A
count is a
nobleman in various European countries, of the equivalent rank of a British
earl.
Originally the title denoted the rank of a high official in the late
Roman Empire and later in many German kingdoms in the early
Middle Ages, as well as the
Holy Roman Empire in
Central Europe.
It was often conferred by the head of a country as an honorific title for special services rendered.
The French equivalent is
comte[?] and the German is
Graf[?]. In German kingdoms the title was combined with the word for the jurisdiction or domain the nobleman was responsible for, such as "Landgraf" -
landgrave, "Burggraf" -
burgrave (see also:
palatine count,
margrave,
rhinegrave,
wildgrave,
altgrave).