Marquess vs. Margrave — What's the Difference?

A marquess (UK: ; French: marquis [maʁki]) is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (Margrave).

Margrave was originally the medieval title for the military commander assigned to maintain the defence of one of the border provinces of the Holy Roman Empire or of a kingdom. That position became hereditary in certain feudal families in the Empire, and the title came to be borne by rulers of some Imperial principalities until the abolition of the Empire in 1806 (e.g., Margrave of Brandenburg, Margrave of Baden).

A British nobleman ranking below a duke and above an earl or a count.

The lord or military governor of a medieval German border province.

Used as a title for such a nobleman.

Used as a hereditary title for certain princes in the Holy Roman Empire.

A title of nobility for a man ranking beneath a duke and above an earl.

(historical) A feudal era military-administrative officer of comital rank in the Carolingian empire and some successor states, originally in charge of a border area.

(obsolete) A marchioness.

(historical) A hereditary ruling prince in certain feudal states of the Holy Roman Empire and elsewhere; the titular equivalent became known as marquis or marquess.

A marquis.

Originally, a lord or keeper of the borders or marches in Germany.

Nobleman (in various countries) ranking above a count

The English equivalent of the German title of nobility, markgraf; a marquis.

A British peer ranking below a duke and above an earl

The military governor of a frontier province in medieval Germany

A German nobleman ranking above a count (corresponding in rank to a British marquess)