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A '''peer''' is a member of the [[nobility]]. It is sometimes used instead of "Lord". In formal old [[United Kingdom|British]] [[wikt:document|documents]], the [[House of Lords]] is called the House of Peers. |
A '''peer''' is a member of the [[nobility]]. It is sometimes used instead of "Lord". In formal old [[United Kingdom|British]] [[wikt:document|documents]], the [[House of Lords]] is called the House of Peers. |
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==Ranks == |
==Ranks == |
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*Baron is the lowest. In [[Scotland]] this is called a Lord, short for ''Lord in Parliament''. |
*Baron is the lowest. In [[Scotland]] this is called a Lord, short for ''Lord in Parliament''. |
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*Viscount |
*Viscount |
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*Earl - this is an old |
*Earl - this is an old Saxon word. In [[Europe]] this rank is called "count", the lord in charge of a [[county]]. An earl's wife is called a ''countess'' |
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*Marquess - A special rank higher than an earl because a marquess's land was in the Marches, the border areas that were hard to defend against attack. A marquess's wife is called a ''marchioness''. There were not many marquesses in Scotland, and they usually spelled the title "marquis" like the [[France|French]] |
*Marquess - A special rank higher than an earl because a marquess's land was in the Marches, the border areas that were hard to defend against attack. A marquess's wife is called a ''marchioness''. There were not many marquesses in Scotland, and they usually spelled the title "marquis" like the [[France|French]] |
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*Duke - the highest rank. |
*Duke - the highest rank. |
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Informally Barons, Viscounts, Earls and Marquesses are called lords, and instead of their name when speaking to them, the term "my lord" is used. A Duke is never called a lord. "Your grace" is used for a Duke. |
Informally Barons, Viscounts, Earls and Marquesses are called lords, and instead of their name when speaking to them, the term "my lord" is used. A Duke is never called a lord. "Your grace" is used for a Duke. |
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== Precedence == |
== Precedence == |
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*The dukes of Gloucester, Kent, Edinburgh and York are the most junior dukes, but because they are [[prince]]s they rank ahead of all other dukes. In 1952 [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|the Queen]] ordered that her husband, the [[Duke of Edinburgh]], would be second only to her<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveViewFrameSetup.asp?webType=0&PageDuplicate=x0%20%20%20%20%20%20&issueNumber=39657&pageNumber=0&SearchFor=Duke%20of%20Edinburgh&selMedalType=&selHonourType=|title=The London Gazette |accessdate=2007-09-03 |author= G. R. Bellew, Garter King of Arms|authorlink= |coauthors= |date=30 September 1952 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=HMSO |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= The QUEEN has been graciously pleased by Warrant bearing date the 18th instant to declare and ordain that His Royal Highness Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Commander in the Royal Navy, shall henceforth upon all occasions and in all Meetings except where otherwise provided by Act of Parliament have, hold and enjoy Place, Pre-eminence and Precedence next to Her Majesty.}}</ref>. |
*The dukes of Gloucester, Kent, Edinburgh and York are the most junior dukes, but because they are [[prince]]s they rank ahead of all other dukes. In 1952 [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|the Queen]] ordered that her husband, the [[Duke of Edinburgh]], would be second only to her<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveViewFrameSetup.asp?webType=0&PageDuplicate=x0%20%20%20%20%20%20&issueNumber=39657&pageNumber=0&SearchFor=Duke%20of%20Edinburgh&selMedalType=&selHonourType=|title=The London Gazette |accessdate=2007-09-03 |author= G. R. Bellew, Garter King of Arms|authorlink= |coauthors= |date=30 September 1952 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=HMSO |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= The QUEEN has been graciously pleased by Warrant bearing date the 18th instant to declare and ordain that His Royal Highness Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Commander in the Royal Navy, shall henceforth upon all occasions and in all Meetings except where otherwise provided by Act of Parliament have, hold and enjoy Place, Pre-eminence and Precedence next to Her Majesty.}}</ref>. |
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*The Duke of Abercorn. When the Irish Marquess of Abercorn was "promoted" in 1868 the duke was listed as a duke of the kingdom of Ireland, but was given precedence as if it was a United Kingdom peerage. Irish peers cannot attend the House of Lords. |
*The Duke of Abercorn. When the Irish Marquess of Abercorn was "promoted" in 1868 the duke was listed as a duke of the kingdom of Ireland, but was given precedence as if it was a United Kingdom peerage. Irish peers cannot attend the House of Lords. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 00:30, 21 May 2009
A peer is a member of the nobility. It is sometimes used instead of "Lord". In formal old British documents, the House of Lords is called the House of Peers.
Ranks
In the United Kingdom there are five ranks of the peerage:
- Baron is the lowest. In Scotland this is called a Lord, short for Lord in Parliament.
- Viscount
- Earl - this is an old Saxon word. In Europe this rank is called "count", the lord in charge of a county. An earl's wife is called a countess
- Marquess - A special rank higher than an earl because a marquess's land was in the Marches, the border areas that were hard to defend against attack. A marquess's wife is called a marchioness. There were not many marquesses in Scotland, and they usually spelled the title "marquis" like the French
- Duke - the highest rank.
Informally Barons, Viscounts, Earls and Marquesses are called lords, and instead of their name when speaking to them, the term "my lord" is used. A Duke is never called a lord. "Your grace" is used for a Duke.
Precedence
Sorting out which peer should precede (come in front of) in a procession or other event depends on three different things:
- The rank. All dukes come before all marquesses, then earls, then viscounts and finally barons.
- Country the peerage was created in. All Dukes first created by the King of England come before those created by the King of Scotland. After this come Dukes of Great Britain whose titles were created between 1707 and 1801. In 1801 Ireland joined Great Britain to form the United Kingdom, so Dukes of Ireland come next, followed by Dukes of the United Kingdom. The other types of peer follow in the same order.
- England
- Scotland
- Great Britain
- Ireland
- United Kingdom
- Finally the order is decided on the year the title was created.
Exceptions
The only exceptions are the royal dukes, and the Duke of Abercorn.
- The dukes of Gloucester, Kent, Edinburgh and York are the most junior dukes, but because they are princes they rank ahead of all other dukes. In 1952 the Queen ordered that her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, would be second only to her[1].
- The Duke of Abercorn. When the Irish Marquess of Abercorn was "promoted" in 1868 the duke was listed as a duke of the kingdom of Ireland, but was given precedence as if it was a United Kingdom peerage. Irish peers cannot attend the House of Lords.
References
- ↑ G. R. Bellew, Garter King of Arms (30 September 1952). "The London Gazette". HMSO. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
The QUEEN has been graciously pleased by Warrant bearing date the 18th instant to declare and ordain that His Royal Highness Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Commander in the Royal Navy, shall henceforth upon all occasions and in all Meetings except where otherwise provided by Act of Parliament have, hold and enjoy Place, Pre-eminence and Precedence next to Her Majesty.
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