Splitting Heirs Trivia Quiz

Answer: Marchioness

In the British nobility, they rank just below a duke. Perhaps the most familiar title is the Marquess of Queensberry known for the rules of boxing. Their office is called a marquessate.

Answer: Duchesse

This title comes from the Latin verb "duco, ducere", "to lead." The title of Duke is found in various forms in most countries' nobility. In northern Italy some of the major city states had "doges", which is etymologically related to 'duke', but they were in fact the heads of state. The best known examples are the doges of Venice and Genoa.

Answer: Landgräfin

Germany had a few different orders of "Graf", which is analogous to a count or earl. The title was only used in lands that were at one time or another a part of the Holy Roman Empire. The more senior of them were Markgrafen (margraves) and Landgraves.

They often had extensive imperial powers in their territories. (Compare with the English "Earl Marcher"). The Elector (Count) Palatine of the Rhine (Kurpfalzgraf am Rhein) was viceroy of the Holy Roman Empire and exercised imperial authority during an interregnum.

As the emperorship was an elective monarchy an interregnum occurred after the death of every emperor: it took time to assemble the various electors.

Answer: Infanta

This title comes from the feminine form of it the noun "Infante", which is the masculine form. This latter title is used by Spanish and Portuguese royalty. The title Infanta is used only by the Spanish royalty.

Answer: Principessa

Italian titles were abundant! Prior to Italian unification in 1861-70, the Italian peninsula was governed by many different Kings, Dukes and Grand Dukes in addition to the Papal States. All created noble ranks leading to their great numbers.

The word "principe" was also used in a more general sense for a ruler.

Answer: Duqueza

Portugal was a monarchy from 1139 until the revolution of 1910. The current Duke of Braganza is the successor to the former ruling House of Braganza.

Answer: Graafin

The Netherlands has been a kingdom since the defeat of Napoleon in 1815. Many people find the Dutch Royals to be the most "down to earth" of all the world's royals.

Answer: Tsarina

The title Tsar comes from the Latin "caeser". In 1547, Ivan IV, known as Ivan the Terrible, adopted this title. Prior to that, the Russian ruler was known as the Grand Duke of Moscovy. The rule of the Tsars ended with the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.

Answer: Grand Duke

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was formed after the Napoleonic Wars at the 1815 Council of Vienna. It has the highest per capita income in Europe. This might explain why this small country's Grand Duchess has got some gigantic tiaras!

Answer: Crown Prince

Belgium has been a monarchy since it gained independence in 1830. Belgium is a trilingual country with French and Dutch spoken by the majority and a small percentage of German speakers.