what is a count in royalty

A count is a title of nobility that varies slightly in meaning depending on which country youre in. It is generally a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the social hierarchy. The title of Count was often conferred by the monarch as an honorific title for special services rendered, without a feudal estate (countship, county) being attached, so it was merely a title, with or without a domain name attached to it. In Italy, both historically and in the modern era, countships were bestowed by sovereigns and popes, meaning that it was more about who you knew than what family you were born into. In the United Kingdom, the equivalent "Earl" can also be used as a courtesy title for the eldest son of a duke or marquess. The noble title of Count is one of the most fascinating ranks within the social system known as the aristocracy. Its origins stretch back way beyond the medieval social ranks, however, with the title originally being a rank-only appointment, in that it did not, by default at least, include any property. The origins of the word count relate to an area or region, and it was the Count’s role to manage that region – areas that came to be known as a county.