Duke

Duke (Latin dux, a leader or general). The Roman Emperor Constantine divided the military and civil functions of provincial governors the better to keep them in subjection, and appointed commanders-in-chief (magistri, masters) of cavalry and infantry, tinder whom were district commanders (duces), some of whom had the title of comites (counts). The German tribes used the term to translate their own word heretoga (Germ. Herzog), leader of the army. The Franks (q.v.) divided Gaul into districts, whose commanders were duces or comites, several of the latter being sometimes grouped under one of the former. Charles the Great redivided his empire similarly. After his death, however, the office became hereditary, and was formally recognised as such in 877. The Exarchs of Ravenna, too, appointed dukes over the cities of North Italy. The rank has existed in every nobility of Europe. It was not introduced into England till 1337, when Edward III. created his son, the Black Prince, Duke of Cornwall. It need hardly be said that with the growth of great centralised monarchies the rank, which originally was official, became disconnected from any special duties (save those of a peer) in England and France, and that the duke need have little or no connection with the place whence he takes his title. In both countries it is the highest rank of the nobility. For a time in the reign of Elizabeth it was in abeyance in England. Princes of the blood are often created dukes with us. Other dukes, as also duchesses, are addressed as "Your Grace" and styled "Most Noble." Their eldest sons, by courtesy, rank as Marquises, and bear their father's second title. Their other sons are "Lords" by courtesy, and their daughters "Ladies" (e.g. Lord Randolph Churchill, Lady Diana Beauclerk). The ducal coronet has eight golden leaves (commonly called "strawberry leaves") arranged in a wreath on a circlet of gold, which contains a crimson velvet cap, with gold tassel, and lined with ermine. Dukes in the Scottish and Irish peerage, of course, do not sit in the House of Lords as such, but in right of English (usually inferior) titles. In France, before the Revolution, some dukes were peers of France, some were dukes by letters patent (of these dignities there were two kinds), and some dukes for life only, while the three first were hereditary. Abolished at the Revolution, the title was revived by Napoleon I., and dukes were created under the restored Bourbon and Orleanist monarchies and the Third Empire. Of course, the rank is now merely titular. In Germany, as formerly in Italy, the title of Duke or Grand Duke is borne by the sovereign or semi-sovereign potentates. Austrian Archdukes and Russian Grand Dukes are members of the reigning families. The title of duke is similarly restricted in Sweden and Denmark.