The [Emoluments Clause](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/emoluments_clause) of the Constitution bars people holding office from *accepting* a title from a foreign state. But what about a pre-existing title? If, say, the President appointed a Duke to head the Department of Education, or if an otherwise-qualifying Count was elected as a senator, would they be forced to abdicate before they could take office? Or no?


It at least seems to me that since the never-ratified Titles of Nobility amendment *did* specify "accept, claim, receive, or retain" (even if that was drafted 20 years later), that the Emoluments Clause was intended purely to prevent accepting a title once in office, but searching around I can't find if this ever came up in practice, or any commentary on this hypothetical situation.



Could a person with a noble title take a federal office without abdicating that title?