marquesado

marquisate

noun mar-keh-SAH-doh Rare

Origin: From marqués (marquess) + the suffix -ado, denoting a rank or territory.

Usage Note

Marquesado is the title, rank, or territorial domain of a marqués (marquess), one step below a ducado (dukedom) in the Spanish nobility hierarchy. Historical marquesados — such as the Marquesado del Valle de Oaxaca granted to Hernán Cortés — were significant colonial-era institutions. Today the title is honorary with no territorial power.

Examples

"El rey otorgó el marquesado al noble."

Natural Translation

The king granted the marquisate to the nobleman.

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