DULCAMARA

The title of Duke is said to have originated in the usages of the Lower Empire, where it was given to the military governors of provinces. From thence it was borrowed by the Franks, who adopted, in many respects, the titles and distinctions of the empire. Charlemagne Is said to have suffered it to become obsolete, but the emperor Louis created a duke of Thu ring i a in 847. In course of time, according to the usual progre of feudal dignities, the title became hereditary. In Germany the dukes became the chief princes of the empire; this title being proper' to all the secular electors, and to most of the greater feudatories. In other countries their dignity became merely titular. In Italy and France dukes form the second rank in the nobility, being inferior to princes: in England they form the first. The title was not known in'the latter country until the reign of Edward III.; and the word dux is used by writers before that period as s)Tionymous with count or earl. In the eleventh year of the latter monarch the dignity of Duke of Cornwall was bestowed on his eldest son, Edward the Black Prince. In the year 1351, his third son, John of Gaunt, Earl of Lancaster, was created Duke of Lancaster for life, furnishing the next instance of this dignity. In neither of these instances, nor in any subsequent one, according to Sir H. Nicolas {In trod tic tion to the Peerage, vol. i. p. Ixxvii.), was the dignity thus created a dukedom by tenure: it has always remained a personal title only, and descendible according to the limitations of the charter. [s. 382]