British Titles and Orders of Precedence | Edwardian Promenade Subscribe to the newsletter and get Edwardian-themed news delivered straight to your inbox! British Titles and Orders of Precedence The British title and its order of precedence is the most baffling, yet simple concept on the planet. Children of nobility and those who wished to become a part of it had the following concepts drilled into their heads from birth. Since neither of us are lords or ladies, we generally have to muddle along in hope of getting it right. Below you’ll find the order of precedence directly from a book of heraldry published in 1910. Things have obviously changed since then, but this was the rule of thumb for harried hostesses throughout the 19th century. TITLES Duke: The highest rank and title in the British peerage, first introduced by Edward III in 1337 when he created the Black Prince the first English duke. A Duke is “Most Noble”; he is styled “My Lord Duke” and “Your Grace” and all his younger sons are “Lords” and all his daughters “Ladies” with the prefix “Right Honorable”.

The coronet of a duke is a circlet, heightened with eight conventional strawberry leaves, and encloses a velvet cap. Marquess/Marquis: The second order of the British peerage, in rank next to that of the Duke. Introduced in 1387 by Richard II. A Marquess is “Most Honorable”; he is styled “My Lord Marquess” all his younger sons are “Lords” and his daughters “Ladies”; his eldest sons bears his father’s “second title”. The coronet is a golden circlet heightened by four strawberry leaves and as many pearls, arranged alternately. Earl: In Latin, “Comes” in French “Comte” or “Count.” Before 1337, the highest, and now the third degree of rank and dignity in the British peerage.

An earl is “Right Honorable”; he is styled “My Lord”, the eldest son bears his father’s “second title,” generally that of Viscount; his other sons are “Honorable” but all his daughters are “Ladies.” The circlet of an Earl’s coronet has eight lofty rays of gold rising from the circlet, each of which supports a large pearl, while between each pair of these rays is a golden strawberry leaf. Viscount: The fourth degree of rank and dignity in the British peerage. Introduced by Henry VI in 1440. A Viscount is a “Right Honorable” and is styled “My Lord.” All his sons and daughters are “Honorable.” The coronet has a row of sixteen small pearls set on the circlet. Baron: The lowest rank in the British peerage. A Baron is “Right Honorable” and is styled “My Lord”. The coronet is a golden circlet topped by six large pearls. An Irish baron has no coronet.

All children of a Baron are “Honorable.” Baronet: A hereditary rank, lower than the peerage, instituted in 1612 by James I, who fixed the precedence of baronets before all Knights, those of the Order of the Garter alone excepted. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE The Younger sons of the Sovereign The Grandsons of the Sovereign The Brothers of the Sovereign The Uncles The Lord President of the Council The Lord Privy Seal The following Great Officers of the State precede all Peers of their own Degree–that is, if Dukes, they precede all other Dukes; if Earls, all other Earls, etcetera. The Lord Great Chamberlain The Lord Steward of the Royal Household The Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household The Master of the Horse The Peers of each Degree take Precedence in their own Degree, according to their Patents of Creation. Dukes (a) of England, (b) of Scotland, (c) of Great Britain, (d) of Ireland, (e) of the United Kingdom and, if created since the Union of Ireland.

Marquesses (vide Dukes) Bishops of (a) London, (b) Durham, and (c) Winchester Bishops, according to Seniority of Consecration Barons (vide Dukes) The Speaker of the House of Commons Commissioners of Great Seal The (a) Treasurer and the (b) Comptroller of the Royal Household Vice-Chamberlain of the Household The Secretaries of States, when not Peers Eldest sons of viscounts Knights of the Garter, Thistle and St. Patrick, not being Peers Privy Councillors The Chancellor of the Exchequer The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster The Lord Chief Justice The Master of the Rolls Lord Justices of Appeal and the President of Probate Court Judges of High Court Sons of Lords of Appeal in Ordinary (Life Peers) Baronets Knights of the Grand Cross of the Bath Knights Grand Commanders of the Star of India Knights Grand Cross of St. Michael and St.

George Knights Grand Commanders of Indian Empire Knights Grand Cross of Victorian Order Knights Commanders of the various Orders (in the same order of progression) Knights Bachelors Companions of the various Orders Members of Fourth Class of Victorian Order Companions of Distinguished Service Order Eldest sons of the Younger sons of Peers Eldest sons of Baronets Members of Fifth Class of Victorian Order Baronets’ Younger sons Knights Younger sons Esquires: Including the Eldest sons of the sons of Viscounts and Barons, the eldest sons of all the younger sons of Peers and their eldest sons in perpetual Succession, the younger sons of Baronets, the sons of knights, the eldest son of the eldest son of a Knight in perpetual succession, persons holding the King’s Commission, or who may be styled “Esquire” by the King in any Official Document Gentlemen The precedence of WOMEN is determined, before marriage, by the Rank and Dignity, but not by the Office, of their father. All the unmarried sisters in any family have the same degree, which is the degree that their eldest Brother holds (or would hold) amongst men.

Thus: Of the sons of an earl, the eldest alone has an honorary title of nobility and is styled “My Lord,” while all the Daughters of an Earl have a similar honorary Title and are styled “My Lady.” ORDER OF PRECEDENCE Other Daughters of the Sovereign, according to birth Wives of Sovereign’s Sons, according to seniority of their Husbands Granddaughters of the Sovereign Wives of Sovereign’s Grandsons, according to seniority of their Husbands Wives of the Sovereign’s Brothers Nieces of the Sovereign Wives of the Sovereign’s Nephews Wives of the Sovereign’s Uncles Other Princesses of the Blood Royal Duchesses Wives of eldest sons of Dukes Daughters of Dukes Wives of eldest sons of Marquises Daughters of Marquises Wives of younger sons of Dukes Viscountesses Wives of eldest sons of Earls Daughters of Earls Wives of younger sons of Marquises Baronesses Wives of oldest sons of Viscounts Daughters of Viscounts Wives of younger sons of Earls Wives of eldest sons of Barons Daughters of Ваrons Maids of Honour to the Queen Wives of younger

 sons of Viscounts Wives of younger sons of Barons Wives of Baronets Wives of Knights of the Garter Wives of Knights of the Thistle and St.

Patrick Wives of Knights Grand Crosses of the Bath, Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India, Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George, Grand Commanders of the Indian Empire, Commanders of the Bath, Commanders of the Star of India, Commanders of St. Michael and St. George, and Knights Commanders of the Indian Empire Ladies of the Crown of India Wives of Knights Bachelors Wives of Companions of the Bath Wives of Companions of the Star of India Wives of Companions of St. Michael and St. George Wives of Companions of the Indian Empire Wives of eldest sons of younger sons of Рееrs Daughters of younger sons of Peers Wives of eldest sons of Baronets Daughters of Baronets Wives of eldest sous of Knights of the Garter Daughters of Knights of the Garter Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Bath Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Bath Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of St. Michael and St.

George Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commanders of the Bath Daughters of Knights Commanders of the Bath Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commanders of St. Michael and St. George Wives of eldest sons of Knights Bachelor Daughters of Knights Bachelors Wives of younger sons of the younger son of Peers Wives of younger sons of Baronets Wives of Esquires of the Sovereign’s Body Wives of Gentlemen of Privy Chamber Wives of Esquires of Knight of the Bath Wives of Esquires by creation Wives of Esquires by office Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Bath Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Bath Wives of younger sons of Knights Commanders of St. Michael and St. George Wives of younger wins of Knights Bachelor Wives of Serjeants-at-Law and Queen’s Counsel Wives of Gentlemen entitled to bear arms By marriage, women share the dignities and precedence of their husbands, but the strictly official dignity of a husband is not imparted to a wife (except in India) in the case of the Archbishops and Bishops or holders of other offices.

The dignities which ladies have by birth or by right of inheritance, are not imparted by marriage to their husbands, nor does marriage with an inferior in dignity in any way affect the precedence that a lady may enjoy by birth, inheritance or creation–both her own precedence and that of her husband may remain as before their marriage, unless the husband be a peer. To whatever precedence she may be entitled by birth, the wife of a peer always takes her rank, and therefore takes her actual precedence from her husband. The widow of a peer, so long as she remains a widow, retains the rank she enjoyed whilst married, but should she contract a second marriage, her precedence then is determined either by the rank of her second husband, or by the rank that was her own by birth and which she enjoyed before her first marriage. The wife of the eldest son of any degree precedes all her husband’s sisters and also all other ladies having the same degree of rank with them. A peeress by marriage who is also a peerage in her own right signs first her husband’s title, adding her own afterwards: The Countess of Yarborough is Marcia Yarborough, Cauconberg and Conyers.

The daughter of a peer if married to another peer takes the precedence of her husband and relinquishes her own, but she retains it if she marries a commoner, and one of the anomalies of the English scale of precedence is to be found in the following circumstances: if the two elder daughters of a duke were to marry an Earl and a Baron respectively, whilst the youngest daughter were to run away with the footman, she would, nevertheless, rank as the daughter of a Duke above her sisters ranking as wives of an Earl and a Baron. Search EP Search for: Subscribe to Blog via Email Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Join 606 other subscribers ARISTOCRACY IN ENGLAND, Nobility, Peers, Peeresses, and other People Nobility Terms: duchy, dukedom, ducal. The Latin dux was a military title that might roughly translate to "field marshal". The historical kernel of in the stories of King Arthur probably refers to a dux bellorum in charge of the forces holding off the barbarian onslaught in early post-Roman Britain.

The English kings introduced the French ducal structure into the British system, and it was initially a mostly royal title (as all new creations during the 20th century). In France especially after 1600, however, as well as in Britain, it has evolved into a mostly non-royal title. A duchy (or grand duchy) is the territory ruled by a duke (or grand duke) or the lands (and/or incomes) specifically attached to the ducal title. A dukedom is the title itself. In the UK, there are properly only two duchies, those of Lancaster and Cornwall; these are essentially corporations holding properties that provide income for the Queen (who is "Duke" of Lancaster), and the Prince of Wales (who is also the Duke of Cornwall); as only these two dukedoms carry such special "attachments" with the title, duchies are thus a royal preserve. "Duke" is normally a very exalted title; however, when equating the dignity of some dukes, some insight is needed.

For example, Ferdinand of the Two Sicilies created dukes in Naples almost by the gross, and these titles cannot be considered equal to dukes in the British or other continental systems. Terms: marquessate, margravate. This title glosses to "march lord", i.e. a noble in charge of the marches (the border regions) of a realm in distinction to other lords in more-settled lands. These were essentially warlords with broad powers and in this context, may be thought of as a "palatine" title. In earlier times, it was a rare title; it was later revived as a grade between count and duke. As a senior title (about two-thirds of British dukes are also marquesses), it is not that common the United Kingdom, at least when compared to other countries (especially France where "petit marquis" was a term of derision). Terms: earldom, comital, countly. "Earl" is related to Old Norse "jarl", and is equivalent to "count", which itself comes from the Latin comes. This in turn is related to the English word "county", which pretty much explains what a count was: the principal figure of the county.

William I of England regarded the Anglo-Saxon "earl" as a synonym for "count", and while this was not correct, it was a practical equivalency. Old English lacked a feminine and thus the French term was adopted for an earl's wife as well as for women who hold earldoms in their own right. Some will maintain that a British earl outranks any continental count. Compared to some other systems, especially those that incorporated the results of the often slapdash practices of older systems (e.g., Italy), there are proportionally fewer British earls than counts. Terms: viscountcy or viscounty. This title is mostly confined to the United Kingdom and France, though it appears rarely in Italy and elsewhere. This is the leftover title, what the king bestowed on someone who was not important enough to merit being made a count. It's a rather late innovation. It originated in France, as the count's deputy, i.e, the "vice-count". Terms: barony, baronial, baronage. Barons were originally (in Britain) those who held their lands directly from the king. Not all British nobles have baronies and many viscounts, for example, do not.

(--Louis Epstein) The majority of the nobility in Britain are just plain barons. In the UK, life peers are always barons or baronesses. Once, a baron was an important noble, especially before the Renaissance. It was the barons who brought King John to heel at Runnymede, and "robber-baron" has entered English as the term for one of the lords who collected "tolls" from Rhine river-traffic. In olden times, when there was little differentiation in degree or rank between neighboring nobles, "baron" could signify any noble, large or small, a meaning with some currency today on the continent, roughly equivalent in meaning to "peer" or "lord" in the UK. The status of barons varies. It can be a very high title or something of little consequence. It is definitely a noble title, however, and needs to be clearly distinguished from "baronet". Terms: baronetcy, baronetage. This may be thought of as a hereditary knighthood. For convenience, it may also be thought of as a noble title, though there are those who would disagree, at least as used in the British system.

A baronet is certainly not a peer; in the United Kingdom, baronets are not entitled to a seat in the House of Lords (unless, of course, they additionally hold a peerage). Since we have been using the British system to classify titles, these are placed here at the end, somewhere between-and-after the British sense of Baronet-as-a-knight and Baronet-as-petty-noble. Royal and noble ranks - NOBILE Nobile (Untitled Nobleman). Nobile or Uomo is an Italian title of nobility in general equivalence to a baron . Like the other titles of nobility, such as baron or count, nobile is also used immediately before the family name, usually in the abbreviated form: Nob. or NU. The crest coronet of a nobile is a jeweled circlet of gold surmounted by five pearls, supported by stems or set directly upon the rim. BARON/BARONESS Barone, Baronessa. (Baron, Baroness). Baron is a title of nobility .

The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin (liber) baro meaning "(free) man, (free) warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn Barons rank below viscounts , and form the lowest rank in the peerage. Normally one refers to or addresses Baron [X] as Lord [X] and his wife as Lady [X]. In the case of women who hold baronies in their own right, they can be referred to as Baroness [X] as well as Lady [X]. meaning "nobleman." The standard heraldic coronet of a baron is a jeweled circlet of gold surmounted by seven pearls COUNT/COUNTESS Conte, Contessa. (Count, Countess). A count is a nobleman in European countries; his wife is a countess. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes —in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The British equivalent is an earl (whose wife is also a "countess", for lack of an Anglo-Saxon term).

Alternative names for the "Count" rank in the nobility structure are used in other countries, such as Hakushaku Japanese Imperial era . during the imperial era. The heraldic coronet of a count is a jewelled circlet of gold surmounted by nine visible pearls, supported by stems or set directly upon the rim. MARQUESS/MARCHIONESS Marchese, Marchesa. (Marquess, Marchioness). A marquess or marquis (from French "marquis") is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European monarchies and some of their colonies. In the British peerage it ranks below a duke and above an earl . A woman with the rank of marquess, or the wife of a marquess, is a marchioness (in British usage), or a marquise (in Europe). In Italy the equivalent modern rank (as opposed to margravio) is that of marchese, the wife of whom is a marchesa.

Although the vast majority of marquessates are named after places, and hence their holders are known as the "Marquess of X", a very few of them are named after surnames (even if not the bearer's own), and hence their holders are known as the "Marquess X". In either case, he is still informally known as "Lord X", regardless whether there is an of in his title, and it is always safe to style him so. The heraldic coronet of a marquess is a jeweled circlet of gold surmounted by three visible strawberry leaves, the central leaf flanked by two rows of three pearls each, supported by stems or set directly upon the rim. DUKE/DUCHESS Duca, Duchessa. (Duke, Duchess). A Duke is a member of the nobility , historically of highest rank below the monarch , and historically controlling a duchy . The title comes from the Latin Dux Bellorum , which had the sense of "military commander" and was employed by both the Germanic peoples Roman authors covering them to refer to their war leaders. themselves and by the In the Middle Ages the title signified first among the Germanic monarchies .

Dukes were the rulers of the provinces and the superiors of the counts in the cities and later, in the feudal monarchies , the highest-ranking peers of the king. A woman who holds in her own right the title to such duchy or dukedom, or is the wife of a duke, is normally styled Duchess. In Italy, Germany and Austria the title of "duke" ("duca" in Italian, and "Herzog" in German) was quite common. As the Holy Roman Empire courtesy title . was until its dissolution a feudal structure, most of its Dukes were actually reigning in their lands. As the titles from the HRE were taken over after its dissolution, or in Italy after their territories became independent of the Empire, both countries also had a share of fully sovereign dukes. The heraldic coronet of a duke is a jeweled circlet of gold surmounted by five visible strawberry leaves. Usually, the crimson tasseled cap is not rendered within the coronet. PRINCE/PRINCESS Principe, Principessa. (Prince, Princess).

Prince, from French "Prince" (itself from the Latin root princeps ), is a general term for a monarch , for a member of a monarchs' or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in some members of Europe's highest nobility . The feminine equivalent is a princess . Generically, prince refers to members of a family that ruled by hereditary right , the title being used to refer either to sovereigns or to cadets of a sovereign's family. The term may be broadly used of persons in various cultures, continents or eras. In Europe, it is the title legally borne by dynastic cadets in monarchies, and borne by courtesy by members of formerly reigning dynasties. In parts of the Holy Roman Empire in which primogeniture did not prevail (i.e. Germany), all legitimate agnates had an equal right to the family's hereditary titles. While this meant that offices, such as emperor , king , and elector could only be legally occupied by one dynast at a time, holders of such other titles as duke , margrave , landgrave , count palatine , and prince could only differentiate themselves by adding the name of their appanage to the family's original title.

PRINCE AS A REIGNING MONARCH A prince or princess who is the head of state of a territory that has a monarchy as a form of government is a reigning prince . NON-DYNASTIC PRINCES France and the Holy Roman Empire In several countries of the European continent , e.g. in France , prince can be an aristocratic title of someone having a high rank of nobility royal family , which makes comparing it with e.g. the British system of royal princes difficult. in chief of a geographical place, but no actual territory and without any necessary link to the The kings of France started to bestow the style of prince, as a title among the nobility, from the 16th century onwards. These titles were created by elevating a seigneurie to the nominal status of a principality—although prerogatives of sovereignty were never conceded in the letters patent. These titles held no official place in the hierarchy of the nobility, but were often treated as ranking just below dukedoms, since they were often inherited (or assumed) by ducal heirs. The heraldic coronet of a noble prince is a jeweled circlet of gold surmounted by four visible pearls between five visible strawberry leaves.

In most representations, the deep red tasseled cap is not rendered within the coronet. Duke - definition of duke by The Free Dictionary Duke - definition of duke by The Free Dictionary (do͞ok, dyo͞ok) n. 1. A nobleman with the highest hereditary rank, especially a man of the highest grade of the peerage in Great Britain. 2. A sovereign prince who rules an independent duchy in some European countries. 3. Used as the title for such a nobleman. 4. dukes Slang The fists: Put up your dukes! 5. Botany A type of cherry intermediate between a sweet and a sour cherry. intr.v. duked, duk·ing, dukes To fight, especially with fists: duking it out. [Middle English, from Old French duc, from Latin dux, duc-, leader, from dūcere, to lead; see deuk- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots. N., sense 4, short for Duke of Yorks, rhyming slang for forks, fingers.] duke (djuːk) n 1.

a nobleman of high rank: in the British Isles standing above the other grades of the nobility 2. the prince or ruler of a small principality or duchy [C12: from Old French duc, from Latin dux leader] duke (duk, dyuk) n. 1. (in Continental Europe) the male ruler of a duchy; the sovereign of a small state. 2. a British nobleman holding the highest hereditary title outside the royal family, ranking immediately below a prince and above a marquis. 3. a nobleman of corresponding rank in certain other countries. 4. a cultivated hybrid of the sweet and sour cherry. 5. dukes, Slang. fists or hands. Idioms: duke it out, to fight, esp. with the fists; do battle.

[1100–50; Middle English duke, duc, late Old English duc < Old French duc, dus, dux < Medieval Latin dux hereditary ruler of a small state, Latin: leader, commander] ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: The British system of aristocratic honorifics (for Jane Austen's novels) The British system of aristocratic honorifics Return to Jane Austen info page table of contents The following table covers the basic rules for the system of honorifics prefixed to the names or titles of British persons of noble or chivalrous rank, as a background to Jane Austen's writings. (The table only includes common shorter forms, and ignores vocatives and third person references, such as "my Lord" or "your Ladyship", that are not accompanied by a name or title -- as well as archaic alternatives, Scottish peculiarities, etc.) Table of Honorifics Title Self Wife Son Daughter ----- ---- ---- ---- ---- Duke Duke of +title Duchess of +title Lord +first Lady +first Marquis Lord +title Lady +title Lord +first Lady +first Earl Lord +title Lady +title Hon. Lady +first Viscount Lord +title Lady +title Hon.

Hon. Baron Lord +title Lady +title Hon. Hon. Baronet Sir +first Lady +surname Mr. Miss Knight Sir +first Lady +surname Mr. Miss Barons and above are "peers" who sit in the House of Lords. The (usually) hereditary titles are the rank of Baronet and all higher ranks. Notes: Title in the table above means that the name of the noble title itself follows "Lord" or "Lady"; this is not necessarily the same as the surname of the person holding the title (i.e. "John Carteret, Viscount Dalrymple", is known as "Lord Dalrymple", not "Lord Carteret"). For barons, the name of the title is often the same as the surname, while for ranks above Viscount it is usually different. Names of titles which are place-names are preceded by "of" in long forms of titles (e.g. "The Earl of Oxford"), but not when after "Lord" or "Lady". First in the table above means that the surname can also be added, but the first name cannot be omitted -- i.e. Sir Walter Elliot, Baronet, can be referred to as "Sir Walter", but never as "Sir Elliot".

Surname means that the honorific must be followed directly by the surname (e.g. "Lady Lucas" is the wife of "Sir William Lucas", a knight), and that the woman's first name cannot be added in between (unless, of course, the wife of a knight or a baronet also happens to be the daughter of an earl or higher, as Lady Catherine de Bourgh is). These restrictions are partially due to the general British pattern of not following an honorific by a married woman's first name if she is only entitled to the honorific because of her marriage (this also explains the "Mrs. John Dashwood" style used for ordinary married women). Hon. in the table is an abbreviation for "The Honourable". This was usually omitted in all but very formal contexts (so that Mr. Yates is usually referred to as such, without his "Hon.", and Colonel Fitzwilliam in Pride and Prejudice is never given the "Hon." to which he is entitled); it could also be prefixed to "Miss" or "Mr." (e.g. "The Hon. Miss Carteret").

Lord + first name for sons of Marquis and up is a separate usage from Lord + subsidiary noble title -- the latter being used for the eldest sons of peers (from Earl on up) who happen to have secondary "courtesy" titles. Peeresses who have inherited a noble title in their own right are given the same honorific usage as wives of peers, and their children have the same honorifics as children of peers, but their husbands are not given any special honorific usage. (Nowadays woman knights have the honorific "Dame".) The honorifics listed in the table above (accompanied by name or title) are used in third-person reference, and (except for those with "Duke", "Duchess", and "Honourable") can also be used in direct address (as vocatives) -- although other terms may be more common in such vocative uses. Notice that the honorific "Lady" is actually used in three different and distinct ways -- with name of title for wives of Barons and up; with surname for wives of Baronets and Knights; and with first name for daughters of Earls and up.

See also the Diagram of the legal structure of the United Kingdom (for the 19th century, substitute "Ireland" for "Northern Ireland"); this explains why new English and Scottish peerages were not created after 1707, and new peerages of Great Britain were not created after 1801. (Some contemporary acidulous quotes on the British nobility of the 1830's and their social role are available here .) viscount - definition of viscount in English | Oxford Dictionaries Definition of viscount in English: viscount A British nobleman ranking above a baron and below an earl.

Example sentences ‘We deduced from their dusty condition, that this particular croquet set hadn't been used since the old viscount's time, and, as we had just done the lawn that day, it was natural that we would put the set to use.’ ‘The earls and viscounts had claimed their expulsion would amount to a severance from the English past.’ ‘The floor was draped in protective white sheeting, and the viscount's wife stood in the middle of it proudly, paint-brush dripping on her bare feet.’ ‘The territorial power of the English magnates (the barons, viscounts, earls, marquesses, and dukes in ascending order of status) was crucial to the peace of the realm and the success of royal government.’ ‘The viscount's concerns are shared by many in the city of Glasgow, particularly the city council, which took the unprecedented step some four decades ago of taking ownership of the building to ensure its survival.’ ‘The wives of a king, prince, duke, marquess, earl, viscount and baron are queen, princess, duchess, marchioness, countess, viscountess and baroness respectively.’ ‘He was made a viscount in 1

946, and was Governor-General of Canada until 1952, when he became Churchill's Minister of Defence.’ ‘Beatrix and her brother Frank, now the fifth viscount, are ardent Jacobites, and Esmond becomes involved with them in a plot to restore James Edward Stuart, the old pretender, to the throne on the death of Queen Anne.’ ‘Edward, tell Freddie how nice it would be to be a viscount.’ ‘Never again in Britain will someone have the right to make laws which affect the lives of ordinary families solely because their ancestor was a duke, an earl or a viscount.’ ‘Nicknamed ‘Bully’ Bolingbroke, the viscount was a famous figure in the world of breeding and racing, both as an owner and as a reckless gambler.’ ‘On Aspinall's books were five dukes, eight viscounts and 17 earls.’ ‘Attendants of an earl, viscount or baron wore six rows of curls on state wigs and five on house wigs.’ ‘‘In my time, I've known dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts and other members of Britain's House of Lords and none of them had the contempt for

 the masses one routinely hears from America's coastal elites.’’ ‘There will also be an evening of Poetry, Prose and Music for a Summer Evening in the picturesque gardens of Burnt Norton House at the kind invitation of the viscount and viscountess Sandon.’ ‘Thanks to the major and minor arcana of good behaviour set out in the book, I am at no loss as to the correct order of precedence as to whether a marchioness or a viscount should be led into dinner first.’ ‘Substantial alterations were carried out by the fourth viscount, who had the front of the house partly stuccoed and the staircase lined with mirrors in imitation of Versailles.’ ‘Immediately, her eyes sought out the handsome viscount.’ ‘The new viscount, John's cousin, had once been a close friend of Julia's.’ ‘Both field marshals were later made viscounts.’ Synonyms Ranks of the peerage in England Baron Duke / Duchess Created in England in 1337 under Edward III who made his eldest son Edward the Black Prince the Duke of Cornwall.

In England a Duke is the highest rank below a King or a Prince, while in other European countries the higher rank of Archduke or Grand Duke exists. The first non-royal Duke was Robert de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, who in 1386 was made Duke of Ireland. The eldest son of the ruling monarch is made the Duke of Cornwall and the second eldest the Duke of York. Marquess / Marchioness Created in England in 1385 under Richard II when Robert de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, was made Marquess of Dublin. Earl / Countess Created in Anglo-Saxon times, it was before the Norman conquest the highest rank of nobility. In other parts of Europe the equivalent rank is a Count. Viscount / Viscountess Created in England in 1440 under Henry VI when John, Lord Beaumont was made into a Viscount, a rank placing him above all the Barons. Baron / Baroness earl - definition of earl in English | Oxford Dictionaries Definition of earl in English: earl A British nobleman ranking above a viscount and below a marquess.

Example sentences ‘The earl and countess were then shown around the extended flats.’ ‘Seven of Edward's ten earls possessed Marcher estates, including the powerful Mortimer, Fitzalan, Bohun and de Clare families.’ ‘The earls and viscounts had claimed their expulsion would amount to a severance from the English past.’ ‘The likes of the earl of Stamford and the Prince of Wales are known to have owned examples of these candelabra.’ ‘The aristocrats in Mr Cameron's blood line include numerous dukes and earls, including the Herbert Earls of Carnarvon.’ ‘They all sat in a row, ranged according to their rank - kings and princes and dukes and earls and counts and barons and knights.’ ‘The men who got these parcels of land would have been barons, earls and dukes.’ ‘Here he successfully pursues his suit, is married in spite of the efforts of the earl and the lord mayor to prevent it, and is pardoned by the king.’ ‘Contemporary collectors included the earls of Arundel and Somerset and the Duke of Buckingham.’ ‘The Queen Mother, daughter of a Scottish earl, was very fond of Scotland and the feeling was returned.’ ‘Membership was

 limited to 600 and included five dukes, five marquesses and 20 earls, and the clientele would bet thousands at the tables.’ ‘Among those attending that year were the Duke and Duchess of Ancaster, the Duke and Duchess of Gordon, and all manner of countesses, earls, colonels and honorables.’ ‘An alliance was struck between the marcher lords and the earl of Lancaster.’ ‘The earl talked to officers as he toured the British Transport Police and London Underground control rooms.’ ‘None of the dogs belonging to either the duke and duchess or the earl and countess ever barked.’ ‘The earl was one of the absentee English landowners who owned most of the property in Ireland.’ ‘The dukes and earls have been sent packing from the House of Lords.’ ‘Attendants of an earl, viscount or baron wore six rows of curls on state wigs and five on house wigs.’ ‘Two hundred and fifty years ago it was numbered tickets to Westminster Hall that were in demand: two Jacobite earls and a lord were on trial there.’ ‘Godiva was the wife of Leofric, earl of Mercia, one of the three great earls

 of 11th-century England.’ Synonyms

Question: What is the title of a British nobleman ranking above an earl and below a duke?
Answer: Marquess