Duke of Inverness facts for kids
A Dukedom of Inverness is a special title of nobility. It means someone holds the rank of a "Duke" or "Duchess" and is connected to the place called Inverness in Scotland. Over time, two different "Dukedoms of Inverness" existed, given by different authorities. One was a Jacobite Peerage title, and the other was a British title.
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What is a Dukedom?
A dukedom is the highest rank in the Peerage system. A "peerage" is a system of titles like Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, and Baron. These titles are usually passed down through families. A Duke is a very important noble, often ruling over a "duchy" or a large area of land.
The Jacobite Dukedom of Inverness
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The first Dukedom of Inverness was part of the Jacobite Peerage. The "Jacobite Peerage" refers to titles given by the Stuart kings who had lost their throne. These kings were trying to get their power back. Because they were not the official rulers, the titles they gave were not recognized by the British government.
The only person to hold this Jacobite title was John Hay of Cromlix. He was given the title of Duke of Inverness in 1727. However, since the British government did not recognize the Jacobite kings, they also did not recognize this title. So, John Hay was never officially a Duke in Great Britain.
The British Dukedom of Inverness
A different Dukedom of Inverness was created much later, in 1840. This title was part of the official British peerage. It was given to Lady Cecilia Underwood.
Why was Cecilia given this title?
Cecilia Underwood married Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex. He was the sixth son of King George III. However, their marriage was not considered legal in Britain. This was because of a law called the Royal Marriages Act 1772. This law said that members of the royal family needed the king's permission to marry. Prince Augustus Frederick did not get this permission.
Because their marriage was not legal, Cecilia could not be called the Duchess of Sussex. She also could not be called a British princess. To give her a special honor, Queen Victoria created the title "Duchess of Inverness" just for Cecilia in 1840. This was a unique title that recognized her importance.
How the Title Ended
The title of Duchess of Inverness was given to Cecilia "with remainder to the heirs male of her body lawfully begotten." This means that if she had any legitimate sons, the title would pass to them. However, Cecilia and Prince Augustus Frederick did not have any children together. When Cecilia Underwood passed away in 1873, the Dukedom of Inverness title ended. It was not passed on to anyone else.
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