BARON. In the feudal system of the Middle Ages, the immediate tenant of any su perior was originally called his baron. In old records the citizens of London are so styled, and the members of the House of Commons, elected by the Cinque-Ports, were called barons. This title was introduced into England by Wil liam the Conquerer to signify an immediate vassal of the Crown, who had a seat and vote in the royal court and tribunals, and subse quently in the House of Peers. It was the second rank of nobility, until dukes and mar quises were created and placed above the earls, and viscounts also set above the barons. It is now the lowest rank of the peerage, and is held by prescription, patent or tenure. The barons were anciently divided into greater barons, or such as held their lands of the king in capite; and lesser barons, such as held their lands of the greater barons by military service. In Ger many the ancient barons of the empire were the immediate vassals of the Crown. They ap peared in the imperial court and diet, and be longed to the high nobility. But these ancient
feudatories were early elevated to the rank of counts or princes. A baron of the United King dom has the title of "right honorable lore etc., and should be addressed as amy lorda or "your lordship.* His wife claims also the title of "right honorable,* and may be addressed as "madam,* or "your ladyship.* The coronation robes of a baron differ from those of the other peers in having but two rows of spots on the mantle; and the parliamentary robes, in having but two guards of white fur, with rows of gold lace. The right of wearing a coronet was first conferred on barons by Charles IL It is adorned with six pearls, set at equal distances, of which four are usually shown. Until the passing of the Judicial Act of 1873 —under which the Courts of Exchequer were consoli dated in the Supreme Court of Judicature — certain judges in England or Ireland were called barons, the chief baron being president of the Court of Exchequer, the title is thus now ex tinct as applied to the judiciary.