Count

This article is about the title of nobility. For the Roman title, see Comes. For other uses, see Count (disambiguation).
"Countess" redirects here. For other uses, see Countess (disambiguation).
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Count Carl Gustaf Mannerheim (1797–1854), the governor of the Vyborg Province, entomologist and the grandfather of Baron C. G. E. Mannerheim

Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility.[1] Especially in earlier medieval periods the term often implied not only a certain status, but also that the count had specific responsibilities or offices. The etymologically related English term "county" denoted the territories associated with some countships, but not all.

The title of count is typically not used in England or English-speaking countries, and the term earl is used instead. A female holder of the title is still referred to as a countess, however.

  1. ^ Pine, L. G. Titles: How the King Became His Majesty. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1992. p. 73. OCLC 27827106.