Editing Duke (section)

== Italy, Germany and Austria ==
{{main|Dukes in Italy, Germany and Austria}}

In Northern Italy, Germany and Austria the title of "duke" (''duca'' in Italian, and ''Herzog'' in German) was quite common. As the [[Holy Roman Empire]] (HRE) was until its dissolution a feudal structure, most of its Dukes were actually reigning in their lands. As the titles from the HRE were taken over after its dissolution, or in Northern Italy after their territories became independent of the Empire, both countries also had a share of fully sovereign dukes. Also, in Germany in many ducal families every agnate would bear the ducal title of the family as a [[courtesy title]].

In Northern Italy some important sovereign ducal families were the [[Visconti of Milan|Visconti]] and the [[Sforza]], who ruled [[Duchy of Milan|Milan]]; the [[House of Savoy|Savoy]] in Piedmont; the [[Medici]] of [[Florence]]; the [[House of Farnese|Farnese]] of [[Duchy of Parma|Parma and Piacenza]]; the [[Cybo|Cybo-Malaspina]] of [[Massa, Tuscany|Massa]]; the [[House of Gonzaga|Gonzaga]] of [[Duchy of Mantua|Mantua]]; the [[House of Este|Este]] of [[Duchy of Modena and Reggio|Modena]] and [[Duchy of Ferrara|Ferrara]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Simon|first=Kate|title=A Renaissance Tapestry: The Gonzaga of Mantua|publisher=Harper & Row}}</ref>

In Germany, important ducal families were the [[House of Wittelsbach|Wittelsbachs]] in [[Duchy of Bavaria|Bavaria]], the [[Welfs]] in [[Electorate of Hanover|Hannover]], the ducal family of [[Duchy of Cleves|Cleves]], the [[House of Wettin|Wettins]] in [[Duchy of Saxony|Saxony]] (with its [[Ernestine duchies|Ernestine branch]] divided into several duchies), the [[List of rulers of Württemberg|Württembergs]] and the [[House of Mecklenburg|Mecklenburgs]].   In the German Confederation the [[House of Nassau|Nassaus]], the [[House of Ascania|Ascanians]] of [[Anhalt]], the Welf branch of [[Duchy of Brunswick|Brunswick]] and the Ernestine lines of the Saxon duchies were the sovereign ducal families.

In Austria, "[[Archduke]]" was the title borne from 1358 by the [[House of Habsburg|Habsburg]] rulers of the [[Archduchy of Austria]], and later by all senior members of that dynasty.