ic" 8ould continue *or a t"ousand years) until 1+F$. T"is 8as t"e *irst @t"ousand2year reic"@. @1"arlemagne@ is !ld ,renc" *or @1"arles2le2magne@ or @1"arles t"e 'reat@. In 'erman) "e re*erred to as @Karl der 'roOe@. In 3atin) t"is is 1arolus 0agnus. %e is counted as King 1"arles I o* ,rance and as %oly Roman &mperor 1"arles ?or KarlB I. Napoleon I 8as vested 8it" @t"e imperial dignity@ by a la8 o* t"e ,renc" Senate in 0ay 1+F4. 9 re*erendum approved t"e "ereditary c"aracter o* t"at dignity in "is *amily. %e abdicated in 9pril 1+14) returned *or a brie* interlude ?t"e 1FF .aysB in 0arc"2Hune 1+15 and abdicated again. ?22,ranCois 6eldeB T"e son o* Napoleon I by 0arie23ouise o* 9ustria is counted as Napoleon II. %e is usually treated in "istoric and encyclopedic 8or/s under "is 9ustrian title) .u/e o* Reic"stadt. &mperor Napoleon III 8as t"e *irst NapoleonKs nep"e8. 3ouis2Napoleon 7onaparte) president o* t"e ,renc" Republic) instigated a coup on .ec. 2) 1+51 and "ad "imsel* proclaimed &mperor in 1+52> "e abdicated in 1+(F conse5uent to ,ranceKs de*eat in t"e ,ranco2#russian Jar. T"e 1+522(F period is called t"e Second &mpire. ?22 ?mostlyB ,ranCois 6eldeB In 1+F4) %oly Roman &mperor ,rancis II assumed t"e title o* 9ustrian &mperor as ,rancis I ?in 'erman) ,ran<B. !n 9ugust $) 1+F$) "e disclaimed t"e title o* %oly Roman &mperor) 8"ic" is as good a date as any to mar/ t"e decease o* %oly Roman &mpire. T"e use o* t"e numeral 8as a decision on t"e part o* ,ran< "imsel*. %m$erors of )ustria
,ran< I ? ,rancis IB ,erdinand ,ran< Hose* ?,rancis Hosep"B Karl ?1"arlesB 1+F$21+35 1+3521+4+ 1+4+2141$ 141$2141+

.r. !tto von %absburg is t"e present "ead o* t"e %ouse o* %absburg23orraine> "e is t"e son o* &mperor Karl and &mpress21onsort Nita. T"e "eads"ip o* %absburg2 3orraine may pass to t"e 9rc"du/e 3oren< o* 9ustria2&ste) t"e "usband o* #rincess 9strid o* 7elgium ?8"o is anticipated to eventually become 5ueen2regnant) as "er brot"er) 1ro8n #rince #"illippe) seems disinclined to marryB> i* t"is "appens) t"e "ead o* t"e %ouse o* %absburg23orraine may again 8ear a cro8n) in t"e person o* ?t"e probableB *uture King 9medeo o* 7elgium. In 1+(1) at t"e end o* t"e ,ranco2#russian Jar) t"e King o* #russia 8as proclaimed 'erman &mperor ?*eutscher +aiser) at 6ersailles. 1onsidering t"e number o* ruling or reigning /ings) grand du/es) margraves) etc) to be *ound in t"e no82uni*ied 'ermany) t"e assumption o* t"e imperial title 8as not unreasonable. It also symboli<ed t"e emergence o* 'ermany as a 8orld po8er. T"is 8as @t"e second reic"@. ,erman %m$erors
Jil"elm I ,riedric" Jil"elm II 1+(121+++ 1+++ 1+++2141+

Kaiser ,riedric" 8as also King ,riedric" III o* #russia> #russia is 8"olly de*unct as a state since t"e #otsdam 1on*erence *ollo8ing Jorld Jar II. T"e present "ead o* t"e ?imperialB %ouse o* %o"en<ollern is #rince 'eorg ,riedric" ?born 14($B> "e is t"e great2great2grandson o* Jil"elm II t"roug" "is *at"er and grand*at"er) bot" o* 8"om 8ere named 3ouis ,erdinand) and "is great2grand*at"er) 1ro8n #rince Jil"elm. T"ere are %o"en<ollerns in t"e legitimate male line senior in descent to 'eorg ,riedric") but t"ey "ave been denied succession rig"ts due to une5ual marriages. T"is 'erman2language 8eb site contains a very complete list o* t"e margraves) electors and /ings o* 7randenburg2#russiaD "ttpDEE888.c"emie.*u2berlin.deEdiverseEbibEpreussen2/."tml T"e *ollo8ing 8eb site contains a complete list o* %oly Roman &mperors) 9ustrian &mperors) Kings o* #russia and 'erman &mperorsD "ttpDEE888tc.n"mccd.cc.t=.usD443EpeopleEcr*F1E"istoryE"re."tml T"e Russian monarc"y 8as di**erent *rom t"ose in t"e Jest. T"e Russians considered t"emselves a /ind o* @Ne8 Rome@ a*ter t"e *all o* 7y<antium to t"e Tur/s. Lntil t"e

re*orms o* Tsar #eter I ?@t"e 'reat@B) t"e 8ord @tsar@ 8as used e=clusively> t"erea*ter) "e decreed @emperor@ 8as to be t"e term used 8"en translating @tsar@ into ot"er &uropean languages. ,or t"e *rancop"ile) o*ten *rancop"one Russian aristocracy) t"e e5uivalence o* @tsar@ and @emperor@ became complete. Not8it"standing t"is) t"e Russian monarc"y) t"e Russian 1"urc" and muc" o* Russian society 8as originally based on t"e )y*antine model) somet"ing evident even today. Note t"at t"e Russian tsars called t"emselves @autocrats@) a*ter t"e 7y<antine term *or emperor) @auto/rator@. T"ere is some controversy about 8"o represents t"e aut"entic Romanov "eir) but 0aria 6ladimirovna) t"e daug"ter o* 'rand .u/e 6ladimir Kyrillovic" ?*irst cousin o* Tsar Nic"olas IIB) and "er son) 'eorge Romanov) seem to "ave t"e strongest claim. 9 tsarist restoration in Russia seems unli/ely) but some sort o* @o**icial@ status may develop) analogous to t"e status "eld in ,rance by t"e 1ount o* #aris as t"e most broadly recogni<ed claimant to t"e ,renc" t"rone. 9 list o* all t"e Romanov tsars may be *ound "ereD "ttpDEE888.palaces.orgEroman."tml T"e 7ra<ilian emperors 8ere o**s"oots o* t"e #ortuguese royal *amily. &mperor #edro I is also counted as King #edro I6 o* #ortugal. 7ra<il became independent in 1+22 8it" #edro as &mperor. %e abdicated in 1+31. #edro II 8as deposed in 1++4 by a military coup. T"ere are t8o pretenders to t"is t"rone) descended *rom #rincess2 Imperial Isabel) "eiress o* .om #edro II. Relatively recently) t"e 7ra<ilian people 8ere as/ed i* t"ey 8anted a restoration as a @cro8ned presidency@. T"is may yet "appen> in 7ra<il) anything is possible. 0e=ico "as "ad t8o emperors. T"e *irst 8as 9ugustin Iturbide> "e cro8ned "imsel* a la Napoleon in 1+22) abdicated in 1+23) and 8as e=ecuted in 1+24. 0e=icoKs more *amous emperor 8as t"e ill2*ated 0a=imilian) younger brot"er o* ,ran< Hose* o* 9ustria. %e and "is consort) 1arlota ?t"e daug"ter o* King 3eopold I o* 7elgium and a *irst cousin o* ueen 6ictoriaB) 8ere cro8ned in 1+$4. In 1+$() 0a=imilianKs position became untenable 8"en ,renc" troops provided by Napoleon III 8ere 8it"dra8n. Instead o* *leeing) "e "eld out to t"e last and 8as captured by t"e *orces o* 7enito Huare<. .espite international pleas) Huare< "ad "im e=ecuted by *iring s5uad Hune) 4) 1+$( ?0a=imilian is t"e one 8earing a sombrero in 0anetKs *amous painting o* t"is eventB. In t"e Lnited Kingdom) t"e 9ssumption o* Titles 9ct ?1+((B granted to ueen 6ictoria t"e title &mpress o* India. T"is 8as mostly a reaction to t"e @in*lation@ o* imperial titles ?'ermany) 7ra<il) 9ustria) RussiaB) but 8as also a recognition t"at t"e

7ritis" RaG "ad supplanted t"e old 0ogul dynasty. King 'eorge 6I and "is 8i*e) ueen &li<abet" t"e ueen 0ot"er ?mot"er o* t"e present 7ritis" sovereignB 8ere t"e last &mperor and &mpress21onsort o* India. It is said t"at 0ussolini proclaimed King 6ictor &mmanuel o* Italy @&mperor o* &t"iopia@.

. !uling Titles.
5.1 Kings and ueens.
3atin 'ree/ &nglis" 'erman ,renc" Spanis" #ortuguese Romanian 7ulgarian Nor8egian .anis" S8edis" .utc" Iris" Re=) Regina 7asileus King) ueen KPnig) KPnigin Roi) Reine Rey) Reina Rei) Rei"a Regele) Raina Tsar Konge) .ronning Konge) .ronning Konung) .rotning Koning) Koningin Ri) Rigan ?%ig"2King Q 9rd RiB

In modern terms) a /ing or 5ueen2regnant is t"e "ereditary "ead o* a nation2state. In &urope today) t"ere are only seven suc" monarc"ies. T"ese areD
Nation 7elgium .enmar/ Net"erlands Nor8ay Spain S8eden Lnited Kingdom So-ereign, .onsort/ 0eir-)$$arent King 9lbert II) ueen #aola> 1ro8n #rince #"ilippe ueen 0argret"e II) #rince %enri/> 1ro8n #rince ,rederi/ ueen 7eatri=) #rince 1laus> 1ro8n #rince Jillem29le=ander King %arald 6) ueen SonGa> 1ro8n #rince %aa/on 0agnus King Huan 1arlos) ueen Sop"ia> ,elipe) #rince o* 9sturias King 1arl I6I 'usta*) ueen Silvia> 1ro8n #rincess 6ictoria ueen &li<abet" II) #"ilip) .u/e o* &dinburg"> 1"arles) #rince o* Jales

9 curious *actoid is t"at) 8it" t"e *inali<ation o* #rince 1"arlesK divorce) all o* t"e "eirs to /ingdoms in &urope are unmarried. !ver t"e ne=t *e8 years) 8e 8ill be treated to a round o* very royal marriages on t"e continent. T"ere are ot"er nations *ormerly so2"eaded during t"e 2Ft" 1enturyD 9lbania 7ulgaria 'reece %ungary ?dual monarc"y o* 9ustria2%ungaryB Italy 0ontenegro #ortugal Romania Augoslavia T"ere are ot"er /ingdoms 8"ic" became de*unct early in t"e 2Ft" century or in previous centuries) t"e dynasties o* 8"ic" are still regarded as signi*icant) *irstly ,rance) but particularly in 'ermany ?e.g) 7avaria) J-rttembergB. T"e *ormer Kingdom o* t"e T8o Sicilies is also signi*icant in t"is regard. !* t"ese *ormer monarc"ies) at present only Romania seems to "ave a reasonable c"ance at seeing a restoration) t"oug" 'reece and 7ulgaria are ot"er possibilities. T"e *ormer /ings o* 7ulgaria) 'reece and Romania ?respectively) Simeon) 1onstantine II and 0ic"aelB are all still alive and are still very muc" interested in t"eir "omelands and t"e dynastic prospects o* t"eir *amilies. 0ore distantly in time) t"ere 8ere ot"er /ingdoms and dynasties. 7o"emia 8as once a /ingdom. T"ere 8as an elective monarc"y in #oland) but t"is became e=tinct 8"en #oland 8as partitioned bet8een #russia) Russia and 9ustria. 7urgundy 8as absorbed into ,rance) but "ad an illustrious "istory. In Spain) Navarre and 1astille 8ere Gust t8o o* t"e /ingdoms t"at united to *orm t"e state 8e /no8 today. T"e @/ingdoms@ o* t"e Lnited Kingdom o* 'reat 7ritain and Nort"ern Ireland are t8o *ormerly separate /ingdoms) &ngland ?Goined 8it" t"e #rincipality o* JalesB and Scotland) plus a rump o* a t"ird *ormer /ingdom) Ireland. J"at is no8 Italy "as a very Gumbled "istory) but t"ere 8ere /ingdoms to be *ound t"ere too) among t"em) t"e old Norman Kingdom o* Sicily) t"e Kingdom o* Sardinia ?8"ic" lead to t"e modern Italian stateB) and t"e curiously2named Kingdom o* t"e T8o Sicilies. Je mig"t also mention t"e old 1rusader2*ounded Kingdom o* Herusalem. 5.2. !t"er Ruling 0onarc"ies.

T"ree current &uropean monarc"ies are "eaded by persons lac/ing t"e title o* @/ing@ or @5ueen@. T"ese areD
Nation So-ereign, .onsort, 0eir-)$$arent

3iec"tenstein ?principalityB #rince %ans29dam II) #rincess 0arie> %ereditary #rince 9lois 3u=embourg ?grand duc"yB 'rand .u/e Hean) 'rand .uc"ess Hosep"ine21"arlotte> %ereditary 'rand .u/e %enri 0onaco ?principalityB #rince Rainier III) RnoneS> %ereditary #rince 9lbert

T"e use o* @%ereditary #rince@ or @%ereditary 'rand .u/e@ is discussed under under @Imperial) Royal) and Noble !**spring@. In earlier times) t"ere 8ere many more monarc"ies o* t"is /ind) variously titled as grand duc"ies) duc"ies) principalities) etc. 0ost o* t"ese occurred 8it"in t"e bounds o* t"e *ormer %oly Roman &mpire) or in regions adGacent to it) t"oug" in Italy) t"e 'rand .uc"y o* Tuscany ?,lorenceB o* t"e 0edicis ?and later) as a branc" o* t"e %absburgsB needs mentioning. ,inland 8as a grand duc"y "eld by t"e Romanovs. T"e brie*2lived 'rand .uc"y o* Jarsa8 8as created by Napoleon I. Some discussion o* t"e "istory o* t"e %oly Roman &mpire is necessary be*ore many o* t"ese titles originating *rom it can be ade5uately understood. Je mig"t mention "ere t"at 3u=embourg 8as created as a grand duc"y *or t"e %ouse o* !range2Nassau within t"e 'erman 1on*ederation ?successor o* t"e %oly Roman &mpireB) 8"ile t"e Net"erlands ?including present 7elgiumB remained outside o* t"e 1on*ederation ?and previously) t"e &mpireB. 5.3. T"e #ope. Since t"e signing o* t"e 3ateran treaty) t"e #ope "as been Sovereign o* t"e 6atican 1ity State. 7e*ore t"e States o* t"e 1"urc" 8ere incorporated into t"e Kingdom o* Italy) t"e #ope 8as similarly a territorial sovereign ?t"is 8as t"e central part o* Italy *rom Rome nort"B. 9lmost all nations o* t"e 8orld recogni<e t"e 6atican as a sovereign nation2state) albeit a peculiar one) and maintain diplomatic relations 8it" it 22 including t"e Lnited States. 9 complete listing and brie* biograp"ies o* all t"e popes may be *ound "ereD "ttpDEE888./nig"t.orgEadventE#opesEppind=."tm

". The #oly !oman $mpire and the %erman System.

%oly Roman &mperor 8as an elective o**ice. %o8ever) dynastic politics made it e**ectively "ereditary) *irst 8it" t"e %o"enstau*en) t"en) e=cept *or a brie* period) t"e %absburgs. ,or t"e %absburgs) an imperial election 8as still necessary *or an emperor to enter into "is reign) and t"is 8as done by t"e &lectors ?in 'erman) Kur*-rst) Kur*-rstinB. T"e number o* electors gre8 over time> at t"e dissolution o* t"e empire t"ese 8ereD
Tem$oral 7randenburg 7avaria 7o"emia %anover %esse #alatinate Sa=ony S$iritual 1ologne 0ain< Trier

T"e po8er o* t"e %oly Roman &mperor 8as limited and t"e nobles 8"o putatively o8ed "im allegiance 8ere o*tentimes sovereign in all but name) particularly in t"e latter stages o* t"e &mpire. Some o* t"ese magnates "eld lands outside t"e &mpire as /ings> t"e &lector o* 7randenburg ?as King in #russia) t"en 8it" ,rederic/ t"e 'reat and "is successors as King o& #russiaB and t"e &lector o* %anover ?Kings 'eorge I t"roug" 'eorge III o* t"e Lnited KingdomB are t8o suc" cases. Jit"in t"e &mpire) t"ese po8er*ul *amilies ruled as electors) grand du/es) du/es) margraves) landgraves) and princes. Jit" t"e e=tinction o* t"e %oly Roman &mpire) /ingdoms emerged out o* t"e *ormer Imperial domains) eac" "eaded by its o8n royal "ouseD 7avaria %anover Sa=ony #russia ?additional lands 8it"in t"e old &mpireB J-rttemberg T"e 9ustrian %absburgs) accustomed to being imperial) assumed t"e title o* &mperor o* 9ustria in 1+F4. 3ater) t"e @dual2monarc"y@ 8as establis"ed) 8it" t"e %absburgs as &mperors o* 9ustria and Kings o* %ungary) t"e combined realm being /no8n as @9ustria2%ungary@.

T"e ot"er magnates o*ten became entirely independent grand du/es) etc.) usually retaining t"eir old titles) but sometimes assuming ?on occasion) unilaterallyB a grander one. Some o* t"ese titles and styles are only appro=imately e5uivalent to t"ose encountered in &uropean nations outside t"e borders o* t"e *ormer &mpire. 9ll o* t"is 8as settled at t"e 1ongress o* 6ienna) and t"e 7ritis" e5uivalencies are determined by starting ?but not endingB 8it" t"e protocols "ammered out t"ere> part o* t"is 8as a process re*erred to as @mediati<ing@. 0ediati<ation is very important in t"e 'erman system. It re*ers to *ormerly ruling "ouses 8"o maintained t"eir dynastic rig"ts even 8"en t"ey lost sovereignty over territory. It meant t"at even i* t"ey no longer ruled) t"ey 8ere still @e5ual@ in dynastic dignity to t"e luc/ier *amilies t"at did retain sovereignty over lands and 8ould remain e5ual provided t"eir members married e5ually. T"e 8ord @ebenb-rtig/eit@) @e5ual2birt"2ness@ is o*ten *ound in t"is conte=t) and seems to be naturali<ing itsel* into &nglis" 8it" t"e sense o* @e5ual marriage@) as an antonym *or @morganatic@ ?une5ual marriageB. 9n une5ual) or morganatic marriage meant ?and still o*ten does meanB t"at any c"ild o* suc" a marriage 8ill be denied succession rig"ts and 8ill "ave a lesser status t"an t"at o* an ebenb-rtig/eit cousin. T"e 8ord @mediati<e@ re*ers to t"e @immediate@ person t"e magnate o8ed allegiance to> originally t"is 8as t"e &mperor) but a*ter 1+15) many o* t"e smaller magnates 8ere placed under t"e aut"ority o* one o* t"e ne8 entirely sovereign states in 8"at is no8 'ermany. Incorrectly or not) t"is term) ?mediati<ationB "as also been applied to ot"er no2longer reigning or ruling "ouses 8"ic" 8ere never part o* t"e %oly Roman &mpire) e.g.) t"e Kingdom o* t"e T8o Sicilies 8"ic" 8as consolidated 8it" t"e Kingdom o* Italy or to t"e ancient royal and noble "ouses o* 9rmenia and 'eorgia in t"eir relations"ip to t"e Russian t"rone. J"at s"ould be /ept in mind "ere is t"at *ormerly ruling or reigning "ouses ?royal or notB are carefully distin uis'ed *rom ?*ormerlyB non2ruling or non2reigning "ouses in t"e 'erman system) 8it" t"e *ormer ta/ing precedence be*ore t"e latter 22 whate-er the actual title may e. !* similar but lesser importance is t"e distinction bet8een @old@ and @ne8@ ?post21+FF creationB nobility. I* all o* t"is ma/es t"e 'ermans seem insu**erable snobs) youKre not *ar o** trac/. !utside o* t"e &mpire) eac" nation2state evolved its o8n system and nomenclature. ,or t"e most part) t"e di**erent systems are parallel) but t"ere are important distinctions and e=ceptions t"at one s"ould be a8are o*) particularly 8"en

distinguis"ing non2royal but ot"er8ise *ormerly sovereign "ouses *rom t"ose 8"ic" are merely noble.

'. Imperial( !oyal( and Noble O&&spring.

Some titles 8ere reserved e=clusively *or an imperial or royal c"ild. !t"ertimes) t"e c"ild 8as given an ot"er8ise noble title. T"e "eir o* a noble o*ten bears a distinctive style as 8ell. In &nglis") a prince is t"e c"ild ?and in t"e male line) a grandc"ildB o* t"e /ing or 5ueen2regnant ?and in t"e direct line o* succession) t"e great2grandc"ildren o* t"e sovereignB) and are styled a @royal "ig"ness@. T"is nomenclature applies to t"e c"ildren o* continental /ings and 5ueens2regnant) at least 8"en speakin &nglis". J"at distinguis"es a style *rom a title "ere is unclear. @.aup"in@ *or t"e ,renc" "eir or @#rince o* Jales@ *or t"e 7ritis") 8"ile a title) is really more o* a style. T"e same can be said *or @#rince Ror #rincessS o* 9sturias@ *or t"e Spanis" "eir) but @in*ante@ *or a Spanis" prince o* t"e blood seems closer to a title as 8e "ave been using t"e term> one may say t"e same t"ing about t"e %absburg use o* @&r<"er<og@. Title and style *or imperial and royal o**spring varies *rom dynasty2to2dynasty. J"at mig"t be t"oug"t o* in &nglis" as being a non2royal title may in *act be a very royal title in anot"er place. 0ost people are a8are o* t"e distinction bet8een a royal prince) as 8it" t"e Lnited Kingdom) and a ruling prince) as 8it" 0onaco or 3iec"tenstein) but are probably con*used about 8"o ta/es precedence over 8"o ?a ruling prince usually ta/es precedence> t"is is all governed by international protocolB. T"e potential *or con*usion is also present 8it" grand du/es) as a ruling grand du/e 8ould normally outran/ t"e c"ild o* a Russian tsar. T"e c"ild o* a %absburg emperor 8as re*erred to as an arc"du/e or arc"duc"ess ?&r<"er<og or &r<"er<oginB) a style used by t"e %absburgs as *ar bac/ as t"e 14t" century. It e=tended to "is grandc"ildren in t"e direct line o* succession. 9bsent anot"er speci*ic term) t"e &nglis" term *or t"e "eir2apparent to an imperial t"rone 8as @#rince Ror #rincessS Imperial@) as 8it" Napoleon IIIKs son) #rince2 Imperial &ugene) or t"e "eiress o* .om #edro II o* 7ra<il) #rincess2Imperial Isabel) 8"ic" in *act 8as also t"e *orm in ,renc" and #ortuguese. T"e 'erman system o*ten ma/es use o* t"e pre*i= @&rb@ *or t"e "eir to a title as 8it" @&rbgra*@ 8"ereas t"e 7ritis" system pre*ers using a lesser @courtesy title@. Jilliam 9ddams Reit8iesner 8ritesD

"%r " in ,erman (in this sense) means "hereditary" R. . . .S The oldest son and heir of a 1ediati2ed .ount would e an "%r graf". The oldest son and heir of a ,rand *uke would e an "%r gro3her2og". )nd so on. )nother way of s$elling the title would e "%r -Prin2" or "%r -,raf", etc. The wi-es of these men ha-e e4ui-alent feminine titles, such as"%r $rin2essin", "%r gr5fin", "%r gro3her2ogin", etc. The 6rench form is "$rince heredetaire", "comte heredetaire" "grand-duc heredetaire", etc. (toss in accents as a$$ro$riate). In ,renc" usage) #rince 9lbert o* 0onaco) as "eir to #rince Rainier) is a @prince2 "eredetaire@) and #rince 9lois) t"e "eir o* %ans29dam o* 3iec"tenstein is) in 'erman usage) an @&rbprin<@. @%ereditary #rince@ and @%ereditary 'rand .u/e@ sound alien in &nglis") but t"is is "o8 t"ey must be translated. T"is 'erman usage) "o8ever) does not e=tend to royalty> *or t"e 'ermans) 1ro8n #rincess 6ictoria o* S8eden is a @Kronprin<essin@ and #rince Jillem29le=ander o* t"e Net"erlands is a @Kronprin<@. T"e "eir to a ,renc" ducal title is sometimes styled @#rince o* Suc"andsuc"@) but t"is is more a @courtesy title@ ?see ,ranCois 6eldeKs comments under @#rince@B) and roug"ly corresponds to t"e 7ritis" practice o* t"e "eir to a peerage using a lesser title "eld by t"e actual peer) as 8it" t"e mar5uessate o* 7land*ord *or t"e .u/es o* 0arlboroug". In t"e Russian system) @grand du/e@ is t"e &nglis" term *or t"e son o* a tsar) a translation *or @veli/iy /nya<@ ?8"ic" mig"t be better translated as @great Ror grandS prince@B. ,or a grand duc"ess) t"e Russian term is @veli/iy /nya<"na@ i* unmarried) @veli/iy /nyagina@ i* married. T"is is a title t"at 8as used by t"e 'rand .u/es o* 0uscovy. In 'erman) t"is is termed 'roO*-rst or 'roO*-rstin ?vs. @'roO"er<og@ Q 'rand .u/eB. T"is is considered e5uivalent to arc"du/e or arc"duc"ess) but needs to be distinguis"ed *rom so-ereign grand du/es ?as 8it" 3u=embourgB. 'enerically) t"e son o* a Russian tsar 8as termed a @tsarevic"@) a daug"ter @tsarovna@. @Tsesarevic"@ or @cesarevic"@ "as been stated to be a title reserved *or t"e eldest son o* t"e tsar. T"e son o* a Spanis" /ing or 5ueen2regnant is termed an in*ante) a daug"ter an in*anta) in distinction to @principe@ or @princesa@. T"e /ing or 5ueen2regnantKs "eir) "o8ever) is al8ays styled #rince or #rincess o* 9sturias ? Princi$e de )sturiasB. 9 #rincess o* 9sturias can be @demoted@ to mere in*anta by t"e advent o* a baby brot"er> t"e 8i*e o* t"e #rince o* 9sturias) "o8ever) is styled t"e #rincess o* 9sturias.

). *rince and +,rst( %rand -u.e( /argrave( 0ount1*alatine( and 2andgrave.

+.1. #rince and ,-rst.

3atin &nglis" ,renc" 'erman Italian Spanis" #ortuguese Russian #rinceps #rince) #rincess #rince) #rincesse #rin<) #rin<essin> ,-rst) ,-rstin #rincipe) #rincipessa #rincipe) #rincesa #rincipe) #rince<a Knya<) Knya<"na

@#rince@ "as a long "istory. J"en t"e &mperor 9ugustus accepted t"e title *rom t"e Roman Senate) it meant @*irst among e5uals@) as in @primus inter pares@. It remained one o* t"e titles o* t"e Roman &mperor. T"e &nglis" 8ord @principal@ retains some o* t"is meaning. In 'erman) t"e idea "as been translated into t"e title @,-rst@. In t"e most general terms) 8"en not re*erring to t"e c"ildren o* a /ing) @prince@ re*ers to a sovereign or semi2sovereign individual 8"o "as direct personal rule over a relatively small territory) as 8it" 0onaco and 3iec"tenstein today. 7ecause t"e 'ermans 8ere muc" more used to minor princes t"an 8ere ot"er &uropean states outside t"e &mpire) and because 'erman "as t"e additional title o* @,-rst@) @#rin<@ in 'erman does not "ave t"e very royal cac"et it does in &nglis") and sometimes may be classed as a lesser title t"an @%er<og@) or @'roO"er<og@ depending on a particular titleKs "istory. @,-rst@ is a uni5uely 'erman title t"at is best translated to @prince@ and s"ould be regarded as superior to @prince@. It designates t"e "ead ?t"e @*irst@B o* a princely "ouse) or t"e "ead o* a branc" ?or @cadet@B o* suc" a "ouse. ,or e=ample) t"e 'erman *orm o* #rince RainierKs title is @,-rst von 0onaco@ ?#rincess 'race 8as @,-rstin@B. &lectors o* t"e %oly Roman &mpire 8ere termed @Kur*-rst) Kur*-rstin@. @'roO*-rst@ is t"e 8ord used in 'erman *or a Russian grand du/e ?son o* a tsarB. ,rom t"ese e=amples) 8e can see t"at in t"e 'erman system ?and else8"ere in continental systemsB) a prince is sometimes somet"ing more t"an a mere noble) but not necessarily royal and it is t"is distinction t"at ma/es comparing it 8it" t"e 7ritis" system di**icult.

In t"e Russian system) @/nya<@ ?translated as @prince@) e.g.) #rince #otem/inB is t"e "ig"est degree o* nobility) and sometimes) represents a mediati<ation o* an older native dynasty ?e.g.) t"e 7agratiansB 8"ic" became subGect to t"e Russian imperial dynasty> it 8as @also used by Ruri/id branc"es) and be*ore t"e Romanovs t"ey J&R& t"e Russian imperial dynasty.@ ?223ouis &psteinB @#rince@ is also t"e term used to translate t"e "ig"est level o* t"e old 'aelic nobility ?see under @count@B. Napoleon created princes during t"e ,irst &mpire) and I am told) at least one survives to t"e present day. ,ranCois 6elde comments on t"e usage o* @prince@ during t"e ancien regimeD 6rance, in theory, had no so-ereign $rinces within its oundaries like ,ermany had, so the rank of $rince was reser-ed for the royal family (as in %ngland) and there was no title of $rince. 0owe-er, when one looks at !"th or !!th c. charters, one sees the word princeps used synonymously with baronis, optimus, etc to designate no les and lords. The usage disa$$eared in most $laces, with a few e7ce$tions, where the lord of some little -illage was, y custom, called "$rince of". (n the !8th c. and !9th c. some of these lordshi$s $assed into ducal families, who then took the ha it of estowing that "$rincely" title on the eldest son of the current duke. +.2. 'rand .u/e.
&nglis" 'erman ,renc" Italian 'rand .u/e) 'rand .uc"ess 'roO"er<og) 'roO"er<ogin 'rand .uc) 'rande .uc"esse 'ran2duca) 'ran2duc"esa

9s "as been e=plained in earlier sections) t"is is a ruling ?or *ormerly rulingB title unless it re*ers to t"e c"ildren o* a Russian tsar. 9 sovereign grand du/e or grand duc"ess 8as o*ten a royal "ig"ness ?as 8it" 3u=embourgB. In 'erman usage) you 8ill also encounter t"e style o* @'rand2.ucal %ig"ness@. It is di**icult to decide i* a 'rand .u/e outran/s a #rince or ,-rst. !ne "as to /no8 t"e "istory o* t"e title. ,or a discussion o* t"e distinction bet8een a du/edom and a duc"y) see under @du/e@ belo8.

+.3. 0argrave. @0argrave@ and @margravine@ are t"e &nglis" 8ords *or @0ar/gra*@ and @0ar/grT*in@. 9s a title) it is etymologically e5uivalent to a 0ar5uess ?see belo8B) but as t"ere 8ere ruling margraves in 8"at is no8 'ermany) suc" a 0ar/gra* 8as superior. +.4. 1ount2#alatine. @#alatine@ re*ers to e=traordinary po8ers granted to a noble. T"e &nglis" 8ord @palatine@ means a region under t"e aut"ority o* a noble 8"ere t"e /ingKs 8rit 8as suspended. J"ile t"e noble o8ed allegience to t"e /ing ?or %oly Roman &mperorB) t"e "older o* a palatine "ad absolute aut"ority) including t"e rig"t to grant titles o* nobility) create /nig"ts) raise armies) coin money 22 i.e.) po8ers normally reserved to a sovereign. T"ere 8ere palatinates in 7ritis" "istory) in bot" &ngland and in Ireland) and could be given to eit"er lords temporal or spiritual. T"ere 8as a case o* a @bis"op2 palatine@> 3ouis &pstein reports @t"e &nglis" 3ords 7is"op o* .ur"am used to rule a Kcounty palatineK@. @T"e #alatinate@) "o8ever) re*ers to t"e R"ineland #alatinate in 'ermany) or in 'erman) @R"einland2#*al<@ ?as 8it" t"e state in t"e modern ,ederal Republic o* 'ermanyB. T"ere 8as also t"e @Lpper #alatinate@) or @!berp*al<@. T"e 1ounts2#alatine o* t"e R"ineland #alatinate ?in 'erman) @#*al<gra*) #*al<grT*in@B) 8ere one o* t"e premier noble "ouses o* t"e %oly Roman &mpire) and 8ere electors) i.e.) t"e &lector2#alatine. +.5. 3andgrave. 9s 8it" @margravine@) @landgrave@ and @landgravine@ are anot"er pair o* 'erman titles t"at "ave ac"ieved t"eir o8n regular 8ord in &nglis". It corresponds roug"ly to a count or earl) but in t"e case o* %esse2%omburg) it 8as a ruling title. T"e 'erman 8ords are 3andgra* and 3andgrT*in. See @&arl) 1ount) and 'ra*@) belo8.

3. Nobility.
4.1. .u/es.
3atin &nglis" 'erman .u= .u/e) .uc"ess %er<og) %er<ogin

,renc" Italian Spanis" #ortuguese

.uc) .uc"esse .uca) .uc"esa .u5ue) .u5uesa .u5ue) .u5ue<a

'elated Terms: duc"y) du/edom) ducal. T"e 3atin du7 8as a military title t"at mig"t roug"ly translate to @*ield mars"al@. T"e "istorical /ernel o* in t"e stories o* King 9rt"ur probably re*ers to a du7 ellorum in c"arge o* t"e *orces "olding o** t"e barbarian onslaug"t in early post2Roman 7ritain. T"e &nglis" /ings introduced t"e ,renc" ducal structure into t"e 7ritis" system) and it 8as initially a mostly royal title ?as all ne8 creations during t"is century "ave beenB. In ,rance especially a*ter 1$FF) "o8ever) as 8ell as in 7ritain) it "as evolved into a mostly non2royal title. T"e idea t"at a du/e is a royal title) "o8ever) is strong in 'ermany) per"aps stronger t"an it ever 8as in 7ritain) 8"ere all t"e c"ildren o* t"e "ead o* some ruling "ouses are automatically a %er<og or %er<ogin) muc" as imperial o**spring 8ere arc"du/es or arc"duc"esses. 9 duc"y ?or grand duc"yB is t"e territory ruled by a du/e ?or grand du/eB or t"e lands ?andEor incomesB speci*ically attac"ed to t"e ducal title. 9 du/edom is t"e title itsel*. In t"e LK) t"ere are properly only t8o duc"ies) t"ose o* 3ancaster and 1orn8all> t"ese are essentially corporations "olding properties t"at provide income *or t"e ueen ?8"o is @.u/e@ o* 3ancasterB) and t"e #rince o* Jales ?8"o is also t"e .u/e o* 1orn8allB> as only t"ese t8o du/edoms carry suc" special @attac"ments@ 8it" t"e title) duc"ies are t"us a royal preserve. @.u/e@ is normally a very e=alted title> "o8ever) 8"en e5uating t"e dignity o* some du/es) some insig"t is needed. ,or e=ample) ,erdinand o* t"e T8o Sicilies created du/es in Naples almost by t"e gross) and t"ese titles cannot be considered e5ual to du/es in t"e 7ritis" or ot"er continental systems. 4.2. 0ar5uess.
&nglis" 'erman ,renc" Italian 0ar5uess) 0arc"ioness 0ar/gra*) 0ar/grT*in ?in &nglis") 0argrave) 0argravineB 0ar5uis) 0ar5uise 0arc"ese) 0arc"esa

Spanis" #ortuguese

0ar5uUs) 0ar5uesa 0ar5ue<) 0ar5ue<a

'elated Terms: mar5uessate) margravate. T"is title glosses to @marc" lord@) i.e. a noble in c"arge o* t"e marc"es ?t"e border regionsB o* a realm in distinction to ot"er lords in more2settled lands. T"ese 8ere essentially 8arlords 8it" broad po8ers and in t"is conte=t) may be t"oug"t o* as a @palatine@ title. In earlier times) it 8as a rare title> it 8as later revived as a grade bet8een count and du/e. He** 3eader 8rites t"at "%o8 t"e King 7ecame %is 0aGesty, y ;.,. Pine, R...S says margra-e (;atin: marc"io or margravius, *utch: marc/grave) occurs first in the dis$ositions of .harlemagne." 9s a senior title ?about t8o2t"irds o* 7ritis" du/es are also mar5uessesB) it is not t"at common t"e Lnited Kingdom) at least 8"en compared to ot"er countries ?especially ,rance 8"ere @petit mar5uis@ 8as a term o* derisionB. In 'ermany) margraves 8ere ruling) "eading t"ere o8n little states and today are still accounted as *ormerly ruling "ouses ?see t"e separate "eadingB. 4.3. &arl) 1ount) and 'ra*.
3atin &nglis" 'erman ,renc" Italian Spanis" #ortuguese S8edis" .anis" .utc" Iris" %ungarian 1omes) 1omitissa &arl) 1ountess 'ra*) 'rT*in> 3andgra*) 3andgrT*in ?In &nglis") 3andgrave) 3andgravineB> #*al<gra*) #*al<grT*in ?In &nglis") 1ount2#alatine) 1ountess2#alatineB 1omte) 1omtesse 1onte) 1ontessa 1onde) 1ondesa 1onde) 1onde<a 'reve) 'revinde 'reve 'revinde 'raa*) 'raa*in 9rd Tiarna) 7antiarna 'roe*) 'roe*in

'elated Terms: earldom) comital) countly. @&arl@ is related to !ld Norse @Garl@) and is e5uivalent to @count@) 8"ic" itsel* comes *rom t"e 3atin comes. T"is in turn is related to t"e &nglis" 8ord @county@) 8"ic" pretty muc" e=plains 8"at a count 8asD t"e principal *igure o* t"e county. In Roman times) t"e comes 8as a courtier) an Imperial o**icial) and actually outran/ed a du7 ?du/eB. Jilliam I o* &ngland regarded t"e 9nglo2Sa=on @earl@ as a synonym *or @count@) and 8"ile t"is 8as not correct) it 8as a practical e5uivalency. !ld &nglis" lac/ed a *eminine and t"us t"e ,renc" term 8as adopted *or an earlKs 8i*e as 8ell as *or 8omen 8"o "old earldoms in t"eir o8n rig"t. T"e 'erman 8ord @gra*@ seems etymologically related to t"e &nglis" @reeve@) 8"ic" comes *rom t"e !ld &nglis" @gere*e@. 9 reeve is an important appointed o**icial) as 8it" t"e @s"ire reeve@) i.e.) t"e @s"eri**@. J"at &nglis" divides among several 8ords) 'erman uses a single 8ord 8it" pre*i=es) and generally it "as a broader meaning t"an &nglis" @earl@ or @count@. @'ra*@) t"en) s"ould not be understood as being per*ectly e5ual to @earl@ or @count@) but as also containing t"e idea o* @reeve@) or @important o**icial@. In 'erman lands) o**ices normally t"oug"t o* as being appointive and "eld by commoners in 'reat 7ritain could be "ereditary and noble. T"e %ouse o* T"urn and Ta=is) *or e=ample) started out li*e as t"e Imperial postmasters) a Gob one 8ould not t"in/ o* in 7ritain as ennobling. Some 8ill maintain t"at a 7ritis" earl outran/s any continental count. 1ompared to some ot"er systems) especially t"ose t"at incorporated t"e results o* t"e o*ten slapdas" practices o* older systems ?e.g.) ItalyB) t"ere are proportionally *e8er 7ritis" earls t"an counts. In ,rance and Italy) t"e title "older is @,irstname) t"e 1ount o* EtitleE@) 8"ile "is *amily members are) roug"ly) @,irstname) o* t"e 1ount o* EtitleE@. T"is ma/es countly ?and ot"er titlesB seem *ar more common t"an in t"e LK. Jit" @count@) @title in*lation@ is particularly notable. ,ranCois 6elde) spea/ing o* title in*lation) saysD Since the late !<th century (e-en efore the 'e-olution) $etty no les started using titles which were ne-er theirs. No one othered to re uke them $u licly, and these ecame known as "titres de courtoisie". These totally in-ented titles multi$lied in the !=th c.

3andgra*Elandgrave ?along 8it" #*al<gra*E1ount2#alatineB is inserted "ere 8it" un2 pre*i=ed gra* mostly because t"e distinction is di**icult to ma/e outside o* 'erman. T"e title is e5uivalent neit"er to mar5uess nor viscount. 9 3andgra* 8as lo8er t"an %er<og or 0ar/gra*) but de*initely above a 'ra* in t"e pec/ing order. J"en a sovereign title) ?as it 8as in one instanceB) it 8ould outran/ even a ?non2rulingB du/e or prince. Regarding t"e status o* t"e Iris" titles provided "ere ?and under @7aron@B) #atric/ !KS"ea 8ritesD ")rd Tiarna" ("0igh ;ord") and "Tiarna" (";ord"), res$ecti-ely in literal translation/ the titles $ro$erly elonged only to the male holders, and the female titles were courtesy titles only (">antiarna" literally means "wife of a ;ord"). ?omen could not, and still cannot, hold ,aelic feudal titles in their own right. There are no e4ui-alent titles for other grades of no ility, as the ,aelic feudal system had fewer le-els of heirarchy than the continental or )nglo-Norman systems. (n fact, many (rish ;ords of great rank, which could a$$ro$riately e styled ")rd Tiarna," $refer the sim$ler style of "Tiarna." These titles are distinct from those created y the %nglish .rown in (reland (though some ha-e the same geogra$hical names), which naturally follow the %nglish system. The +ingdom of *esmond lost its inde$endence in !@=8, ut the titles ha-e een retained as Aincor$oreal $ro$ertyA as is the case with the many recogni2ed titles granted y other non-regnant 'oyal 0ouses. ,or *urt"er discussions o* Iris" nobility and /ings"ip) seeD "ttpDEE888./8telecom.comE"eraldryEmanor."tmlMT4 and especially) #atric/ !KS"eaKs site ?and itKs collection o* lin/sB atD "ttpDEE888.*inearts.s*asu.eduEuasalEnoble."tml 4.4. 6iscount.
&nglis" ,renc" Italian Spanis" #ortuguese 6iscount) 6iscountess 6icomte) 6icomtesse 6isconte) 6iscontessa 6i<conde) 6i<condesa 6i<conde) 6i<conde<a

'elated Terms4 viscountcy or viscounty. T"is title is mostly con*ined to t"e Lnited Kingdom and ,rance) t"oug" it appears rarely in Italy and else8"ere. T"is is t"e le*tover title) 8"at t"e /ing besto8ed on someone 8"o 8as not important enoug" to merit being made a count. ItKs a rat"er late innovation. It originated in ,rance) as t"e countKs deputy) i.e) t"e @vice2count@. 4.5. 7aron.
&nglis" 'erman ,renc" Italian Spanis" #ortugese Iris" 7aron) 7aroness 7aron) 7aronin> ,rei"err) ,rei*rau 7aron) 7aronne 7arone) 7aronessa 7aron) 7aronesa 7aron) 7arone<a Tiarna) 7antiarna

'elated Terms: barony) baronial) baronage. 7arons 8ere originally ?in 7ritainB t"ose 8"o "eld t"eir lands directly *rom t"e /ing. Not all 7ritis" nobles "ave baronies and many viscounts) *or e=ample) do not. ?223ouis &psteinB T"e maGority o* t"e nobility in 7ritain are Gust plain barons. In t"e LK) li*e peers are al8ays barons or baronesses ?as 8it" 7aroness T"atc"erB. !nce) a baron 8as an important noble) especially be*ore t"e Renaissance. It 8as t"e barons 8"o broug"t King Ho"n to "eel at Runnymede) and @robber2baron@ "as entered &nglis" as t"e term *or one o* t"e lords 8"o collected @tolls@ *rom R"ine river2tra**ic. In olden times) 8"en t"ere 8as little di**erentiation in degree or ran/ bet8een neig"boring nobles) @baron@ could signi*y any noble) large or small) a meaning 8it" some currency today on t"e continent) roug"ly e5uivalent in meaning to @peer@ or @lord@ in t"e LK. T"e terms @7aron) 7aronin@) can be *ound in use in 'erman lands) but apparently not t"at commonly. ,rei"err and ,rei*rau are pre*erred) and t"ere seems to be a perception t"at @7aron@ is bit under a @,rei"err@. @,rei"errin@ seems to be an obsolete *orm *or a baronKs 8i*e. ..9. Jillis commentsD 6reifrau is a wife of 6reiherr, 6reiin is his daughter. ( used to think that 6reiin was an a re-iation of 6reiherrin, ut ( was 4uickly corrected y se-eral

6reiherren and 6reiinen ($lural of 6reiin). This is the only case in ,erman that ( am aware of where the wife and daughter ha-e different words for their titles. T"e status o* barons varies. It can be a very "ig" title or somet"ing o* little conse5uence. It is de*initely a noble title) "o8ever) and needs to be clearly distinguis"ed *rom @baronet@. 4.$. 7aronet. 'elated Terms: baronetcy) baronetage. T"is may be t"oug"t o* as a "ereditary /nig"t"ood. ,or convenience) it may also be t"oug"t o* as a noble title) t"oug" t"ere are t"ose 8"o 8ould disagree) at least as used in t"e 7ritis" system. 9 baronet is certainly not a peer> in t"e Lnited Kingdom) baronets are not entitled to a seat in t"e %ouse o* 3ords ?unless) o* course) t"ey additionally "old a peerageB. 'uy Stair Sainty 8ritesD @In 'ermany t"e ran/ o* /nig"t 8as "ereditary) but it 8as al8ays vie8ed di**erently *rom /nig"t"ood earned.@ T"e 'erman @Ritter@) 8"en part o* a last name) indicates t"e 'erman e5uivalent o* a baronetcy. 9 8oman "olding a baronetcy in "er o8n rig"t is termed a baronetess. J"en one pic/s t"roug" lesser 'erman titles) suc" t"ings as @Jaldgra*@) R"eingra*@) @7urggra*@ and t"e suc" pop up. !n t"e 8"ole) t"ese seem obsolete) yet) t"ere are a *e8 *amilies 8"o cling to t"em> t"ey are also encountered on title2lists o* ot"er8ise *ar more e=alted personages. T"e 'erman system 8as more *le=ible 8"en it came to titles> as "as been demonstrated) it 8as also broader in its de*inition o* nobility. Since 8e "ave been using t"e 7ritis" system to classi*y titles) t"ese are placed "ere at t"e end) some8"ere bet8een2and2a*ter t"e 7ritis" sense o* 7aronet2as2a2/nig"t and 7aronet2as2petty2noble. odegardB$tel.net %eraldica 0ain #age