duchy
Sign in to saveA duchy, also called a dukedom, is a country, territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess. In Western European tradition, the title of duke ranked among the highest nobility, generally just below the monarch and above counts or earls.
AI overview
A duchy is a territory or domain governed by a duke or duchess, who held one of the highest ranks in the medieval European nobility. This title mattered because dukes wielded significant power and authority—second only to kings or queens—making them major players in the political structure of their time.
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Article
23 sectionsContents
- Examples
- List of duchies
- Baltic provinces and governorates
- Russia
- Croatia
- Denmark
- England
- France
- Georgia
- Holy Roman Empire
- Indonesia
- Naples
- Papal States (Holy See)
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Crusader states
- Other current or historical duchies
- See also
- Fictional duchies
- References
- External links
A duchy, also called a dukedom, is a country, territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess. In Western European tradition, the title of duke ranked among the highest nobility, generally just below the monarch and above counts or earls.
thumb|Birger Jarl (†1266) was Sweden's first prince consort and as Dux sveorum et guttorum and [[regent for his minor son wore a ducal coronet]] Historically, there was a significant distinction between sovereign dukes, who ruled independent states, and dukes who were simply noblemen within larger kingdoms. Some duchies functioned as sovereign states in regions that only later became unified nation‑states, such as Germany (once the Holy Roman Empire, a federal empire) and Italy (later a unified kingdom). By contrast, other duchies were subordinate territories within kingdoms that had already consolidated, either partially or fully, during the medieval era: examples include France, Spain, Sicily, Naples, and the Papal States.