This article relies largely or entirely on a single source .(August 2018) |
This is a list of ducal titles created by the monarchs of France. See also French nobility, Dukes in France, Peerage of France, List of French peers, List of French peerages.
Title | Date of Creation | Family | Current Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Duke of Vasconia (Gascony) | 602 | Gradually merged with Aquitaine | Passed to the Ramnulfids 1053, to Plantagenet 1152, to Lancaster 1390 | |
Duke of Toulouse | 778 | Wilhelmide | Extinct 850 | |
Duke of Ponthieu | 793 | Ponthieu | Extinct 844 | |
Duke of Septimania | 817 | Wilhelmide | Extinct 844 | |
Duke of Aquitaine (Guyenne) | 778 | Forfeit 1453 | Passed to Ramnulfids 852, to Auvergne 893, back to Ramnulfids 927, to Rouergue 932, to Robertians 955, to Ramnulfids 962, to Plantagenet 1152, to Lancaster 1390 | |
Duke of Burgundy | 918 | Bosonids | Extinct 1361 | Passed to the Robertians 956, to Burgundy in 1032 |
Duke of Brittany | 936 | Nantes | Merged in the Crown 1532 | Contested by Rennes in 958, passed to Rennes in 990, to Cornouaille 1066, Penthièvre 1156, Plantagenet 1181, Thouars 1203, Dreux 1221, contested by Blois and Montfort 1341, passed to Montfort 1365 |
Duke of the Franks | 936 | Robertians | Merged in the Crown 987 | |
Duke of Normandy | 996 | Normandy | Forfeit 1204 | Passed to Blois 1135, to Plantagenet 1144 |
Duke of Narbonne | 1088 | Toulouse | Extinct 1249 | |
Duke of Reims | 12th century | (Episcopal) | Extinct 1801 | |
Duke of Laon | 12th century | (Episcopal) | Extinct 1801 | |
Duke of Langres | 12th century | (Episcopal) | Extinct 1801 | |
Duke of Bourbon | 1327 | Bourbon | Forfeit 1527 | |
Duke of Normandy | 1332 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1350 | |
Duke of Orléans | 1344 | Royal family | Extinct 1376 | |
Duke of Bar | 1354 | Bar, Anjou, Lorraine | Returned to the Crown 1766 | |
Duke of Normandy | 1355 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1364 | |
Duke of Anjou | 1356 | Royal family | Extinct 1481 | |
Duke of Auvergne | 1360 | Royal family | Extinct 1521 | |
Duke of Berry | 1360 | Royal family | Extinct 1416 | |
Duke of Touraine | 1360 | Royal family | Exchanged 1363 | |
Duke of Burgundy | 1363 | Royal family | Annexed by the Crown 1477 | |
Duke of Touraine | 1386 | Royal family | Exchanged 1392 | |
Duke of Orléans | 1392 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1498 | |
Duke of Guyenne | 1392 | Royal family | Extinct 1400 | |
Duke of Guyenne | 1400 | Royal family | Exchanged 1416 | |
Duke of Touraine | 1401 | Royal family | Extinct 1416 | |
Duke of Alençon | 1404 | Alençon | Extinct 1525 | Forfeit 1458–1461, 1474–1476 and 1482–1483 |
Duke of Nemours | 1404 | Évreux | Extinct 1503 | |
Duke of Valois | 1406 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1498 | |
Duke of Berry | 1416 | Royal family | Extinct 1416 | |
Duke of Touraine | 1416 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1422 | |
Duke of Berry | 1417 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1422 | |
Duke of Touraine | 1423 | Douglas | Extinct 1440 | |
Duke of Normandy | 1436 | Royal family | Extinct 1436 | |
Duke of Guyenne | 1436 | Royal family | Extinct 1436 | |
Duke of Berry | 1461 | Royal family | Exchanged 1461 | |
Duke of Normandy | 1465 | Royal family | Exchanged 1469 | |
Duke of Guyenne | 1469 | Royal family | Extinct 1474 | |
Duke of Valois | 1498 | Angoulême | Merged in the Crown 1515 | |
Duke of Valentinois | 1498 | Borgia | Returned to the Crown before 1548 | |
Duke of Longueville | 1505 | Orléans | Extinct 1694 | |
Duke of Nemours | 1507 | Foix | Extinct 1512 | |
Duke of Nemours | 1515 | Medici/Savoie | Extinct 1524 | |
Duchess of Angoulême | 1515 | Savoie | ||
Duchess of Anjou | 1515 | Savoie | Extinct 1531 | |
Duke of Vendôme | 1515 | Bourbon | Merged in the Crown 1589 | |
Duke of Châtellerault | 1515 | Bourbon-Montpensier | Forfeit 1527 | |
Duchess of Valois | 1516 | Orléans | Extinct 1520 | |
Duchess of Berry | 1517 | Royal family | Extinct 1549 | |
Duke of Roannais | 1519 | Gouffier | Extinct 1519 | |
Duke of Nemours | 1524 | Savoie | Extinct 1652 | |
Duke of Dunois | 1525 | Orléans-Longueville | Extinct 1537 | |
Duchess of Bourbon | 1527 | Savoie | Extinct 1532 | |
Duchess of Châtellerault | 1527 | Savoie | Given away 1530 | |
Duchess of Auvergne | 1528 | Savoie | Extinct 1532 | |
Duke of Guise | 1528 | Lorraine | Extinct 1688 | |
Duke of Chartres | 1528 | Royal Family, Este, Savoie-Nemours | Redeemed by the Crown 1623 | |
Duchess of Châtellerault | 1530 | Savoie | Extinct 1532 | |
Duke of Estouteville | 1537 | Estouteville, Bourbon-Saint-Pôl, Orléans-Longueville, Goyon de Matignon, Grimaldi | Extinct 1949 | Used as subsidiary title for Prince of Monaco |
Duke of Étampes | 1537 | Pisseleu/Brosse | Extinct 1565 | |
Duke of Nevers | 1539 | Albret, Cleves, Gonzaga | Sold 1659 | |
Duke of Orléans | 1540 | Royal family | Extinct 1545 | |
Duke of Angoulême | 1540 | Royal family | Extinct 1545 | |
Duke of Châtellerault | 1540 | Royal family | Extinct 1545 | |
Duke of Beaumont-le-Vicomte | 1543 | Alençon, Bourbon-Vendôme | Merged in the Crown 1589 | |
Duke of Bourbon | 1544 | Royal family | Extinct 1545 | |
Duke of Aumale | 1547 | Lorraine-Guise | Extinct 1631 | |
Duke of Châtellerault | 1548 | Hamilton | Forfeit 1559 | Restored and extended in 1864, extinct 1895 |
Duchess of Valentinois | 1548 | Poitiers | Extinct 1566 | |
Duchess of Berry | 1550 | Royal family | Extinct 1574 | |
Duke of Albret | 1550 | Albret, Bourbon-Vendôme | Merged in the Crown 1589 | |
Duke of Montmorency | 1551 | Montmorency | Forfeit 1632 | |
Duke of Chevreuse | 1555 | Lorraine | Sold 1655 | |
Duke of Albret | 1556 | Albret, Bourbon | Merged in the Crown 1589 | |
Duke of Beaupréau | 1562 | Scépeaux | Extinct 1565 | |
Duke of Thouars | 1563 | La Trémoille | Extinct 1933 | |
Duke of Granville | 1563 | Bourbon-Vendôme | Extinct 1590 | |
Duchess of Châtellerault | 1563 | de France | Exchanged 1582 | |
Duke of Roannais | 1566 | Gouffier | Sold 1667 | |
Duke of Enghien | 1566 | Bourbon-Condé | Extinct 1569 | |
Duke of Anjou | 1566 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1574 | |
Duke of Bourbon | 1566 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1547 | |
Duke of Alençon | 1566 | Royal family | Extinct 1584 | |
Duke of Château-Thierry | 1566 | Royal family | Extinct 1584 | |
Duke of Auvergne | 1569 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1574 | |
Duke of Penthièvre | 1569 | Luxembourg, Lorraine, Bourbon-Vendôme | Extinct 1687 | |
Duke of Évreux | 1569 | Royal family | Extinct 1584 | |
Duke of Mercœur | 1569 | Lorraine | Extinct 1712 | |
Duke of Montargis | 1570 | Royal Family, Este, Lorraine | Sold 1612? | |
Duke of Uzès | 1572 | Crussol | Extant | |
Duke of Mayenne | 1573 | Lorraine-Guise, Gonzaga | Sold 1654 | Used as subsidiary title for Prince of Monaco |
Duke of Saint-Fargeau | 1574 | Bourbon-Montpensier | Extinct 1693 | |
Duke of Anjou | 1576 | Royal family | Extinct 1584 | |
Duke of Touraine | 1576 | Royal family | Extinct 1584 | |
Duke of Berry | 1576 | Royal family | Extinct 1584 | |
Duke of Ventadour | 1578 | Lévis | Extinct 1717 | |
Duke of Joyeuse | 1581 | Joyeuse, Lorraine-Guise | Extinct 1675 | |
Duke of Piney | 1581 | Luxembourg, Albert, Clermont, Montmorency-Luxembourg | Extinct 1861 | |
Duke of Epernon | 1581 | Nogaret de La Valette | Extinct 1661 | |
Duke of Elbeuf | 1581 | Lorraine | Extinct 1825 | |
Duke of Retz | 1581 | Gondi | Resigned 1634 | |
Duke of Rethel | 1581 | Gonzaga | Sold 1658 | |
Duke of Angoulême | 1582 | Poitiers | Extinct 1619 | |
Duke of Châtellerault | 1583 | Bourbon-Montpensier, Orléans | Extinct 1693 | |
Duke of Hallwin | 1588 | Hallwin | Extinct 1611 | |
Duke of Montbazon | 1588 | Rohan | Extinct 1593 | |
Duke of Ventadour | 1589 | Lévis | Extinct 1717 | |
Duke of Montbazon | 1595 | Rohan | Extant | |
Duke of Beaufort | 1597 | Estrées, Bourbon-Vendôme | Sold 1688 | |
Duke of Vendôme | 1598 | Bourbon | Extinct 1712 | |
Duke of Biron | 1598 | Gontaut | Forfeit 1602 | |
Duke of Thouars | 1599 | La Trémoille | Extinct 1933 | |
Duke of Aiguillon | 1600 | Lorraine-Mayenne | Extinct 1621 | |
Duke of Rohan | 1603 | Rohan | extinct 1638 | |
Duke of Sully | 1606 | Béthune | extinct 1807 | |
Duke of Fronsac | 1608 | Orléans-Longueville | Extinct 1631 | |
Duchess of Montpensier | 1608 | Bourbon, Orléans | Extinct 1693 | |
Duke of Damville | 1610 | Montmorency | Extinct 1632 | |
Duke of Hallwin | 1611 | Hallwin | Extinct 1620 | |
Duke of Châteauroux | 1616 | Bourbon-Condé | Extinct 1830 | |
Duke of Angoulême | 1619 | Valois | Extinct 1653 | |
Duke of Luynes | 1619 | Albert | Extant | |
Duke of Lesdiguières | 1620 | Bonne, Créquy | extinct 1711 | |
Duke of Bellegarde | 1620 | Saint-Lary | extinct 1646 | |
Duke of Brissac | 1620 | Cossé | Extant | |
Duke of La Rocheguyon | 1621 | Silly | Extinct 1628 | |
Duke of Chaulnes | 1621 | Albert d'Ailly | Extinct 1698 | |
Duke of Hallwin | 1621 | Hallwin, Schomberg | Extinct 1656 | |
Duke of Candale | 1621 | Nogaret de La Valette | Extinct 1639 | |
Duke of La Valette | 1622 | Nogaret de La Valette | Extinct 1661 | |
Duke of Orléans | 1626 | Royal family | Extinct 1660 | |
Duke of Chartres | 1626 | Royal family | Extinct 1660 | |
Duke of Chevreuse | 1627 | Lorraine-Guise | Sold 1655 | |
Duke of Villars | 1627 | Brancas | Extinct 1858 | |
Duke of Valois | 1630 | Royal family | Extinct 1660 | |
Duchess of Aumale | 1631 | Lorraine | Extinct 1638 | |
Duke of Richelieu | 1631 | Plessis, Vignerot, La Chapelle-Jumilhac | Extinct 1952 | |
Duc de La Rochefoucauld | 1631 | La Rochefoucauld | Extant | |
Duke of Montmorency | 1633 | Bourbon-Condé | Merged in the Crown in 1830 | Title changed to Duke of Enghien in 1689 |
Duke of Retz | 1634 | Gondy | Extinct 1676 | |
Duke of Fronsac | 1634 | Plessis, Maillé-Brézé, Bourbon-Condé, Vignerot | Extinct 1822 | |
Duke of Aiguillon | 1634 | L'Age | Extinct 1635 | |
Duke of Saint-Simon | 1635 | Rouvroy | Extinct 1755 | |
Duke of La Force | 1637 | Caumont | Extinct 1755 | |
Duke of Aumale | 1638 | Savoie-Nemours | Extinct 1641 | |
Duke of Aiguillon | 1638 | Vignerot, Plessis | Extinct 1800 | |
Duke of Albret | 1641 | Bourbon-Condé | Given away 1651 | |
Duke of Valentinois | 1642 | Grimaldi | extinct 1731 | |
Duke of Aumale | 1643 | Savoie-Nemours | Extinct 1652 | |
Duke of Gramont | 1643 | Gramont | Extinct 1644 | |
Duke of Gramont | 1648 | Gramont | Extant | |
Duke of Rohan | 1648 | Rohan-Chabot | Extant | |
Duke of Albret | 1665 | La Tour d'Auvergne | Extinct 1802 | |
Duke of Château-Thierry | 1665 | La Tour d'Auvergne | Extinct 1802 | |
Duke of Bourbon | 1661 | Bourbon-Condé | Merged in the Crown 1830 | |
Duke of Orléans | 1661 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1830 | |
Duke of Chartres | 1661 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1830 | From 1674, the eldest son of the Duke of Orléans |
Duke of Valois | 1661 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1830 | |
Duke of Randan | 1661 | La Rochefoucauld-Randan, Foix de Candale | Extinct 1714 | |
Duke of Verneuil | 1663 | Bourbon | Extinct 1682 | |
Duke of Estrées | 1663 | Estrée | Extinct | |
Duke of La Meilleraye | 1663 | La Porte-Mazarin | Extinct 1738 | |
Duke of Rethel | 1663 | La Porte-Mazarin | Extinct 1738 | |
Duke of Villeroy | 1663 | Neufville | Extinct 1794 | |
Duke of Mortemart | 1663 | Rochechouart | Extant | |
Duke of Poix | 1663 | Créquy | Extinct 1687 | |
Duke of Saint-Aignan | 1663 | Beauvilliers | extinct 1828 | |
Duke of La Rocheguyon | 1663 | Plessis-Liancourt | Extinct 1674 | |
Duke of Tresmes | 1663 | Potier | Extinct 1794 | title changed to Duke of Gesvres in 1670 |
Duke of Noailles | 1663 | Noailles | Extant | |
Duke of Coislin | 1663 | Cambout | Extinct 1732 | |
Duke of Choiseul | 1665 | Choiseul | Extinct 1705 | |
Duke of Aumont | 1665 | Aumont | Extinct 1888 | |
Duke of Roannais | 1667 | Aubusson de La Feuillade | Extinct 1725 | |
Duke of Nemours | 1672 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown in 1830 | |
Duke of Aubigny | 1673 | Gordon-Lennox | Extant | |
Duke of Saint-Cloud | 1674 | n/a | Extinct 1811 | held by the Archbishop of Paris |
Duchess of Angoulême | 1675 | Orléans | Extinct 1696 | |
Duke of Beaufort | 1688 | Montmorency-Luxembourg | Extinct 1862 | title changed to Duke of Montmorency in 1689; extended in 1864, extinct 1951 |
Duke of Duras | 1689 | Durfort, Chastellux | Extant | title changed to Duke of Rauzan in 1825 |
Duke of Boufflers | 1695 | Boufflers | extinct 1751 | |
Duke of Harcourt | 1700 | Harcourt | Extant | |
Duke of Guise | 1704 | Bourbon-Condé | Merged in the Crown 1830 | |
Duke of Villars | 1705 | Villars | Extinct 1777 | |
Duke of Alençon | 1710 | Royal family | extinct 1714 | |
Duke of Angoulême | 1710 | Royal family | Extinct 1714 | |
Duke of Fitz-James | 1710 | Fitz-James | Extinct 1967 | |
Duke of Rambouillet | 1771 | Légitimé de France, Bourbon | Extinct 1792 | |
Duke of Rohan-Rohan | 1714 | Rohan | Extant | |
Duke of Valentinois | 1716 | Goyon de Matignon, Grimaldi | Extinct 1949 | Used as subsidiary title for Prince of Monaco |
Duke of Mercœur | 1723 | Bourbon-Conti | sold 1770 | |
Duke of Rochefort | 1728 | Rohan | Extant | |
Duke of Châtellerault | 1730 | La Trémoille | Extinct 1759 | |
Duke of Lauragais | 1731 | Brancas | Extinct 1794 | |
Duke of Ayen | 1737 | Noailles | Extinct 1793 | |
Duke of Lesparre | 1739 | Gramont | Extinct 1801 | |
Duke of Gisors | 1742 | Fouquet | Extinct 1761 | |
Duke of Broglie | 1742 | Broglie | Extant | |
Duke of Anville | 1746 | La Rochefoucauld | Extinct 1792 | |
Duke of Coigny | 1747 | Coigny | Extinct 1865 | |
Duke of Clermont-Tonnerre | 1755 | Clermont-Tonnerre | Extant | |
Duke of Laval | 1758 | Montmorency-Laval | Extinct 1851 | |
Duke of Villequier | 1759 | Aumont | Extinct 1888 | |
Duke of Picquigny | 1761 | Albert de Chaulnes | Extinct 1769 or 1792 | |
Duke of Praslin | 1762 | Choiseul | Extant | |
Duke of Beaumont | 1765 | Montmorency-Luxembourg | Extinct 1878 | |
Duke of Liancourt | 1765 | La Rochefoucauld | Extant | |
Duke of Poix | 1767 | Noailles | Extinct 1794 | |
Duke of Anjou | 1771 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1795 | |
Duke of Angoulême | 1773 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1824 | |
Duke of Auvergne | 1773 | Royal family | exchanged 1778 | |
Duke of Mercœur | 1773 | Royal family | Exchanged 1778 | |
Duke of Croï d'Havré | 1773 | Croy d'Havré | ||
Duke of Alençon | 1774 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1795 | |
Duke of Civrac | 1774 | Durfort de Civrac | Extinct 1787 | |
Duke of Quintin | 1774 | Durfort de Civrac de Lorge | Extant | title changed to Duke of Lorge in 1776 |
Duke of Lesparre | 1774 | Gramont | Extinct 1795 | |
Duke of Berry | 1776 | Royal family | Merged in the Crown 1824 | |
Duc du Châtelet | 1777 | Châtelet | Extinct 1793 | |
Duke of Guiche | 1780 | Gramont | extinct 1836 | |
Duke of Polignac | 1780 | Polignac | Extant | |
Duke of Maillé | 1784 | Maillé de La Tour Landry | Extant | |
Duke of Lévis | 1784 | Lévis | Extinct 1863 | |
Duke of Saulx-Tavannes | 1786 | Saulx-Tavannes | ||
Duke of La Force | 1787 | Caumont | Extant | |
Duke of Massa | 1806 | Régnier | Extinct 1962 | |
Duke of Dantzig | 1807 | Lefebvre | Extinct 1820 | |
Duke of Parme | 1808 | Cambacérès | Extinct 1824 | |
Duke of Plaisance | 1808 | Lebrun | Extinct 1926 | |
Duke of Bellune | 1808 | Victor | Extinct 1853 | |
Duke of Conegliano | 1808 | Moncey | Extinct 1842 | |
Duke of Trévise | 1808 | Mortier | extinct 1912 | |
Duke of Dalmatie | 1808 | Soult | Extinct 1857 | |
Duke of Valmy | 1808 | Kellermann | Extinct 1868 | |
Duke of Rivoli | 1808 | Masséna | Extant | |
Duke of Raguse | 1808 | Marmont | Extinct 1852 | |
Duke of Padoue | 1808 | Arrighi de Casanova | Extinct 1888 | |
Duke of Montebello | 1808 | Lannes | Extant | |
Duke of Castiglione | 1808 | Augereau | Extinct 1915 | |
Duke of Auerstaedt | 1808 | Davout | Extinct 1853 | extended 1864, Extant |
Duke of Abrantes | 1808 | Junot | Extinct 1859 | Extended 1869, extinct 1985 |
Duke of Elchingen | 1808 | Ney | Extinct 1969 | |
Duke of Rovigo | 1808 | Savary | Extinct 1872 | |
Duke of Vicence | 1808 | Caulaincourt | Extinct 1896 | |
Duke of Bassano | 1809 | Maret | Extinct 1906 | |
Duke of Feltre | 1809 | Clarke | Extinct 1852 | Extended 1864, extant |
Duke of Istrie | 1809 | Bessières | Extinct 1856 | |
Duke of Tarente | 1809 | MacDonald | Extinct 1912 | |
Duke of Cadore | 1809 | Nompère de Champagny | Extinct 1893 | |
Duke of Gaete | 1809 | Gaudin | Extinct 1841 | |
Duke of Otrante | 1809 | Fouché | Extant | |
Duke of Reggio | 1810 | Oudinot | Extant | |
Duke of Navarre | 1810 | Beauharnais | Extinct 1852 | |
Duke of Dalberg | 1810 | Dalberg | Extinct 1833 | Extended as Duke of Tascher de La Pagerie in 1859, extinct 1902 |
Duke of Decrès | 1813 | Decrès | Extinct 1820 | |
Duke of Albufera | 1813 | Suchet | Extant | |
Duchess of Frioul | 1813 | Duroc | Extinct 1829 | |
Duchess of Saint-Leu | 1814 | Beauharnais | Extinct 1837 | |
Duke of Cars | 1816 | Pérusse | Extinct 1822 | |
Duke of La Châtre | 1817 | La Châtre | Extinct 1824 | |
Duke of Sabran | 1817 | Sabran, Pontevès | Extant | |
Duke of Talleyrand | 1817 | Talleyrand-Périgord | Extinct 1968 | |
Duke of Croy | 1817 | Croy | Extant | |
Duke of Avaray | 1817 | Bésiade | Extinct 1941 | |
Duke of Bauffremont | 1817 | Bauffremont | Extant | |
Duke of Crillon | 1817 | Berton des Balbes | Extinct 1870 | |
Duke of Valengin | 1817 | Berthier | Extinct 1918 | |
Duke of Havré | 1817 | Croy | Extinct 1839 | |
Duke of Choiseul | 1817 | Choiseul, Marmier | Extinct 1947 | title changed to Duke of Marmier in 1839 |
Duke of Aremberg | 1824 | Arenberg | Extinct 1877 | |
Duke of Blacas | 1824 | Blacas d'Aulps | Extant | |
Duke of Rivière | 1825 | Rivière | Extinct 1901 | |
Duke of Cars | 1825 | Pérusse | Extant | |
Duke of Caraman | 1830 | Riquet | Extant | |
Duke of Céreste | 1830 | Brancas-Villars | Extinct 1858 | |
Duke of Melfort | 1841 | Drummond | Extinct 1902 | |
Duke of Pasquier | 1845 | Pasquier | Extant | title changed to Duke of Audiffret-Pasquier in 1862 |
Duke of Isly | 1845 | Bugeaud | Extinct 1865 | |
Duke of Montmorot | 1847 | Muñoz | Extinct 1873 | |
Duke of Malakoff | 1856 | Pélissier | Extinct 1864 | |
Duke of Magenta | 1859 | MacMahon | Extant | |
Duke of Morny | 1863 | Morny | Extinct 1943 | |
Duke of Persigny | 1863 | Fialin | Extinct 1885 |
A marquess is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German-language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman with the rank of a marquess or the wife of a marquess is a marchioness or marquise. These titles are also used to translate equivalent Asian styles, as in Imperial China and Imperial Japan.
Peerages in the United Kingdom form a legal system comprising both hereditary and lifetime titles, composed of various ranks, and within the framework of the Constitution of the United Kingdom form a constituent part of the legislative process and the British honours system. The British monarch is considered the fount of honour and is notionally the only person who can grant peerages, though there are many conventions about how this power is used, especially at the request of the British government. The term peerage can be used both collectively to refer to the entire body of titled nobility, and individually to refer to a specific title. British peerage title holders are termed peers of the Realm.
A viscount or viscountess is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status. The status and any domain held by a viscount is a viscountcy.
Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knight, but lower than a viscount or count. Often, barons hold their fief – their lands and income – directly from the monarch. Barons are less often the vassals of other nobles. In many kingdoms, they were entitled to wear a smaller form of a crown called a coronet.
The Peerage of Ireland consists of those titles of nobility created by the English monarchs in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland, or later by monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It is one of the five divisions of Peerages in the United Kingdom. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are duke, marquess, earl, viscount and baron. As of 2016, there were 135 titles in the Peerage of Ireland extant: two dukedoms, ten marquessates, 43 earldoms, 28 viscountcies, and 52 baronies. However, these titles have no official recognition in the Republic of Ireland, with Article 40.2 of the Constitution of Ireland forbidding the state conferring titles of nobility and stating that an Irish citizen may not accept titles of nobility or honour except with the prior approval of the Irish government.
The Peerage of France was a hereditary distinction within the French nobility which appeared in 1180 during the Middle Ages.
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The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. From that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were closed to new creations, and new peers were created in a single Peerage of Great Britain. There are five peerages in the United Kingdom in total.
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain between the Acts of Union 1707 and the Acts of Union 1800. It replaced the Peerage of England and the Peerage of Scotland, but was itself replaced by the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1801.
The Peerage of the United Kingdom is one of the five Peerages in the United Kingdom. It comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Acts of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain. New peers continued to be created in the Peerage of Ireland until 1898
Baron de Freyne, of Coolavin in the County of Sligo, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1851 for Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne, with remainder to his younger brothers John, Charles and Fitzstephen French. He had earlier represented County Roscommon in the House of Commons and later served as Lord Lieutenant of County Roscommon. French had already been created Baron de Freyne, of Artagh in the County of Roscommon, in 1839, also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom but with normal remainder to heirs male. Lord de Freyne was childless and on his death in 1856 the barony of 1839 creation became extinct. The barony of 1851 creation survives according to the special remainder by his younger brother John, the second Baron.
Admiral Thomas Graves, 1st Baron Graves, KB was a British officer of the Royal Navy and a colonial official. He served in the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence. He was also the Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland for a period of time.
The hereditary peers form part of the peerage in the United Kingdom. As of August 2023, there are 805 hereditary peers: 30 dukes, 34 marquesses, 189 earls, 110 viscounts, and 442 barons.
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. Life peers are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister. With the exception of the Dukedom of Edinburgh awarded for life to Prince Edward in 2023, all life peerages conferred since 2009 have been created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 with the rank of baron and entitle their holders to sit and vote in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as age and citizenship. The legitimate children of a life peer appointed under the Life Peerages Act 1958 are entitled to style themselves with the prefix "The Honourable", although they cannot inherit the peerage itself. Prior to 2009, life peers of baronial rank could also be so created under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 for senior judges.
The Jacobite peerage includes those peerages created by James II and VII, and the subsequent Jacobite pretenders, after James's deposition from the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland following the Glorious Revolution of 1688. These creations were not recognised in English, Scots or Irish law, but the titles were used in Jacobite circles in Continental Europe and recognised by France, Spain and the Papacy.
Suo jure is a Latin phrase, used in English to mean 'in his own right' or 'in her own right'. In most nobility-related contexts, it means 'in her own right', since in those situations the phrase is normally used of women; in practice, especially in England, a man rarely derives any style or title from his wife although this is seen in other countries when a woman is the last heir of her line. It can be used for a male when such male was initially a 'co-lord' with his father or other family member and upon the death of such family member became the sole ruler or holder of the title "in his own right" (alone).
The British nobility is made up of the peerage and the (landed) gentry. The nobility of its four constituent home nations has played a major role in shaping the history of the country, although the hereditary peerage now retain only the rights to stand for election to the House of Lords, dining rights there, position in the formal order of precedence, the right to certain titles, and the right to an audience with the monarch.
Préseau is a commune in the Nord department of northern France.
A peerage is a legal system historically comprising various hereditary titles in a number of countries, and composed of assorted noble ranks.