Royal and noble ranks

Traditional ranks among European royalty, peers, and nobility are rooted in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Although they vary over time and between geographic regions (for example, one region's prince might be equal to another's grand duke), the following is a fairly comprehensive list that provides information on both general ranks and specific differences.

Related Topics:
Europe - Royalty - Peers - Nobility - Middle Ages

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• Sovereign:
• Emperor, rules¹ an empire
• King, rules¹ a kingdom (Sovereign kings are ranked above vassal kings)
• Grand Duke, ruling¹ a grand duchy
• Duke, who rules¹ a duchy²
• Prince, Fürst in German, ruling¹ a Principality
• Princely:
• Prince-elector, Kurfürst in German, electing the Holy Roman Emperor
• Archduke, a unique rank used only by the Habsburgs in Austria for princes of the imperial family
• Prince, Prinz in German; junior members of a sovereign or formerly sovereign family
• Comital:
• Marquess, theoretically the ruler¹ of a marquessate
• Count, theoretically the ruler of a county
• Viscount (vice-count), theoretically the ruler of a viscounty
• Baron, theoretically the ruler of a barony

:1) Loss of sovereignty or fief does not necessarily lead to loss of title. The position in the ranking table is however accordingly adjusted. The occurrence of fiefs has changed from time to time, and from country to country. For instance, dukes in England rarely had a duchy to rule.

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:2) Dukes who are not actually or formerly sovereign, such as all British, French, and Spanish dukes, or who are not sons of sovereigns, as titulary dukes in many other countries, should be considered nobles ranking above marquess.

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In Germany, the actual rank of the holder of a title is, however, dependent on not only the title as such, but on for instance the degree of sovereignty and on the rank of the lord of the title-holder. But also such matters as the age of the princely dynasty play a role (Uradel, Briefadel, altfürstliche, neufürstliche, see: German nobility). Thus, any sovereign ruler would be higher than any formerly sovereign, i.e. mediatized, family of any rank (thus, the Fürst of Waldeck, sovereign until 1918, was higher than the Duke of Arenberg, mediatized). Members of a formerly sovereign house ranked higher than the regular nobility. Among the regular nobility, those whose titles derived from the Holy Roman Empire ranked higher than those whose titles were granted by one of the German princes after 1806, no matter what title was held.

Related Topics:
Sovereignty - Dynasty - German nobility - Mediatized - Waldeck - Holy Roman Empire

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In Austria, nobility titles may no longer be used since 1918. (http://www.ris.bka.gv.at/taweb-cgi/taweb?x=d&o=d&v=bnd&d=BND&i=13944)

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In Germany, the constitution of the Weimar Republic in 1919 abolished nobility and all nobility titles. They are now merely part of the family name, and there is no more right to the traditional forms of address (e.g., "Hoheit" or "Durchlaucht"). The last title was conferred on 12 November 1918 to Kurt von Klefeld.

Related Topics:
Weimar Republic - Durchlaucht

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In Switzerland, nobility titles are prohibited and are not recognized as part of the family name.

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Below is a comparative table of corresponding royal and noble titles in various European countries. See Royal and noble styles to learn how to properly address holders of these titles.

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English

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French

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Italian

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Spanish

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German

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Dutch

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Norwegian

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Swedish

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Finnish

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Polish¹

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Russian

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Danish

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Greek

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Portuguese

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Latin8

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Emperor,Empress

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Empereur,Imperatrice

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Imperatore,Imperatrice

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Emperador,Emperatriz

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Kaiser,Kaiserin

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Keizer,Keizerin

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Keiser,Keiserinne

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Kejsare,Kejsarinna

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Keisari,Keisaritar

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Cesarz, Cesarzowa

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Tsar, Tsaritsa

Related Topics:
Tsar - Tsaritsa

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Kejser,Kejserinde

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Aftokratoras, Aftokratira

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Imperador, Imperatriz

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Imperator/Caesar, Imperatrix

Related Topics:
Imperator - Caesar

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King,Queen

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Roi,Reine

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Re,Regina

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Rey,Reina

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König,Königin

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Koning,Koningin

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Kong,Dronning

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Kung,Drottning

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Kuningas,Kuningatar4

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Król,Królowa

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Konge Dronning

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Vasilias/Rigas, Vasilissa

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Rei, Rainha

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Rex, Regina

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Grand Duke,Grand Duchess

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Grand Duc,Grande Duchesse

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Granduca,Granduchessa

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Großherzog, Großherzogin

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Groothertog,Groothertogin

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Storhertug, Storhertuginne

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Suuriruhtinas,Suuriruhtinatar4

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Wielki Książę,Wielka Księżna

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Veliky Kniaz

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N/A

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Megas-Doukas

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Grão-Duque, Grã-Duquesa

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Archduke,Archduchess

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Archiduc, Archiduchesse

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Erzherzog, Erzherzogin

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Aartshertog,Aartshertogin 

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Arqui-duque,Arqui-duquesa;

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Duke,Duchess

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Duc,Duchesse

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Duca,Duchessa

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Duque,Duquesa

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Herzog,Herzogin

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Hertog,Hertogin

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Hertug, Hertuginne

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Hertig

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Herttua,Herttuatar4

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Książę,Księżna

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Kniaz,Kniagina5

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Hertug Hertuginde

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Doukas Doukissa

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Duque, Duquesa

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Dux

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Prince²,Princess

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Prince²,Princesse

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Principe²,Principessa

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Príncipe²,Princesa

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Fürst,Fürstin

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Prins,Prinses

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Prins, Prinsesse

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Furste,Furstinna4

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Ruhtinas,Ruhtinatar4

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Fyrste Fyrstinde

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Prinkipas, Pringkipissa

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Príncipe, Princesa

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Princeps

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Marquess,Marchioness

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Marquis,Marquise

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Marchese,Marchesa

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Marqués,Marquesa

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Markgraf³,Markgräfin

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Markies/Markgraaf,Markiezin/Markgravin

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Marki

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Markis4

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Markiisi4

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Markiz,Markiza

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Boyar5

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Marki ?

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Markpsios, Markpsia

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Marquês, Marquesa

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Earl / Count,Countess

Related Topics:
Earl - Count

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Comte,Comtesse

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Conte,Contessa

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Conde,Condesa

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Graf,Gräfin

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Graaf,Gravin

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Jarl / Greve,Grevinne

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Greve,Grevinna

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Kreivi,Kreivitär4

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Hrabia,Hrabina

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Graf,Grafinia5

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Greve Grevinde

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Komes, Komissa

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Conde, Condessa

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Comes

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Viscount,Viscountess

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Vicomte,Vicomtesse

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Visconte,Viscontessa

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Vizconde,Vizcondesa

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Vizegraf,Vizegräfin

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Burggraaf,Burggravin

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Vikomte,Visegrevinne

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Wicehrabia,Wicehrabina

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Vicegreve Vicegrevinde

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Epikomes, Epikomissa

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Visconde, Viscondessa

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Vicecomes

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Baron,Baroness

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Baron,Baronne

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Barone,Baronessa

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Barón,Baronesa

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Freiherr/ Baron,Freifrau/ Baronin

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Baron,Barones(se)

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Baron,Baronesse

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Friherre,Friherrinna

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Vapaaherra,Vapaaherratar4

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Baron,Baronowa

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Baron,Baronessa

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Baron, Baronesse

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Varonos, Varona

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Barão, Baronesa

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Baronet6, Baronetess

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Baronnet

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Baronetto

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N/A

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Baronete,Baronetesa;

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Knight9

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Chevalier

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Cavaliere

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Caballero

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Ritter

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Ridder

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Ridder

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Riddare4

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Ritari4

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Rycerz

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Ridder

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Stratiotes

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Cavaleiro

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Equites

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:Notes:

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:1) Due to the prinicple of nobles' equality, any aristocratic titles below that of prince were not allowed in Poland (see szlachta). The titles in italics are simply Polish translations of western titles which were granted to some Polish nobles by foreign monarchs, especially after the partitions.

Related Topics:
Szlachta - Partitions

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:2) Prince/principe can also be a title of the junior members of royal houses (Prinz in German, Prins in Swedish). In the British system, Prince is not a rank of nobility but a title held exclusively by members of the Royal Family.

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:3) In the German system by rank approximately equal to Landgraf and Pfalzgraf.

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:4) No titles were granted after 1906 when unicameral assembly (Eduskunta) was established

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:5) For domestic Russian nobility only the two titles Kniaz and Boyar were used before the 18th century wehen Graf was added.

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:6) Not counted as nobility in the British system.

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:7) Portuguese titles in italic are not used in Portugal.

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:8) Latin titles are for etymological comparisons. They do not accurately reflect their medieval counterparts.

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:9) Non-hereditary. Not counted as nobility in the British system. See also squire and esquire.

Related Topics:
Squire - Esquire

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Royal and noble ranks: Related articles ►