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Also used to render equivalent oriental styles as in imperial China and Japan. ORIGIN The original title was Margrave , or rather its original in German, ''Markgraf'', with a few equivalents in other languages in use in parts of the Holy Roman Empire (such as ''Markgraaf'' in Dutch, ''Margravio'' in Italian). The English word derives from the Middle French ''marquis'' (feminine, ''marquise''), ultimately from a Germanic word for 'border' (''mark'') which in English became march, plural Marches . The French form ''marquis'' is still sometimes used (especially in Scotland), though ''marquess'' is now the preferred British usage. They were originally Count s who were granted extra powers because they guarded border areas. This gave them precedence over other counts (in England, earls). This origin is still evident in the German language (''Mark+graf''=March+count). In Venice, so many of the nobles in the '' in 1861: all the patricians of Genoa were declared ''marchesi al cognome'' ("marchesi by name"— "only" being implied). BRITISH MARQUESSES Peerage of England Unlike the continent, in England (later Britain, ultimately the UK) the monarchy as the only authority capable of awarding hereditary titles, managed to keep a tight grip on aristocratic titles, so the that the ranks of the Peerage still correspond fairly neatly to the wealth of those who bear titles. Thus, there are currently only 34 marquessates (see List ). The first marquess in England was Robert De Vere, 9th Earl Of Oxford , who was created Marquess Of Dublin by Richard II on the 1 December 1385 . On 13 October 1386 , the patent of this marquessate was recalled, and Robert de Vere was raised to Duke Of Ireland . John Beaufort, 1st Earl Of Somerset , the second legitimate son of John Of Gaunt , was raised to the second marquessate as Marquess Of Dorset in September 1397 . In 1399 , he was disgraced, and the king revoked his marquessate. The Commons petitioned Richard for his restoration but he himself objected stating ''"the name of marquess is a strange name in this realm"''. From that period the title appears to have been dormant till the reign of Henry VI, when it was revived in 1442. The first woman to be created a marchioness in her own right was Lady Anne Boleyn , who was created Marchioness of Pembroke in preparation for her marriage to Henry VIII . The investiture ceremony was held at Windsor Castle on September 1 1532 . Forms of address
For example, the Marquess Of Salisbury would sign his name merely 'Salisbury'. The Duke Of Devonshire signs his name 'Devonshire'. Royal Peer s, although they may also just sign the name of their peerage, normally just sign their forename, which is a princely prerogative. Hence His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales signs his name simply 'Charles', instead of 'Wales'. To make matters a bit more interesting, a Prince of Wales, unlike other Princes, may attach to his name 'Princeps', which is Latin for prince. He is permitted this special honour since the Principality Of Wales is, extraordinarily, a peerage in its own right (in a class of its own- Duke is considered the first rank in the peerage). A Marquess by courtesy, however, (which would always be the heir to a dukedom, since the courtesy title of an heir must always be at least one rank below that of the peer) does not enjoy the style of 'Most Honourable', but is merely known as the 'Marquess of X'. The genuine Marquess as a peer, however, is always the 'Most Honourable the Marquess of X', to differentiate a Marquess by courtesy (i.e. the heir of a dukedom) from a Marquess in his own right.
MARQUESAL TITLES IN OTHER EUROPEAN LANGUAGES ''The following list may still be incomplete. Female forms follow after a slash; many languages have two words, one for the 'modern' Marquess and one for the original margrave'' In Italy the equivalent modern rank (as opposed to ''margravio'') is that of ''marchese'', the wife of whom is a ''marchesa'', a good example of how several languages adopted a new word derived from Marquis for the modern style, thus distinguishing it from the old 'military' margraves. Even where neither title ever was used domestically, such duplication to describe foreign titles can exist. Germanic languages
Romance languages
Slavonic and Baltic languages
Other languages
OUTSIDE EUROPE Various European monarchies created titles of various ranks, including Marquess, in chief of "titles" (estates, or simply the names of places or regions) in their colonial territories overseas, e.g. in Spanish and Portuguese America, regardless whether the ennobled families resided there. EQUIVALENT NON-WESTERN TITLES Another matter is the common ''equation'' of titles in non-western traditions with European peerage.
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