Post by The Author on May 25, 2011 10:01:27 GMT -5
Most characters in Jane Austen's novels were members of the gentry, which was the term for gentleman landowners. Many of them had titles and ranks, yet they were not considered part of the high-ranking aristocracy. Here is a brief explanation of titles, ranks, and terms of address:
Aristocracy Titles
▪ Duke, ruler[1] of a duchy,[2] also for junior members of ducal and some grand ducal families. Would be referred to as "Your Grace." His wife would be a duchess.
▪ Marquess was the ruler¹ of a marquessate. Usually the son of a Duke. His wife would be a marchioness.
▪ Count, theoretically the ruler of a county; known as an Earl in modern Britain. Would be called "Lord" or "Count." His wife would be a countess and would be called either "Countess" or "Lady."
▪ Viscount (vice-count), theoretically the ruler of a viscounty or viscountcy. His wife would be a viscountess, or simply Lady.
▪ Baron, theoretically the ruler of a barony – some barons in some countries may have been "free barons" (liber baro) and as such, regarded (themselves) as higher barons. They would be called Baron or Lord, and his wife would be either Baroness or Lady; both were appropriate.
Gentry Titles
▪ Baronet is an hereditary title ranking below Baron but above Knight; this title is granted only in the British Isles. Most gentry titles were "courtesy titles" with no real rank, and would not be recognized by the aristocracy. A baronet would be addressed as Sir, and his wife, Lady.
▪ Knight is the basic rank of the aristocratic system. He would also be known as Sir, and his wife Lady or Dame.
▪ Esquire is a rank of gentry originally derived from Squire and indicating the status of an attendant to a knight or an apprentice knight; it ranked below Knight but above Gentleman. He would not be called Sir, but often would be called Squire.
▪ Gentleman is the basic rank of gentry, historically primarily associated with land or manoral lords; within British Commonwealth nations it is also roughly equivalent to some lower nobility of some continental European nations. Mr. Darcy, for example, would be a Gentleman--no rank or title, but he owned a significant piece of land, which he managed with the help of tenants.
Aristocracy Titles
▪ Duke, ruler[1] of a duchy,[2] also for junior members of ducal and some grand ducal families. Would be referred to as "Your Grace." His wife would be a duchess.
▪ Marquess was the ruler¹ of a marquessate. Usually the son of a Duke. His wife would be a marchioness.
▪ Count, theoretically the ruler of a county; known as an Earl in modern Britain. Would be called "Lord" or "Count." His wife would be a countess and would be called either "Countess" or "Lady."
▪ Viscount (vice-count), theoretically the ruler of a viscounty or viscountcy. His wife would be a viscountess, or simply Lady.
▪ Baron, theoretically the ruler of a barony – some barons in some countries may have been "free barons" (liber baro) and as such, regarded (themselves) as higher barons. They would be called Baron or Lord, and his wife would be either Baroness or Lady; both were appropriate.
Gentry Titles
▪ Baronet is an hereditary title ranking below Baron but above Knight; this title is granted only in the British Isles. Most gentry titles were "courtesy titles" with no real rank, and would not be recognized by the aristocracy. A baronet would be addressed as Sir, and his wife, Lady.
▪ Knight is the basic rank of the aristocratic system. He would also be known as Sir, and his wife Lady or Dame.
▪ Esquire is a rank of gentry originally derived from Squire and indicating the status of an attendant to a knight or an apprentice knight; it ranked below Knight but above Gentleman. He would not be called Sir, but often would be called Squire.
▪ Gentleman is the basic rank of gentry, historically primarily associated with land or manoral lords; within British Commonwealth nations it is also roughly equivalent to some lower nobility of some continental European nations. Mr. Darcy, for example, would be a Gentleman--no rank or title, but he owned a significant piece of land, which he managed with the help of tenants.