Editing Count (section)

=== Scandinavia ===

In [[Denmark]] and historically in [[Denmark-Norway]] the title of count (''greve'') is the highest rank of nobility used in the modern period. Some Danish/Dano-Norwegian countships were associated with [[fief]]s, and these counts were known as "feudal counts" ([[Lensgreve (Danish title)|''lensgreve'']]). They rank above ordinary (titular) counts, and their position in the Danish aristocracy as the highest-ranking noblemen is broadly comparable to that of dukes in other European countries.<ref>Ferdinand Christian Herman von Krogh: ''Den høiere danske Adel. En genealogisk Haandbog'', C. Steen & søn, 1866</ref> With the first free [[Constitution of Denmark]] of 1849 came a complete abolition of the privileges of the nobility. Since then the title of count has been granted only to members of the [[Danish royal family]], either as a replacement for a princely title when marrying a commoner, or in recent times, instead of that title in connection with divorce. Thus the first wife of [[Prince Joachim of Denmark]], the younger son of [[Margrethe II of Denmark]], became [[Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg]] on their divorce—initially retaining her title of princess, but losing it on her remarriage.

In the Middle Ages the title of [[earl|jarl]] (earl) was the highest title of nobility. The title was eventually replaced by the title of duke, but that title was abolished in Denmark and Norway as early as the Middle Ages. Titles were only reintroduced with the introduction of absolute monarchy in 1660, with count as the highest title.

In Sweden the rank of count is the highest rank conferred upon nobles in the modern era and are, like their Danish and Norwegian counterparts, broadly comparable to that of dukes in other European countries. Unlike the rest of Scandinavia, the title of duke is still used in Sweden, but only by members of the royal family not considered part of the nobility.