Marquis facts for kids

An old picture of a marquis in his special robe.

A marquis (pronounced mar-kwis) is a special title of nobility found in many countries across Europe. Think of nobility as a group of people with high social rank, often with special privileges or duties. This title is usually considered to be a rank that is higher than an earl but lower than a duke.

The female version of this title is often called a marquessa. This title can be held by the wife of a marquis. Sometimes, a woman can even be granted the title of marquessa in her own right, meaning she gets it herself, not just by marrying a marquis.

What is a Marquis?

A marquis is a noble title, meaning it's part of a system where people have different social ranks. This system was very important in the past. People with noble titles often had land, power, and influence. They were usually close to the monarch, like a king or queen.

How the Title is Given

A monarch would usually give the title of marquis to someone for a few reasons. It was often a reward for long and loyal service to the crown. It could also be given to someone who had done something very important or brave for their country. This was a great honor and showed that the monarch trusted and valued that person.

Passing Down the Title

The title of marquis is usually hereditary. This means it passes down from one generation to the next within a family. Most often, when a marquis dies, his oldest son inherits the title. In some countries, all of his sons might receive a noble title, but usually only the oldest gets the main marquis title.

If a marquis dies without any male heirs (sons), the title usually becomes extinct. This means the title no longer exists for that family. It is not held by anyone living anymore.

Images for kids

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  The Marquess of Trazegnies

See also

In Spanish: Marqués para niños