What is the difference between a king and a lord?

Question

It's a question that has been bugging me for ages! I believe a king appoints a lord or two, but I don't know about their rank. Are there other things more powerful than a lord besides a king?

Answer 1

Etymology of Lord

Old English word 'hlāford' which originated from 'hlāfweard' meaning 'bread keeper' or 'loaf-ward', reflecting the Germanic tribal custom of a superior providing food for his followers. Lady, the female equivalent, originates from a similar structure, believed to have originally meant 'loaf-kneader'.

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It is a fairly low form of address on the English peerage. Lord and Lady are used in default when no other title is appropriate. Normally no one in the immediate royal family would use the title. It means you are part of the peerage, but you have no better title (probably because your father or your older brother is using the title).

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For instance, Queen elizabeth has four children and 8 grandchildren.  Normally none of them would be called Lord or Lady. They all have much higher ranking titles.

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Her three sons are called Prince

Her daughter is called Princess

Her grandsons  and gran daughters THROUGH HER SONS are called Prince and Princess.

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Now, by choice the youngest son, Prince Edward has asked that the monarchy not refer to his infant children by their rightful titles of Prince and Princess. He and his wife believe that it will be easier for them to grow up without that title. His daughter is using the style "The Lady Louise Windsor" and his son is using a low ranking secondary title "Viscount Severn"

If their parents change their mind (which is unlikely) or when they reach the age of 18 they can use their proper legal style:

"Princess Louise of Wessex"

"Prince James of Wessex"

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The "House of Lords" is called that because everyone is in the peerage. But each memeber goes by Duke, or Earl, Viscount, or Baron if that is their individual title.

Answer 2

Here the system goes:

King-> Barons (Lords)->Knights->Villeins (serfs or peasants)

Kings leased land to barons, who ran it. The barons gave knights land in return for protection, and the villeins sent food up the chain in return for protection and land given by the knights.

Answer 3

Generally for most of the titles below you would address the person as lord but they could hold the title Marquess or baron etc. It would go lord John Smith Marquess of Dorchester.

These can be held by royals:

Duke/Duchess,Marquess/Marchioness,

Earl/Countess,

Viscount/Viscountess,Baron/Baroness

Non-royal titles:

Duke/Duchess

Marquess/Marchioness

Earl/Countess

Viscount/Viscountess

Baron/Baroness

Awarded titles:

Baronet/Baronetess

Knight/Dame