Duke,
Earl,
Baron
and
Viscount:
A
Brief
Introduction
to
British
Nobility British
nobility
has
a
rich
history
dating
back
centuries,
and
remains
an
important
cultural
institution
today.
The
four
main
titles
of
nobility
in
the
UK
are
Duke,
Earl,
Baron
and
Viscount.
Each
title
comes
with
its
own
unique
history
and
traditions. The
Duke
is
the
highest
rank
of
nobility
in
the
UK
and
is
usually
reserved
for
members
of
the
royal
family.
The
title
was
introduced
in
the
14th
century,
and
at
the
time
was
awarded
to
the
highest-ranking
nobles
in
the
country.
Today,
there
are
only
24
dukes
in
the
UK,
and
the
title
is
typically
given
to
members
of
the
royal
family
who
are
not
in
line
for
the
throne. Earls
are
the
second-highest
ranking
nobles
in
the
UK.
The
title
was
also
introduced
in
the
14th
century,
and
originally
referred
to
the
leader
of
a
county.
Today,
there
are
over
800
earls
in
the
UK,
and
the
title 「推荐更多 十二生肖运程内容请关注 :奇运网,wWW.IQiYun.CC〕】
is
typically
given
to
members
of
the
aristocracy
who
have
made
significant
contributions
to
their
field. Barons
are
the
third-highest
ranking
nobles
in
the
UK,
and
are
sometimes
referred
to
as
lords.
The
title
was
introduced
in
the
11th
century
as
a
way
to
reward
loyal
followers
of
the
king.
Today,
there
are
over
1200
barons
in
the
UK,
and
the
title
is
typically
given
to
members
of
the
aristocracy
who
have
contributed
to
their
community
or
to
the
country
as
a
whole. Viscounts
are
the
lowest
ranking
of
the
four
main
titles
of
nobility
in
the
UK,
and
were
introduced
in
the
15th
century.
The
title
was
originally
awarded
to
military
officers
who
had
achieved
a
significant
victory.
Today,
there
are
over
250
viscounts
in
the
UK,
and
the
title
is
typically
given
to
members
of
the
aristocracy
who
have
made
a
significant
contribution
to
their
profession
or
to
society. Overall,
British
nobility
remains
an
important
part
of
the
country's
cultural
heritage,
and
continues
to
play
a
significant
role
in
modern
society.
While
the
titles
of
Duke,
Earl,
Baron
and
Viscount
may
be
steeped
in
history,
they
are
still
being
awarded
and
celebrated
today.