Objection to marquessates

[Eleanor Doughty]

Hello all,

Just a query re marquessates here, for something I'm writing (to be revealed in due course). Has anyone ever read of anyone declining a marquessate on the grounds that it was too European/not British-sounding enough? I know Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone did so, but wondered if there were any other objections made by other peers about the supposed European-ness of marquessates – or if anyone declined one for other spurious reasons (other than not regarding himself rich enough to take on the dignity)?

The Earl of Harewood declined a marquessate on the basis that these died out quicker than other titles, but I'd be grateful if anyone's memory is jogged with any other examples.

Thanks, as ever,

Eleanor

[S. S.]

Eleanor, we have already discussed this question at length under this thread though not exactly on basis of "objection": 

"Declined Marquisates and Earldoms"
https://groups.google.com/g/peerage-news/c/V5HyTUQmVK8/m/JgGS82-aBAAJ

S.S.

[Eleanor Doughty]

Yes, I know, hence why I asked if another had any further rememberings! 

[Scott55]

Spain seems to only grant the title Marquis to prominent commoners now. The are not inheritable, but said honoree now has precedence at Court, should such a thing be needed.

[https:/www.maltagenealogy.com/LeighRayment/]

The former Head of the Olympics from Spain was created a Marquis. His son succeeded after his passing.

[marquess]

In Spain the rank of Marquess is more common than that of count, a most curious state of affairs. 

[Jonathan]

As was the composer Joaquin Rodrigo. He was succeeded by his daughter, his only child.

[https:/www.maltagenealogy.com/LeighRayment/]

Quote from the thread: "In Spain the rank of Marquess is more common 

than that of count, a most curious state of affairs."

Nobiliario Español - Marquesados
http://unterstein.net/NobEsp?action=s+select&sel1=claseMarquesados&simple=false

Nobiliario Español - Condados
http://unterstein.net/NobEsp?action=s+select&sel1=claseCondados&simple=false

On Friday, August 16, 2024 at 6:10:43 PM UTC+10 Scott55 wrote:

[Paul Theroff]

There is an interesting letter from George III to Lord Bute, 28 April 1763, in which he discusses the efforts of the Earl of Egremont to obtain a Marquessate, which was refused (and at any rate the earl died later that year). The king said that he regretted making John Spencer a Viscount and Talbot an Earl.

Egremont felt that he should be rewarded for his part in securing the recent Peace with France and Spain.

"G. Greenville [recte Grenville] was with me this morning... he told me Lord Egrem is very sour, that his illhumour broke out after dinner yesterday, on this he open’d to me the affair of the Marquisate ; I answered that my dear friend had pressed me very much to do that thing ; but that I had long very long resolved to make [no] Marquises, that I repented having put Lord Talbot and Lord Spencer, the former over so many Viscounts and Barons the other over the Barons ; that I look’d on our Peerage as the most honourable of any country, and that I never would hurt them by putting the juniors of them over the seniors that I intended Lord Egre. the garter whenever I gave one to Lord Halifax; G. Greenville in his tiresome manner dwelt on his having been the pen employ’d in the Peace, but finding he gained no ground, desisted ; Lord Hal. told me the same story: said he never saw a man so illhumoured as Lord Egre. seemed yesterday : I saw his speaking was par maniere d’acquit, and that he manifestly seem’d pleased that he gain’d no ground, so that I suppose I shall tomorrow see this very angry Lord: I am totaly indifferent whether he means to continue so ; perhaps indeed his quitting my service is the best part he can take ; for if he goes unpleasantly my affairs would suffer by it. "

page 326 at:

file:///C:/Users/dpthe/Desktop/george%20iii%20bute.pdf

[marquess]

There is a letter dated March 1776 in which the same monarch writes to the Earl of Bute, I quote from memory.  "I can not but express my astonishment at Lord Harcourt telling Lord Drogheda there would be no difficulty in making him a marquis. I desire to hear no more of these Irish marquises for I feel for English earls and choose not to disgust them further. " Drogheda did get his marquisate.