The equivalent of an earl on the continent is a European count. This number does not include the most famous earl - the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip , as well as any courtesy earldoms.
A courtesy title is given to close family members of a peer. One particularly noteworthy earl was the third Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley, who was Shakespeare's definite patron and possible lover. Another more modern earl you might have heard of?
George Windsor is the Earl of St. And it's entirely possible that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's baby, Archie Harrison , will one day take the earl title. He'll have the option and right to use his dad's second peerage title, which just so happens to be the Earl of Dumbarton. But his parents have so far indicated that they won't be using a title for him anytime soon. Duke is the highest possible out of the five different peerage ranks. The word comes from the Latin dux, which means leader.
It became a peerage title way back in - and until , it was almost exclusively given to members of the Royal Family. According to a BBC documentary on the subject, dukes are a dying breed since the title can only pass down the male line. Many families are opening their estates to the public now in a Downton Abbey turn in the millennial age. A prince is usually given the duke title either when he comes of age or when he's married see: when Prince William became Duke of Cambridge after marrying Kate Middleton and when Prince Harry became Duke of Sussex after marrying Meghan.
A marquess is the second in command, right underneath duke, but above, earl, viscount and baron. The title was introduced back in but it's not exactly a popular one.
There are far fewer Marquesses than earls, just 34 currently. The title of marquess was introduced by King Richard II in the 14th century. Interestingly, the only woman to have been created a marchioness in her own right was Anne Boleyn pictured right , who was created Marchioness of Pembroke just before her marriage to Henry VIII. The title of viscount was created in the 15th century.
Seeing this as an excellent way to raise funds, later monarchs also sold baronetcies. It is the only hereditary honour that is not a peerage. Peerages are created by the Queen. New hereditary peerages are only granted to members of the Royal Family; for example on his wedding day, Prince William was given a dukedom by the Queen and became the Duke of Cambridge. As well as hereditary titles, the British peerage also includes life peerages, part of the British honours system.
Life peerages are granted by the Government to honour individuals and give the recipient the right to sit and vote in the House of Lords. Today, most of those who sit in the House of Lords are life peers: only 90 of the or so members are hereditary peers. At present there are earls not including the Earl of Wessex and courtesy earldoms , and four countesses in their own right.
The most recent earldom to be created is Stockton, created in Since four earldoms have become extinct, Amherst, Monsell, Sondes and Munster, and Breadalbane is dormant.
A title generally falls dormant in circumstances when a peer dies and, although it is believed that there may be heirs to the title in existence, a their whereabouts may not be known, or b there is insufficient documentary evidence for an heir to prove that he is in fact the next heir of line to the late peer.
The fourth rank in the peerage, the viscount is ranked below duke, marquess and earl, but above baron. This title had its origin in the office of the deputy or the lieutenant vice-comes of a count, a rank that had become hereditary in the Holy Roman Empire by the beginning of the 10th century. It was also used for the sheriff of a county. This new peerage title received precedence above all barons, but it did not become popular until the 17th century.
At the present time there are viscounts not including courtesy viscounts. The premier viscount of England is Viscount Hereford created The premier viscount of Scotland on the Roll is Viscount Falkland created , and the premier viscount of Ireland is Viscount Gormanston created Since eight viscountcies have become extinct: Muirsheil, Furness, Watkinson, Lambert, Leverhulme, Greenwood, Cross and Ingleby, and Barrington is dormant or extinct. The fifth and last rank of the peerage is that of baron, which is ranked beneath duke, marquess, earl and viscount in precedence.
In the 13th century the barons were summoned by the monarch, by means of a Royal writ, to attend the Counsel or Parliament. Initially the conferral of this privilege did not imply that their successors would necessarily also be summoned to subsequent Parliaments. But by the reign of King Edward III it had become usual for successors of the more important barons to receive writs as a matter of course, in practice creating an hereditary dignity.
After about this became the normal method of creation of baronies. The rank of baron is easily the most populated in the peerage. There are currently hereditary barons and lords of Parliament not including courtesy baronies and lordships , and nine hereditary baronesses and ladies of Parliament in their own right.
Since , 24 baronies have become extinct, one Kinnaird is dormant or extinct, and another Audley is in abeyance. When the final list of those nominated for honours, including life peerages and knighthoods, is agreed, it is submitted, through the Prime Minister, to The Queen.
After the Life Peerages Act of , women gained the right, for the first time, to sit in the House of Lords. Since , both men and women have been appointed peers and peeresses and rank as barons and baronesses for life. Remember me Log in.
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