Barons are a low-ranking member of the nobility, with the title varying by nation. They historically managed lands and tenant farmers, swore allegiance to the king, and were granted land and serfs. They have the right to wear ceremonial items and are entitled to formal address. Barons can inherit the title, receive letters patent, or be ordained to Parliament. Hereditary peers sit in the House of Lords, with only 92 remaining as of 1999.
A baron is a member of the nobility, with a rank that varies according to the nation. In England and Japan, for example, this rank is the bottom rung of nobility. Many countries use the title of baron or some variation thereof in classification systems for their noble classes, and the title can be conferred or inherited. The female version of this rank is baroness.
The word comes from the Spanish barón, itself taken from the Franca word baro, which refers to a nobleman or warrior. In most European countries, barons played an important role in feudal society by managing lands and tenant farmers and defending the king if necessary. In England, a person of this rank actually swore allegiance specifically to the king or another high-ranking noble. In exchange for this loyalty, he was granted a gift of land and serfs, which could be used to make a living.
A land grant given to a baron is known as a barony. Some baronies were historically quite large, and many have escaped the control of the aristocracy in the modern era, as the role of the nobility in society at large has changed. Barons, for example, no longer control the lives of servants and servants, and they may not always be members of the military responsible for defending their monarchs and home nations.
Barons have the right to wear certain ceremonial items, including crowns and ermine-trimmed robes. The specifics of these items, such as the number of rows of ermine and the number of jewels in a crown, vary by nation, and these items are only worn on ceremonial occasions. Because the niceties of nobility are quite complex, an aristocrat of this rank may consult a professional to ensure they are dressing and behaving appropriately. Barons are also entitled to formal address; again, this varies from country to country, with many known as ‘The Right Honourable’ or ‘Lord’, and baronesses are also entitled to these courtesies.
In the modern era, someone becomes a baron in one of three ways. The son of a baron will inherit the title, although some members of the nobility have chosen to withhold their titles in the interest of social equality. A person can also achieve this rank through letters patent, formal documents from a monarch that are issued to create a new office or formal right. In England, a baron can also be created through a writ of summons ordaining someone to Parliament, effectively creating a new barony. Hereditary peers formed an important part of Parliament, sitting in the House of Lords; as of 1999, only 92 hereditary peers sit in the House of Lords.
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