Some titles of nobility outside Europe may be considered as equivalents of Duke.
Like other major Western noble titles, duke is sometimes used to render (translate) certain titles in non-western languages. "Duke" is used even though those titles are generally etymologically and often historically unrelated and thus hard to compare. However, they are considered roughly equivalent, especially in hierarchic aristocracies such as feudal Japan, useful as an indication of relative rank.
In the most general of terms, Gong ( Chinese: 公; Wade–Giles: Kung) was the hereditary title of nobility of the first rank, usually translated as Duke or Lord. [1]
Under the Manchu (ruling ethnicity of the last imperial dynasty), there were ducal titles in both types of titled nobility.
Within the imperial family (extended, but limited; such systematic titulature is unknown in Europe) there were fourteen ranks, arranged in the following descending order:
All, except the ninth grade, were heritable for a specific number of generations, ranging from twenty-six generations for a first class Kung to one generation for a Yün Ch'i Yü. In certain instances, some titles were held by Right of Perpetual Inheritance Shixi wangti ( Wade–Giles: Shih Hsi Wang T'i).
Historian Harold G. Marcus equates the Ethiopian title of Ras ( Ge'ez: ራስ, romanized: ras, lit. 'head') to a Duke. [2] The combined title of Leul (Prince) Ras was given to the heads of the cadet branches of the Imperial dynasty, such as the Princes of Gojjam, Tigray, and Selale.
The highest-ranking of the fives titles of the kazoku (flowery lineage (華族)), the hereditary peerage of Japan between 1869 and 1947, kōshaku, is rendered in Western languages either as prince or as duke. [3] [4]
In Goryeo Dynasty, there were two ranks similar to that of duke. The upper was Gukgong ( Korean: 국공; Hanja: 國公; lit. duke of the nation). Gukgong was the first rank of Goryeo peerage system, and 3,000 families gave their agricultural production and workforce for Gukgong. The lower was Gungong ( Korean: 군공; Hanja: 郡公; lit. duke of county), which took 2,000 families' production and workforce. In bureaucratic order, Gukgong was in upper second rank, and Gungong was in lower second rank.
In Joseon Dynasty, there was no title that is equivalent to Duke.
In the Kingdom of Benin, an Enogie is a viceroyal chieftain of royal rank that reigns as the representative of the oba of Benin. Such a titleholder is superior to an Odionwere (a viceroyal chief who is not of the blood royal), and is therefore often a cadet of the Benin royal family. Enogies are referred to as dukes in English.
In Yorubaland, a viceroyal chief is known as a Baale. Although not of royal rank and thus barred from wearing a crown, a baale is nevertheless given considerable autonomy in the kingdom that he serves: he can appoint sub-chiefs, and often performs rites in traditional ceremonies that would otherwise be the oba's prerogative.
In the Sokoto Caliphate, a viceroyal chief is known as a Hakimi. He is often, but not necessarily, a relative of the reigning sultan or emir, and is commonly referred to as a district head in English.
Male members of the Imperial clan received, in addition to a birthright title by degree of parentage, one of nine senior titles of nobility:
Some titles of nobility outside Europe may be considered as equivalents of Duke.
Like other major Western noble titles, duke is sometimes used to render (translate) certain titles in non-western languages. "Duke" is used even though those titles are generally etymologically and often historically unrelated and thus hard to compare. However, they are considered roughly equivalent, especially in hierarchic aristocracies such as feudal Japan, useful as an indication of relative rank.
In the most general of terms, Gong ( Chinese: 公; Wade–Giles: Kung) was the hereditary title of nobility of the first rank, usually translated as Duke or Lord. [1]
Under the Manchu (ruling ethnicity of the last imperial dynasty), there were ducal titles in both types of titled nobility.
Within the imperial family (extended, but limited; such systematic titulature is unknown in Europe) there were fourteen ranks, arranged in the following descending order:
All, except the ninth grade, were heritable for a specific number of generations, ranging from twenty-six generations for a first class Kung to one generation for a Yün Ch'i Yü. In certain instances, some titles were held by Right of Perpetual Inheritance Shixi wangti ( Wade–Giles: Shih Hsi Wang T'i).
Historian Harold G. Marcus equates the Ethiopian title of Ras ( Ge'ez: ራስ, romanized: ras, lit. 'head') to a Duke. [2] The combined title of Leul (Prince) Ras was given to the heads of the cadet branches of the Imperial dynasty, such as the Princes of Gojjam, Tigray, and Selale.
The highest-ranking of the fives titles of the kazoku (flowery lineage (華族)), the hereditary peerage of Japan between 1869 and 1947, kōshaku, is rendered in Western languages either as prince or as duke. [3] [4]
In Goryeo Dynasty, there were two ranks similar to that of duke. The upper was Gukgong ( Korean: 국공; Hanja: 國公; lit. duke of the nation). Gukgong was the first rank of Goryeo peerage system, and 3,000 families gave their agricultural production and workforce for Gukgong. The lower was Gungong ( Korean: 군공; Hanja: 郡公; lit. duke of county), which took 2,000 families' production and workforce. In bureaucratic order, Gukgong was in upper second rank, and Gungong was in lower second rank.
In Joseon Dynasty, there was no title that is equivalent to Duke.
In the Kingdom of Benin, an Enogie is a viceroyal chieftain of royal rank that reigns as the representative of the oba of Benin. Such a titleholder is superior to an Odionwere (a viceroyal chief who is not of the blood royal), and is therefore often a cadet of the Benin royal family. Enogies are referred to as dukes in English.
In Yorubaland, a viceroyal chief is known as a Baale. Although not of royal rank and thus barred from wearing a crown, a baale is nevertheless given considerable autonomy in the kingdom that he serves: he can appoint sub-chiefs, and often performs rites in traditional ceremonies that would otherwise be the oba's prerogative.
In the Sokoto Caliphate, a viceroyal chief is known as a Hakimi. He is often, but not necessarily, a relative of the reigning sultan or emir, and is commonly referred to as a district head in English.
Male members of the Imperial clan received, in addition to a birthright title by degree of parentage, one of nine senior titles of nobility: