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Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. [1] Especially in earlier medieval periods the term often implied not only a certain status, but also that the count had specific responsibilities or offices.
Ajaw, In Maya meaning "lord", "ruler", "king" or "leader". Was the title of the ruler in the Classic Maya polity. A variant being the title of K'inich Ajaw or "Great Sun King" as it was used to refer to the founder of the Copán dynasty, K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo'. The female equivalent is a Ix-ajaw. Kaloomte', In Maya meaning "high king" or ...
Children of peers can outrank certain actual peers. For instance, the daughter of a duke outranks a countess. However, if the daughter of a duke marries an earl, she drops to the rank of countess, because her courtesy title is subsumed in his substantive title; however, if that same daughter marries a commoner, she retains her rank.
A feminine form of earl never developed; [note 1] instead, countess is used. The title originates in the Old English word eorl, meaning "a man of noble birth or rank". [3] The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form jarl. After the Norman Conquest, it became the equivalent of the continental count. In Scotland, it assimilated the concept of ...
German titles of nobility were usually inherited by all male-line descendants, although some descended by male primogeniture, especially in 19th and 20th century Prussia (e.g., Otto von Bismarck, born a baronial Junker (not a title), was granted the title of count extending to all his male-line descendants, and later that of prince in ...
Christopher, Count de Paus (1862–1943), in the court dress of a papal chamberlain. A Norwegian convert to Catholicism, he was appointed a papal gentleman by Benedict XV in 1921 and created a count by Pius XI in 1923. The papal nobility are the aristocracy of the Holy See, composed of persons holding titles bestowed by the Pope.
Viscount comes from the Latin vicecomes, meaning 'vice-count' - or below a count (indicating its ranking as below Earls who are themselves equivalent to a continental Count). The rank was created in 1440. The feminine form is Viscountess. Baron comes from the Old Germanic baro, meaning 'freeman'. The rank was created in 1066.
A few titles are also common in diminutive form as terms of affection for young people (e.g. Principino for "Princeling" or Contessina for "the Little Countess"). Imperatore (Emperor) / Imperatrice (Empress) Re (King) / Regina (Queen) Principe (Prince) / Principessa (Princess) Duca (Duke) / Duchessa (Duchess) Marchese (Marquis) / Marchesa ...