Marquess of Winchester

Marquessate of Winchester

Sable, three swords pilewise points in base proper pomels and hilts or
Creation date12 October 1551
Created byEdward VI
PeeragePeerage of England
First holderWilliam Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester
Present holderChristopher Paulet, 19th Marquess of Winchester
Heir apparentMichael Paulet, Earl of Wiltshire
Remainder tothe 1st Earl's heirs male whatsoever
Subsidiary titlesEarl of Wiltshire
Baron St John
StatusExtant
MottoAimez Loyaulté (Love Loyalty)
William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester and Lord High Treasurer of England

Marquess of Winchester is a title in the Peerage of England that was created in 1551 for the prominent statesman William Paulet, 1st Earl of Wiltshire. It is the oldest of six surviving English marquessates; therefore its holder is considered the premier marquess of England. It is also now the only marquessate in the Peerage of England not being subsidiary to a higher title (although it was formerly subsidiary to the extinct Dukedom of Bolton; the other five are all still held by dukes). The current holder is Christopher Paulet, 19th Marquess of Winchester (born 1969), whose son uses the courtesy title Earl of Wiltshire.