Marquess

A marquess is a nobleman of hereditary rank in Europe, China, and Japan. In British peerage it ranks below a duke and above an earl. A woman with the rank of marquess, or the wife of a marquess, is a marchioness.

Related Topics:
Nobleman - Europe - China - Japan - Peerage - Duke - Earl

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The word derives from the Middle French marquis (feminine, marquise), ultimately from a Germanic word for 'border' (Mark) which in English became marches. This spelling marquis is still also used (especially in Scotland), though marquess is now preferred, at least for British marquesses (French marquis are still generally known by the French spelling of the word). In German-speaking countries, the equivalent title was margrave (Markgraf). In Italy the equivalent rank is that of marchese, the wife of whom is a marchesa.

Related Topics:
Middle French - Germanic - Marches - Margrave

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They were originally counts that guarded the borders which gave them precedence over other counts. This is still evident in the German language (Mark+graf=March+count).

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