Viscount - Wikipedia Viscounts are the fourth rank in the British peerage, standing directly below an earl and above a baron (Lord of Parliament in Scotland) There are approximately 270 viscountcies extant in the peerages of the British Isles, though most are secondary titles
Whats the Difference Between a Duke, Earl, Count, Viscount, Baron, and . . . But first, a quick primer: All of the people holding the titles of duke duchess, marquess marchioness, earl countess, viscount viscountess, and baron baroness are part of the “peerage” of the United Kingdom, and those titles get bestowed directly from the monarch or inherited from an ancestor
Viscount | Definition, History Examples | Britannica viscount, a European title of nobility, ranking immediately below a count, or earl It is one of the five ranks of British nobility and peerage, which, in descending order, are duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron
What Is a Viscount? Meaning History Explained Traditionally, viscounts acted as deputies to earls or local administrators Interestingly, the title was once used for deputy sheriffs responsible for law enforcement, reflecting the viscount’s unique origins The term viscount is derived from the Latin “vice comes,” meaning deputy of a count
What Does viscount Do? Meaning Uses Explained In the past, viscounts were often given land or responsibilities by kings or queens as a reward for loyalty or service Today, the title is mostly ceremonial, but it can still bring prestige or recognition
Viscount and Viscountess - Unofficial Royalty The word Viscount comes from the Old French visconte, which itself comes from the Medieval Latin vicecomitem, and referred to a trusted appointee or courier, and later a count In Anglo-Norman England, it was used as an honorific, typically referring to a county sheriff Wives of Viscounts, and women holding a Viscountcy in their own right, use the title Viscountess
Viscount vs Duke – What’s The Difference? - Royal Titles In terms of aristocratic rank, Duke is one of the highest noble titles, ranking just below many royal titles in most European social systems Viscount is a mid-ranking noble title, ranking two or three places below a Duke in the established aristocratic hierarchy
A Viscount, History of Viscounts, British Peerage System, Duke The role of the viscounts was to administer justice and collect revenues and taxes from the subjects and often act as castellan of the local castle The position of the viscounts developed into a hereditary role under the Normans
List of viscounts in the peerages of Britain and Ireland List of viscounts in the peerages of Britain and Ireland This is a list of the 108 present and extant Viscounts in the Peerages of England, Scotland, Great Britain, Ireland, and the United Kingdom