Titles for sale

[Youngie]

Whilst roaming around on the internet i stumbled upon this. http://www.nobility.co.uk/titles37.html

Im a geographer so my knowledge of history is apparent, but not vast. I was under the impression that knighthoods and other honors were illegal to purchase. Ive know of a few cases where local landowners can obtain minor tittles usually for a field. I even heard of one case where a title was bought which gave the owner the power to tax people who used a certain passage.

Could this link be derived from all that, or is it just a hoax.

That first title is most appealing as i am an avid Arsenal fan

[CBR]

Its a scam.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_titles_of_nobility


It is impossible to purchase genuine British titles of nobility or peerage titles directly, with one possible exception: it was possible (until 28 November 2004, when the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 came into force) to acquire a feudal title (in meaning: actual title to superiority over territorial entity) to a Scottish barony.

And its no different with the French titles that is offered.

http://www.heraldica.org/topics/france/titlesale.htm


It is impossible to buy titles of nobility in France today.
The reason is simple: in modern French law, titles of nobility are a component of the family name, subject to particular rules of transmission. No statutes exist to create or confer property rights in a title. The bearer of a title has no ability to dispose of it, any more than he can dispose of his or her last name.


CBR

[rajpoot]

While this might not be the thread for the discussion, yet, as I could find no other, how exactly were the titles given? I mean, apart from bravery in battles, and inheritance, how could a common man obtain a title?

[Conradus]

In some periods titles were often given to rich merchants who just paid enough to earn a noble rank.

[Watchman]

"For services rendered" was a pretty common way AFAIK. For example in Early Modern Sweden not a few career adminstrators, soldiers etc. were created nobility as rewards of their services to the Crown and State.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

As far as I know, you can buy a title in Sealand. :idea2:

[King Henry V]

However, in England where one can change ones name fairly easily by deed poll, I don't think there's anything to stop someone changing their name from John Smith to Lord John of Smithbury.