Italian nobility

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In the eleventh century, the rulers of vast regions were known by the title of Count. Until around 1300, titles of nobility were not necessary as indications of high birth due to the fact that aristocrats bore surnames, while common people were known only by given names. Titles of nobility had existed before 1300, yet these were usually military ranks and not hereditary. During the fourteenth century however, titles became hereditary in most of Italy, usually transmitted by primogeniture and almost always linked to land. There was a time, until around 1812, when the purchase of land designated "feudal" ennobled the buyer; the purchaser of a county thus became a count.

In the Kingdom of Italy, titles did not accord their holders parliamentary seats as it did in the United Kingdom with the House of Lords or, indeed, any particularly noteworthy privileges save for some purely heraldic advantages, such as the legal use of a title and precedence at the Royal Court.

Ranks

Prince/ Princess (Principe, Principessa), derives from the Latin princeps, meaning first, this is the highest Italian title of nobility, and also the title accorded members of the royal families. Many of Italy's noble princes, particularly in northern regions, are princes "of the Holy Roman Empire," and lack feudal territorial designations attached to their titles. In most cases, the holder of a princely title in Italy is the descendant of forebears who in antiquity were barons or counts, the family having been elevated through the nobiliary ranks over the centuries. Until the latter part of the nineteenth century, princes were addressed most formally as "Your Excellency," a form of address that may be compared, in this instance, to the British use of "Your Grace" for a duke or duchess. The younger son of a prince, and the heir before succession to the title, use of the honorific appellations don (lord) and donna (lady) for the son and daughter of a prince is obsolete except in formal documents issued by institutions that recognize Italian titular nobility.

Duke/ Duchess (Duca, Duchessa) is derived from the Latin dux, who was originally a military leader, this title originally was reserved to the sovereign rulers eg the Duke of Spoleto. Like princedoms, dukedoms are sometimes borne by peers whose early medieval forebears were barons, were originally knights or held other titles. Like princes, dukes were formerly accorded the address "Your Excellency." The younger son of a duke, and the heir before succession to the title, is a "noble of the dukes of" X.

Marquess/ Marchioness (Marchese, Marchesa) comes from marchio, referring to the man charged with guarding a or border territory, and the French marquis shares the same origin. The Marches region, which borders Umbria, is so-called because it was once such a territory. Most marquessates are of modern foundation. The younger son of a marquess, and the heir to the title, is a "noble of the marquesses of" X. Marquesses and their consorts are most formally addressed verbally by title and surname; since in Italy a woman usually continues to use her own father's surname even after marriage, a marchesa may bear a surname other than her husband's.

Count/ Countess (Conte, Contessa) traces its origin from the Latin "comes". Comital territories were large in the eleventh century, but virtually indistinguishable from baronies by the fourteenth century. For purposes of precedence, there is no contemporary distinction between a feudal count and a count palatine; the latter was usually a court officer who lacked a territorial designation attached to his title. It is noteworthy that conte is one of the few Italian titles sometimes, though rarely, inherited by all heirs male, as in the case of the family of Count Ivan Filippo Stipanov of Dalmatia. Depending on the terms set forth in the patent of creation. The younger son of a count, and the heir before succession to the title, is "noble of the counts of X". Counts and their consorts are most formally addressed verbally by title and surname. Counts palatine were created by certain sovereigns and by the Popes and usually bore no territorial designations attached to their surnames

Viscount/ Viscountess (Visconte, Viscontessa). Originally vice comes, for the attendant of a count, this is the rarest of the modern Italian peerage titles. The younger son of a viscount, and the heir before succession to the title, is a "noble of the viscounts of X" (nobile dei visconti di X).

Baron/Baroness (Barone, Baronessa). The title is probably of Germanic origin; the Latin root baro referred to a simpleton, but by the Middle Ages baronis was a title of nobility or, more often, someone employed in reference to holders property. Most seigneuries (see below) were eventually elevated to baronies. In the south of Italy, the most important medieval baronies were elevated to princedoms or dukedoms by the eighteenth century. The title barone was, by 1800, established to be a creation or recognition resulting from royal prerogative, not an honorific privilege to be appropriated by any wealthy landholder. Heraldic regulation in the Kingdom of Italy further established that the sons of barons could no longer appropriate cavaliere as a courtesy title. Barone is the most frequent of the modern Italian peerage titles. The younger son of a baron, and the heir before succession to the title, was know as "noble of the baron of X (nobile dei baroni di X).

Signore was originally a feudal lord, the title was introduced into Italy by the Franks. Formerly a minor peerage, the title is rarely used today for two main reasons. These being; most signori bear greater titles by which they are commonly known, and because, in common parlance, signore has come to mean "Mister". It may, albeit in an abstract sense, be compared to such ancient titles as esquire. Seigneuries were feudal lands, similar to baronies, appertaining to certain lords, either as sub-fiefs attached to baronies or, more often, depending from the Crown directly. This is the lowest title which carries a seat.

Italian nobility

Ranks

See also