Fantasy Guide to Marquesses & Marchionesses
This new series will offer an indepth view of each noble title in the standard European hierarchy of noble titles. Here we will discuss what they are, their lands, their jobs and everything you need to know when writing them. Today, we will focus on Marquesses.
What exactly is a Marquess?
A Marquess is second highest rank one can hold today but once, it was the same as the Earl/Count - the only difference is that their lands were at the borders. Or the 'March' or 'mark'. This of course is an important stretch of land (the marquessate) so it stands that the Marquess is very powerful. A Marquessate is passed along to one's children and granted by the monarch.
Titles, Titles
The Marquess is addressed as The Most Honourable, Lord X. For example, Bertie Pelham of Downton Abbey is the Marquess of Hexham and is referred to as Lord Hexam. A ruling female Marquess is a Marchioness. However, Anne Boleyn held this rank with the title Marquess rather than Marchioness.
The Family of the Marquess
Like the aforementioned Duke, the Marquess may have extra titles but will just go by Marquess as it's the highest of their titles. Their heir will usually adopt the second highest of their titles like Earl/Count or Viscount. Their sons would be styled Lord Firstname and their daughters as Lady Firstname. The wife of a Marquess is a Marchioness, but the husband of a Machioness (in her own right), would not be. He would just retain his birth title. As for same-sex couples, I'm spitballing here, but they may take on a secondary title of the Marquess/Marchioness or just retain their birth titles.
The Role of the Marquess
As mentioned before, Marquessates are on the border so they are in charge of patrolling the border, they are in charge of everybody in their Marquessate from peasant right up to Earl/Count. They are in control of this section, the highest power in law and order, politics and all things in that section with only the Duke and monarch above them . They handle administration at the highest level, raising troops for the crown in times of war, see the collection of taxes and sometimes they might even advise the monarch if they are offered a place of the monarch's council. They would also attend the monarch at their coronation.
Cribs
Marquesses like a lot of nobility would have multiple houses, manors, estates etc. Their homes would be among the grandest in the land and the social hubs for the marquessate - even the country. A Marquess would sometimes live at court when invited but would also have the homes in the capital. This vast portfolio can become a source of income as the Marquess can rent them out or a handy way to shelf relatives who depended on them.
