Duchy 64604 223912978 2008-07-06T13:58:57Z 68.53.17.234 Removed Gundam Double Entry A '''duchy''' is a territory, [[fiefdom|fief]], or domain ruled by a [[duke]] or [[duchess]]. Historically, some duchies in Continental [[Europe]] were [[sovereignty|sovereign]], while others (especially in [[France]] and [[UK|Britain]]) were subordinate districts of a [[Kingdom (politics)|kingdom]]. Traditionally, a [[grand duchy]], such as [[Luxembourg]], was generally independent and sovereign. Sovereign duchies were common in the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and [[German language|German]]-speaking areas. In [[France]], a number of duchies existed in the medieval period. Queen [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom]] still holds the medieval French title of [[Duke of Normandy]]; the only lands still attached to the Duchy of Normandy are the [[Channel Islands]] although there no longer is a King of France. Important French duchies included [[Normandy]], [[Burgundy]], [[Brittany]] and [[Aquitaine]]. In medieval [[England]], the territories of [[Lancashire]] and [[Cornwall]] were made duchies, with certain powers accruing to their Dukes. The [[Duchy of Lancaster]] was created in 1351 but became merged with the Crown when, in 1399, the Duke, Henry Bolingbroke ascended the throne of England as Henry IV. The [[Duchy of Cornwall]] was created in 1337 and held successively by Dukes of Cornwall who were also heirs to the throne. These duchies today have lost their political role,{{Fact|date=February 2007}} although there is an ongoing dispute over the status of Cornwall. In more recent times, territorial duchies have become rare; most dukedoms conferred in the last few centuries have been of a purely symbolic character (see [[Duke]]). No independent duchies exist today; however, [[Luxembourg]] is an independent [[Grand Duchy]]. * For the history of duchies as an institution, see the entry on [[Duke]]. == See also == ===Current or historical duchies=== * [[Grand Duchy]] * [[Duchies in England]] * [[Duchy of Limburg]] * [[Duke of Cornwall]] * [[Duchy of Cornwall]] * [[Cornwall]] * [[Constitutional status of Cornwall]] * [[Duchy of Lancaster]] * [[Grand Duchy of Luxembourg]] * [[United Baltic Duchy]] * [[Duchy of Warsaw]] * [[Duchy of Normandy]] * [[Duke of Burgundy|Duchy of Burgundy]] * [[Duke of Aquitaine|Duchy of Aquitaine]] * [[Duchy of Vasconia]] * [[Gascony|Duchy of Gascony]] * [[Duke of Brittany|Duchy of Brittany]] * [[Duke of the Franks|Duchy of the Franks]] * [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] ===Fictional duchies=== * [[House Atreides|Duchy of Atreides]] from the [[Dune universe|Dune series]] by [[Frank Herbert]] * [[Vana%27diel#Grand_Duchy_of_Jeuno|Grand Duchy of Jeuno]] (from [[Final Fantasy XI]]) * Grand Duchy of [[Karameikos]], from the [[Dungeons & Dragons]] [[Mystara]] Campaign Setting. * [[Duchy of Grand Fenwick]] * [[Borogravia]] (from the [[Discworld]] series) * [[Quirm]] (from the [[Discworld]] series) * [[The Six Duchies]](from [[The Farseer Trilogy]] and [[Tawny Man Trilogy]] by [[Robin Hobb]]) * [[Zeon]] (from the [[Mobile Suit Gundam]] series) * [[Erat]] (from the [[Belgariad]] series) * [[Asturia]] (from the [[Belgariad]] series) * [[Mimbre]] (from the [[Belgariad]] series) * [[Wacune]] (from the [[Belgariad]] series) * [[Crydee]] (from the [[Riftwar]] saga) * [[Yabon]] (from the [[Riftwar]] saga) * [[Krondor]] (from the [[Riftwar]] saga) == External links == {{Wiktionary}} *[http://www.duchyofcornwall.org/ The Duchy of Cornwall] - The Duchy of Cornwall official web-site *[http://www.kernowtgg.co.uk/ Tyr Gwyr Gweryn] The Duchy charters, Cornish foreshore case and much more in full {{Types of administrative country subdivision}} [[Category:Forms of government]] [[Category:Administrative divisions]] [[af:Hertogdom]] [[cy:Dugiaeth]] [[da:Hertugdømme]] [[de:Herzogtum]] [[es:Ducado]] [[fr:Duché]] [[hr:Vojvodstvo]] [[hu:Hercegség]] [[it:Ducato (feudo)]] [[nl:Stamhertogdom]] [[no:Hertugdømme]] [[pl:Księstwo]] [[pt:Ducado|Duque]] [[sv:Hertigdöme]] [[uk:Герцогство]]