Margaret, Maid of Norway, was born in 1283 and became the Queen of Scotland at the tender age of 3 years old after her grandfather, KIng Alexander III of Scotland died in 1286.
During this time, her Guardians of Scotland were to insure that once she became older she would still hold her throne and were to marry Edward I. Not much was said about her reign due to her guardians and older members of her family,
In 1290 Margaret was to set sail with protection to England for negotiations of marriage. However, during her journey, Margaret became very ill with possibility of food poisoning, and died in Bishop Narve’s arms at just 7 years old in the year of 1290.
From the her Majesty The Queen to a Lady, titles have been with the British, Irish, and Scottish nobles for centuries; but what are the titles for and who deserves them? Also, why do titles appear to come off as confusing and/or misunderstood? I’m here to provide you with a full break down of titles with their roles and duties (whichever one you are interested in, you can scroll down until you find it) :)
King & Queen
I thought it would be best to start from the highest (and most familiar) Title and that is the King and Queen. There is only one type of King, but two types of Queens:
The role of the King or Sovreign is considered as the leader and ruler of the people or country. There was a time when the Monarchy had power over politics of the country, but after the Magna Carta of 1215, the sovreign must have legal descisions approved by council or what we call today, a parliment. The King is a symbolism of the head of state. The Head of Government however, is the Prime Minister.
As noted earlier, there are 2 different types of Queens (well, actually 4, but I’ll get to that part in a moment, and why I said 2). To your left, you see Victoria as Queen Regnant, meaning she is the queen in her right as deserving by blood line. Women were never absent from the role of taking the throne, but since religion and family played a big factor during these times, it was intended and hoped for men to take the throne. To your right, to see Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (Queen Elizabeth II’s mother) as Queen Consort, meaning she was married to a King. If the King dies before the Queen Consort, then she is considered as Queen Dowager. In this particular instance, Elizabeth has witnessed her husband die, and her daughter Elizabeth II to become queen, which also gives her the name as Queen Mother (see how that works?)
Duke & Duchess
Now you might think that I would have put Prince & Princess next here, but….let me explain. The Duke is the highest in ranking next to the King or Queen, whichever is on the throne. This title can be earned by the King or Queen. There is another Title named Grand Duke or Arch Duke before the title Duke, but here we’re only referring to Duke. A Duchess is a woman who is married to a Duke for her to earn her title. Remember, since the roles in the Medival stages (when Dukedom started, 1337) honored the man, A Duke cannot earn a title by marrying a woman that was already a Duchess. Dukedom does not have to be an inhereted title.
Prince & Princess
Prince Albert of Sax-Coburg
A Prince is an inhereted title from whomever is on the throne by blood. Usually, it is the next in line to the throne if they are the first born; but it wasn’t until the Perth Agreement in 2015, allowed the next sibling (whether male or female) to become next in line of succession (if the first born does not have chidren). Here, you can see Prince Albert was already a Prince, but once he married Queen Victoria, he became Prince Consort. You may ask yourself “Well why wasn’t he a King Consort if he married a Queen?” Victoria wanted her husband to become King Consort, but her council would not allow him because of where he was from (Germany). There are some perks however; if a Prince marries a queen, he has a higher ranking than his children (Hence Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh). But if he is not around his wife, then his children rank higher than he does. The Duke and the Prince rankings somewhat intertwine with each other, depending on who their around. A Princess is also an inhereted title from either the King or Queen of royal blood. Her ranking also applies the same as a duchess. A princess can marry, but her husband will not become a prince. Another ranking for a princess is a Princess Royal, which is the first born girl of the royal family.
Victoria, Princess Royal. Oldest and 1st born girl of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Marquess & Marchioness
These two titles may have not really been talked about, but that is why you’re reading this now! The Ranking of the Marquess (Mark-Key) is lower than a Duke, and their role was to protect the Monarchy of any potential enemies throughout the United Kingdom. A Marchioness (Mar-Shuness) is a woman or a widow of a Marquess earning her right to this particular title. She too is a ranking below a duchess.
Earl & Countess
An Earl held the title with more control over land and finances. They are the ones who keep track of any debts and taxes that needs to be collected if they had land being used for tenants. This title can be earned by King or Queen, and by inheretence. A Countess or Lady is a title by marriage to an Earl. She would have to earn this title by marriage (I hope you are noticing the pattern on how the women earn their titles!) Also, if the father is a Duke, the titles descends from there (Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, Baron, etc.), until the father passes, then the older son becomes a duke.
Viscount & Viscountess
For A Viscount, you would consider their role as a Lietenant or deputies in in control of delegations. This title is normally earned by inheritence his father is a Duke or even a King. A Viscountess of course is married or is a widow to a Viscount. She has earned her right as such, and is Also called a Lady.
Baron & Baroness
This may be one of rankings towards the bottom, but still has significant roles. A Baron is what you would call “loyalty for land”. This means that he pledges loyalty to the throne and in return is given land that he can pass down to his children. A Baroness Title is earned once married, but is very responsible within her Barony. In Government today, there are Baroness’ joined together with the Barons under The House Of Lords.
Knight & Dame
A Knight is there to protect the lands of the monarchy as a warrior and able to withstand long days at war. A Dame is the wife of the Knight, or a member of knighthood.
Esquire
An Esquire is responsible for the land of the Knight, but not yet a Knight himself. Today it is more used at the end, or no significance at all. Others use it if they’re practicing Law. However, if you want to know the best social status? Esquires.
Lord & Lady
This is the lowest ranking throughout nobility, but just as familiar as the King & Queen (interesting right?) In the Medieval days, a Lord or Gentlemen obtains the role of all the land that surrounds him. Owned a high responsibility. Today this role is established under Government through Parliament. A Lady is a woman that not only is married to a Lord, but considered as a personal assistant to Royalty. She is also called a Lady-In-Waiting (Queen of Scots had four of them!).
Although this is Queen’s blog page I was compelled and inspired to write to you guys about my thoughts and a little bit of fun facts on what it would be like to live in time, date, and year of March 16th 1821. For some odd reason lately, I repeatedly kept seeing the number 316. From what I understand of it, it means to love yourself as well as others, and to become more creative and evolve with your craft (hence the writing today).
Hm, lets see.. 1821. That’s 16 years before Victoria became Queen of England (16? 3 1 6?) . Slavery was still legal in the United States (but illegal in Mexico), and the industrial era with factories, scientists, and inventors was growing more by the day.
With that being said, what exactly would I see or what could I see during this time? I don’t really know, but using my imagination I would say I’d see cabins as homes, and inside the kitchen has wooden counter tops, a square sink with a bucket of water inside, dishes to my right, candles every where, and an icebox to keep the food cool. I would see in the living area placed with a wooden coffee table, a white blanket on the left side of the dark blue couch, and once I sit down I’m facing the fire place with fresh wood inside. Outside would be an Outhouse made from the ground up (please don’t imagine the smell!). Over the horizon you see a black streak across the sky from the town 2 miles away in a random but prominent named town like “City Of Jamestenson”. As I make my journey and arrive to Jamestenson (let’s say I’m on a horse and carriage), my first stop is to go to the retail store and see the dresses! I would come across something like this:
High waistline, broad shouldered, silk dress with its own authentic design. This store is filled with different designs, styles, and colors. Store owner is welcoming and sells me the dress for $10.00 ($224.00 today… wow). I leave the store and across the street I see a beautiful park with kids playing and feeding the birds. To my right up ahead I see the newest factory that struck their 12:00PM bell for lunch. I have no idea what they produce, but I hope it’s beneficial for the future! Right before I leave the city, I’m over towered by an amazing university with the engravement of “University Of Jamestenson 1760” viewed with windows gallore and a statue of President James Monroe (ha! I just made the city name up!). As I move further along from the dirt roads to the bay, I see travellers stepping on to the ramp to get on the ships for their journey across the ocean to go days to their new home in a new country. Men with their high-top hats and blue/black suit, checking the time on their gold pocket watch with white gloves, takes a deep breath, and proceeds to wait.
Since its nice and cool, yet sunny and warm, a farm up ahead. The men share cropping, with brown and cream colored straw hats, freshly shaved black beard, white vest, black suspenders, and gray pants, and brown boots, pushing faster on a nice day. Women picking off the cotton with blue garden gloves, while dressed in white or blue, the bell of the dresses are flared enough to catch the wind, and their hats are tied to their chin while singing harmoniously. Further travelling, I reach a much smaller town named “Ides” (Like The Ides of March). Down the main road, a woman is holding a basketful of dried clothes from the clothes line heading inside their yellow house, horses pulling crates of moonshine to the nearest warehouse, and mail carriers riding as fast as they can to Jamestenson, the carriage had to move over since there were no stop signs until 1915.
Ending my day with this marvelous journey back in time to 1821 (with help of an imagination), I wrote in my journal of the past. What I saw, how everyone spoke, the styles of suits and dresses, the entertainment of theater and dance, travel, natural grown food, products, and resources, and different types of labor. I really believe this is one of my favorite times of history to look back on because of the way things naturally were. If I could create my own world, it would be here. 1821.
Mary Tudor or Queen Mary I, held her reign for a short moment from 1553 to 1558. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII, and Queen Catherine Of Aragon. Mary was also the first queen of royal succession to the English Throne.
Mary went through difficult times in her life, from becoming the Kings princess, to a lady-in-waiting, she felt that all the odds were against her. Luckily her brother King Edward VI decided to bring back to the Royal Court with another opportunity to gain her initial birth right to the thone. Having Edward die at a young age, Mary became Queen in 1553. Due to her decline in health, and troubled marriage from a false pregnancy producing an heir, Mary died at the age of 42, making her half sister, Elizabeth reign Queen.
Queen Elizabeth I (Elizabeth Tudor) was Queen Of England from 1558 to 1603. She was considered very powerful, and also very loved. She had her differences with religion amongst her sister Queen Mary I and Mary Queen Of Scots, which became almost always a battle to hold her throne.
She was known as “The Virgin Queen”. because she chose not to marry. She grew up around men, and was taught many languages therefore making Elizabeth feel more than qualified to earn the Crown. Once she became queen after her sister Mary died, she was immediately ready to take the throne. She was attentive in council (all ran by men at the time), and was invested in the choices that were made. She was a natural born leader, and handled wars and government with class. Her reign lasted for 45 years.
