The highest title of
nobility in England, ranking below the
prince , introduced for the first time by Edward III when bestowing various
castles and estates in Cornwall to his son, the Black Prince. The title, imported from the continent, originally meant a military commander, and the English retained this etymology by endowing English dukes with special fees in war, where command expertise was expected. In Germany, the title âHerzogâ was equivalent, though they were often elected and carried more administrative and social duties than military ones. A duke is properly addressed as â
your grace â, equivalent to the rank of archbishop in the church hierarchy. Within the SCA the title is reserved for those gentles who have served twice as king of an SCA kingdom, won through the Crown Tournament. They are know by coronets bearing strawberry leaves in the familiar three leaf patterm, ranking just below the Princes of the realm.
