When reading a historical book or watching a movie, one may come across the word “lord”. This is an English term that appeared several centuries ago. This is currently the official title in the UK. About the meaning of the word “Lord”, its features and varieties, read the article.
In dictionary
The word "lord" is interpreted as "master", "master", "lord". It comes from the Old English - hlaford (hlafweard) by adding the words hlaf (bread) and weard (watchman). In a literal translation, the Lord is a “keeper of bread”. This should be understood as "the keeper of the lands on which bread grows." Thus, the origin of the word “lord” determines its meaning as a keeper, a land owner.
Initially, the title of lord was worn by all people belonging to the feudal estate and who are landowners. In this sense, this title was contrasted with the term "peasantry", which denoted all those who lived on the land of the Lord. They had duties and various duties, and also had to be faithful to their feudal lord.
Varieties
Variations of the title later appear, such as the “Lord of Manor”. This is a feudal lord, owner of lands in medieval England, obtained directly from the monarch. This lord was different from the Scottish lords and the English knights of the Gentry, who, although they owned land, but in fact these territories belonged to other feudal lords.
In the XIII century, with the appearance of parliaments in England, as well as in Scotland, the feudal lords acquired the opportunity to directly participate in them. Moreover, in English, a separate House of Lords was created (upper), also called the House of Peers. Peers were in her right of birth. In this they differed from other Lords, who were obliged to elect their representatives to a separate House of Commons (by counties).
Title ranks
After the appearance of the varieties of the title, the lord began to be divided into five ranks of English peerage:
- duke;
- marquise;
- graph;
- viscount;
- baron.
Initially, only the nobles who were knighted could receive the peer title. However, in the period from the 18th to the 19th centuries, peerdom began to be granted to representatives of other sections of English society, primarily the bourgeois.
Also the so-called spiritual lords had this title. These are 26 bishops of the Church of England. They also sat in the House of Lords. In the XX century, the practice of presenting the title of peer for life, but without the right to inherit it, has spread. Such a title was usually given in the rank of baron to professional politicians so that they could be called to meetings in the House of Lords.
Lower grades
It should be noted that the title Lord is often used to designate the four lowest ranks of peerage. So, for example, this applied to the barons. In fact, they were always called lords. And then the title “Staffordshire” was added, but almost never spoke of the baron “Staffordshire”.
In the Scottish ranking system, the lord of parliament is considered the lowest. The appropriation of such a title enabled the feudal lords to participate in the Scottish Parliament.
For Viscounts, Counts, and Marquises, the naming of the Lord was also generally accepted. First called the rank, then the title. It is worth noting that for the naming of a peer, along with the title Lord, you do not need to use his last name, for example, York.
In a personal appeal to a male peer, the expression My Lord is used, which is translated from English as "my lord." Turning to the dukes they say Your Grace, which means "your mercy."
Conclusion
During the opening of the parliamentary session, the rather archaic expression Your Lordship is used, which translates as “Your Grace”. In Tsarist Russia and in the Russian language, the appeal "milord" is adopted, which came from the French language. It was widely used in France in the XIX century when referring to absolutely any Englishman, regardless of whether he was a peer, duke or viscount.
Currently, lords have representatives in the supreme courts of Great Britain, Scotland and Canada. However, they are not peers, and the title given to them is given solely because of the position.
The title in today's England has some of the highest royal dignitaries, who are appointed by a special committee. So, for example, in order to fulfill the duties of the Lord - High Admiral, his appointment by a special body is necessary. There is a special Admiralty Committee for this. He is led by a person called the First Lord.