Viscount

A viscount is a member of the European nobility, especially, as in the British peerage, ranking above a baron, below a (British) earl or (his continental equivalent) count.

Related Topics:
Nobility - Peerage - Baron - Earl - Count

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The word viscount comes from Old French visconte (modern French: vicomte), itself from Medieval Latin vicecomitem, accusative of vicecomes, from Late Latin vice- "deputy" + Latin comes "companion, delegate of the emperor" (see count). As a rank in British peerage, first recorded in 1440, when John Beaumont, 1st Viscount Beaumont, was made one by King Henry VI. The word viscount corresponds in Britain to the Anglo-Saxon shire reeve (root of the non-nobiliary, royal-appointed office of Sheriff). Thus early viscounts were not originally normally given their titles by the monarch, nor hereditary; but soon they too tended to establish hereditary principalities lato sensu.

Related Topics:
Old French - French - Medieval Latin - Accusative - Late Latin - Latin - Count - 1440 - John Beaumont, 1st Viscount Beaumont - Henry VI - Anglo-Saxon - Shire reeve

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