BARON

From Agepedia

BARON (originally, also, varo); a word derived from the Latin, which signifies a man, and, sometimes, a servant In the feudal system of the middle ages, at first, the immediate tenant of any superior was called his baron. In old records, the citizens of London are so styled, and the 16 members of the house of commons, elected by the cinqueports, are still called barons. The family of Montmorency called themselves, in France, premiers barons de la chretiente. This name was introduced by William the Conqueror from Normandy to England, and used to signify an immediate vassal of the crown, who had a seat and vote in the royal court and tribunals, and, subsequently, in the house of peers. It was the second rank of nobility, until dukes and marquises were introduced, and placed above the earls, and viscounts also set above the barons. In Germany, the ancient barons of the empire were the immediate vassals of the crown. They appealed in the imperial court and diet, and belonged to the high nobility. Bux these ancient feudatories were early elevated to the rank of counts or princes. The modern barons only form a rank of lower nobility after the counts.Barons of the exchequer; four judges in England and five in Scotland, to whom the administration of justice is committed, in causes between the king and his subjects, relating to the revenue. They were formerly barons of the realm, but, of late, are, generally, persons learned in the laws.