I'm writing this historical fic, and I'm not sure what to use as the formal title for one of my characters.
If an unmarried earl dies, and the title goes to his cousin, would the former earl's mother retain the title of countess, or would she become the dowager, and the new earl's mother become the countess?
2006-09-27 14:34:33 · 9 answers · asked by Danielle N 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Royalty
First you have to decide what kind of Earl he is. And Earl can be a rank onto itself, or a courtesy title for the eldest son of a Duke.
In the former case, the Earl's mother would already be a dowager anyway, by virtue of being the Earl's mother--it's the Earl's wife who would be the Countess.
In the latter, the Mother of an Earl would be a Duchess, and her rank would not change (and neither would the title be passed on to a cousin).
It's all very complex, and you aren't likely to get an anwer here that is sufficient for your purposes, unfortunately. If you really wish to know, you might want to ask someone at this forum: http://www.thepeerage.com/forum/index.php
Good luck, and don't lose hope!
2006-09-27 20:05:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Phoehart is correct - a woman only gets a title from her husband, not her son. There was an exception in the 19th century, a woman whose husband died and just missed out on inheriting a title that went to her son. And a woman does not lose a title when her husband dies. Diana's stepmother, for example, is still called Raine, Countess Spencer.
2006-09-28 16:47:28 · answer #2 · answered by Dunrobin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the former earl's mother is dowager countess - the mother of the new earl who inherited the earldom from is cousin does not acquire a new title... she retains whatever title she had before her son became the new earl.
2006-09-28 04:17:10 · answer #3 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You would have the new Countess of we say Maryland and the
Dowager Countess of Maryland.
2006-09-29 00:53:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I honestly don't know the answer to this question, however I saw Starrwood's not-so clever rhyming answer and I thought it was quite rude. A good imagination is priceless, and if your writing is leading you to learn more, better yet!
2006-09-27 22:29:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
write what you know about first hand, before you start delving into a world you dont understand.
2006-09-27 22:18:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Parasites one and all.
2006-09-28 21:33:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
all royals have the same name.....arrogant welfare recipients.......and OAP's have to live on a pitance.......a total disgrace
2006-09-28 12:12:57 · answer #8 · answered by manx4080 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
just go with "YRH" - your royal highness
2006-09-28 00:27:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋