Baroness

About

A baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour that has been both current and historical across various European countries. The female equivalent of this title is baroness. Typically, a baron denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knight, but lower than a viscount or count. Barons often hold their fief, which includes their lands and income, directly from the monarch, and are less frequently the vassals of other nobles. In many kingdoms, barons were entitled to wear a smaller form of a crown called a coronet. The term originates from the Latin term barō, via Old French. The use of the title baron came to England through the Norman Conquest of 1066, after which the Normans brought the title to Scotland and Southern Italy. The title later spread to Scandinavian and Slavic lands throughout Europe.