Viscount
Visconte is a redirect to this article. For the Australian footballer, see Rocky Visconte.
This article is about the title of nobility. For other meanings, see Le Vicomte.
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Viscount (from Latin vicecomes, English viscount, Dutch burggraaf, Italian visconte, Spanish vizconde, Portuguese visconde) was originally a vice count, i.e. the deputy of a count (French comte, Italian conte, Spanish conde, English count, etc.).
In Great Britain, France, the Netherlands and Belgium it is the independent title of a nobleman standing between baron and count (earl or comte).
The term first appeared in the Franconian Empire in 819 and designated the office of a deputy of the count ("vice-count"), which was associated with duties of jurisdiction, administration and economic use of the count's domain. The office became partly hereditary there from the 10th century, was gradually associated with direct power over a fief, and finally developed into an independent noble dignity.
In France, the eldest son of a count or marquis often held the title of viscount. The administrative district or country estate was called vice-county (French vicomté, Spanish vizcondado), etc. In the case of the Italian noble family Visconti, the official title (in the plural) became the family name, similar to the Conti.
Rank crown of a French Vicomte
See also
- Burgrave
- Vesconte
- Viscount
- Vicomte weight
- List of the vice-counties of France
Norm data (subject term): GND: 4316878-4
