Duke

The term duke is a title of nobility which refers to the sovereign male ruler of a Continental European duchy, to a nobleman of the highest grade of the British peerage, or to the highest rank of nobility in various other European countries, including Portugal, Spain and France (in Italy, principe is held to be the highest grade). The wife of a duke, or a woman who rules a duchy, is known as a duchess.

Iberian pensinsula

When the reconquista, sweeping the Moors from the former caliphate of Cordoba and its taifa-remnants, transformed the territory former Suevian and Visigothic realms into fanatically catholic feudal principalities, none of these war lords was styled duke, a few (as Portugal itself) started as count, but soon all politically relevant princes were to use to royal style of king.

Related Topics:
Reconquista - Count - King

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Portugal

This list refers only to the royal dukedoms

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• Duke of Aveiro
• Duke of Barcelos
• Duke of Beja
• Duke of Bragança (the home principality of the Portuguese royal dynasty after the post-Habsburg restoration of independence)
• Duke of Coimbra
• Duke of Guarda
• Duke of Porto
• Duke of Viseu

Spain

No duchies as true politically important principalities, but many domanial or purely titular ones

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• cfr Grande

Some title inherited by or conferred on historically important politicians, such as :

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• Duke of Alva
• Duke of Medinacelli

Colonial titles

On the Canaries(?) and in various American viceroyalties

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