Peerage
Origins
The peerage was the continuation of the baronage which was established through the feudal system of government introduced through the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. These titles were given through writ of summons from 1265 and by letters patent from 1388. Peerages entitled people to attend the Monarch, Court and Parliament.
This system of honours gave people and their descendants the right to sit in the House of Lords and serve the Monarch. However, in 1999 hereditary peers were removed from their seats in the House of Lords, with Life Peers being entitled to sit and only 90 Hereditary Peers to continue as members of the House of Lords. Peerages are either hereditary or for life. Hereditary peerages are usually based on male primogeniture whilst life peerages only exist for the life of the person it is bestowed upon. Some hereditary peerages can be given through the female line of descendants yet this is uncommon. Along with the Sovereign, peers aren't commoners and prior to 1948 could only be legally tried in front of fellow peers. Due to this non-commoner status, peers are also exempt from civil arrest and have personal access to the Sovereign at any time. |
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Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 10th Duke of Richmond, 10th Duke of Lennox, 5th Duke of Gordon, 10th Duke of Aubigny (by Allan Warren)
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PeeragesSince the peerage is older than the political union what is now known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, there is not one single peerage extant. There are five peerages in the British Isles which includes the:
It is possible for peers to have titles in more than one peerage. For example, Charles Gordon-Lennox, 10th Duke of Richmond in the Peerage of England is also the 10th Duke of Lennox in the Peerage of Scotland, 5th Duke of Gordon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 10th Earl of March in the Peerage of England (Formerly Scotland), 10th Earl of Darnley in the Peerage of Ireland, 5th Earl of Kinrara in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 10th Baron Settrington in the Peerage of England and the 10th Lord Torbolton in the Peerage of Scotland. In the Peerage of France, the Dukes of Richmond were also the Dukes of Aubigny. |
RanksDuke (Feminine - Duchess): Firstly created in 1337, the title Duke is derived from the Latin 'Dux', meaning 'Leader'. This is the highest ranking peerage with 27 Dukedoms in the five peerages, held by 24 people. Dukes are addressed as 'Your Grace' and referred to as 'His Grace'. Sons are given the prefix Lord and daughters are given the prefix Lady.
The first dukedom was the Dukedom of Cornwall which also contains the Duchy of Cornwall. This is held by the heir apparent. The first non-royal dukedom was the Dukedom of Lancaster in 1351. This reverted to the crown in 1361 and is now the Duchy and Dukedom held by the Monarch. Marquess (Feminine - Marchioness): Firstly created in 1385, the title Marquess originates from the French 'Marquis' meaning 'marche' and 'march'. There are 34 Marquessates in the five peerages. Marquesses are styled "The Most Honourable" with sons given the prefix Lord and daughters given the prefix Lady. The first Marquessates was the Marquessate of Dublin which was resigned in 1386. Earl (Feminine - Countess): Firstly created in 1017 in England and 1067 in the Peerage of England, the title Earl comes from 'Eorl' which was a military leader title in Anglo-Saxon. However the Old Norse 'Jarl' meaning 'nobleman' and 'freeborn warrior' also may have been the origin. There are 191 Earldoms in the five peerages, including the Royal Earldoms. Earls are styled 'The Right Honourable' with sons given the style 'The Honourable' and daughters given the prefix 'Lady'. The first earldom was the Earldom of Northumbria which became extinct in 1023. However the first Earldom in the Peerage of England was the Earldom of East Anglia which was renamed Earldom of Norfolk in 1070. Viscount (Feminine - Viscountess): Firstly created in 1432 in the Peerage of England, the title Viscount comes from the Latin Vicecomes meaning Vice Count. There are 115 Viscountcies in the five peerages used as the primary title,whilst there are 270 Viscountships in total. Viscounts are styled 'The Right Honourable' whilst the children of a Viscount are styled 'The Honourable'. The first Viscount was the Viscount Beaumont which became extinct in 1507. Baron (Feminine - Baroness): Firstly created under the Feudal Baronage in 1066, the title Baron derives from the old Germanic term 'Baro' meaning 'freeman'. There are approximately 449 hereditary Baronis and 732 life Barons and Baronesses. Barons and Baronesses are styled 'The Right Honourable' except for Scottish Barons who are styled 'The Much Honoured'. |
DukeHenry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort, KG
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