A duke is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy. The title comes from the Latin Dux Bellorum, which had the sense of "military commander" and was employed by both the Germanic peoples themselves and by the Roman authors covering them to refer to their war leaders.
In the Middle Ages the title signified first among the Germanic monarchies. Dukes were the rulers of the provinc...
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A duke is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy. The title comes from the Latin Dux Bellorum, which had the sense of "military commander" and was employed by both the Germanic peoples themselves and by the Roman authors covering them to refer to their war leaders.
In the Middle Ages the title signified first among the Germanic monarchies. Dukes were the rulers of the provinces and the superiors of the counts in the cities and later, in the feudal monarchies, the highest-ranking peers of the king.
In the Modern Age, with the exception of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, it mostly became a nominal rank without an actual principality. It remains the highest titular peerage in France, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The Pope, as a temporal sovereign, has also but rarely granted the title of Duke and Duchess to persons for services to the Holy See. The last American to be titled a papal duke was Nicholas...
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