Marquess is a noble rank in British peerage.

Contents 1 Peerage of England 2 Peerage of The United Kingdom 3 Forms of address 4 Coronet 5 References

[edit] Peerage of England

The Marquessate of Winchester (created in 1551) is the oldest English (and British) marquessate still in existence, and as a result, the holder of the title is considered the "Premier Marquess of England". Since Marquessates in England created after 1707 became Marquessates of Great Britain and, from 1801, of the United Kingdom, he is now the only English Marquess; all other English Marquesses are Dukes who use their title of Marquess as a subsidiary title^[1].

[edit] Peerage of The United Kingdom

Unlike the continent, in England (later Britain, ultimately the UK) the monarchy is the only authority capable of awarding hereditary titles and it has managed to keep a tight grip on aristocratic titles. Thus, there are currently only 34 marquessates (see List).

The first marquess in England was Robert de Vere, 9th Earl of Oxford, who was appointed the Marquess of Dublin by King Richard II of England on 1 December 1385. On 13 October 1386, the patent of this marquessate was recalled, and Robert de Vere was raised to the rank of the Duke of Ireland. John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, the second illegitimate son of John of Gaunt, was raised to the second marquessate as the Marquess of Dorset in September 1397. In 1399, he was disgraced, and the king revoked his marquessate. The British House of Commons later petitioned King Henry IV for his restoration but the King objected stating "the name of marquess is a strange name in this realm". From that period the title appears to have been dormant till the reign of Henry VI, when it was revived in 1442. The only woman to be appointed as a marquess in her own right was Anne Boleyn, who was appointed the Marquess of Pembroke in preparation for her marriage to Henry VIII. The investiture ceremony was held at Windsor Castle on 1 September 1532.

The title Marquess was always more exclusive than that of an Earl. In the late 19th and in the 20th century many Viceroys of India were appointed as marqueses after their resignation. Some of the German relatives of King George V were made Marquesses in the Peerage of Great-Britain after their denouncing of their German princely titles in 1917. Prince Louis of Battenberg, the princely head of the Battenberg family became the first Marquess of Milford Haven in the peerage of the United Kingdom.

[edit] Forms of address

A British marquess is formally styled "The Most Honourable The Marquess of [X]" and informally styled "Lord [X]', and his wife "Lady [X]". As with dukes, all sons bear the courtesy style "Lord Forename [Surname]" and all daughters bear the courtesy style "Lady Forename [Surname]". This courtesy style for the eldest son, however, is often trumped by a subsidiary title of his father, such as earl or viscount, which is used instead. Especially for signing documents, the signature being only the name of the title, [X]). This form of signature is true for all peers, including peers by courtesy. For example, the Marquess of Salisbury would sign his name merely "Salisbury".

A marquess by courtesy, however (who would always be the heir to a dukedom, since the courtesy title of an heir must always be at least one rank below that of the peer), does not enjoy the style of "Most Honourable", but is merely known as Marquess of [X] (the definite article is omitted because the Duke would be THE Marquess of [X]). The genuine marquess as a peer, however, is always the "Most Honourable the Marquess of [X]", to differentiate a marquess by courtesy (i.e., the heir to a dukedom) from a marquess in his own right.

The spelling of the title in Scotland is very often the "marquis" variation, particularly when the title was created prior to the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707.

[edit] Coronet

A British marquess is entitled to a coronet bearing eight strawberry leaves (three visible) and four silver balls (or pearls) around the rim (two visible). The actual coronet is worn mostly on certain ceremonial occasions, but a marquis can bear his coronet of rank on his coat of arms above the shield.

[edit] References