Duke
in Great Britain, the highest rank in the peerage. The first hereditary duke in England was the Black Prince, created by his father, Edward III., in 1336. The Duchy of Cornwall was bestowed upon him, and was thenceforward attached to the eldest son of the king, who is considered a duke by birth.
The Duchy of Lancaster was soon after conferred on Edward's third son, John of Gaunt, and hence arose the special privileges which these two duchies still in part retain. A duke in the British peerage, not of royal rank, is styled "your grace," and is "most noble"; his wife is a duchess. The coronet consists of a richly chased gold circle, having on its upper edge eight golden leaves of a conventional type called strawberry leaves; the cap of crimson velvet is closed at the top with a gold tassel, lined with sarsnet, and turned up with ermine. At various DULCIMER periods and in different continental countries the title duke (Herzog in Germany until the close of the World War) has been given to the actual sovereigns of small states.