Editing Baron (section)

===Italy===
In Italy, {{wikt-lang|it|barone}} was the lowest rank of feudal nobility except for that of {{lang|it|[[signore]]}} or {{wikt-lang|it|vassallo}} (lord of the manor). The title of baron was most generally introduced into southern Italy (including [[Sicily]]) by the Normans during the 11th century. Whereas originally a barony might consist of two or more manors, by 1700 we see what were formerly single manors erected into baronies, counties or even marquisates. Since the early 1800s, when feudalism was abolished in the various Italian states, it has often been granted as a simple hereditary title without any territorial designation or {{lang|it|predicato}}. The untitled younger son of a baron is a {{lang|it|nobile dei baroni}} and in informal usage might be called a baron, while certain baronies devolve to heirs male general. Since 1948 titles of nobility have not been recognised by the Italian state. In the absence of a nobiliary or heraldic authority in Italy there are, in fact, numerous persons who claim to be barons or counts without any basis for such claims. Baron and noble ({{lang|it|nobile}}) are hereditary titles and, as such, could only be created or recognised by the kings of Italy or (before 1860) the pre-unitary Italian states such as the [[Kingdom of the Two Sicilies|Two Sicilies]], [[Grand Duchy of Tuscany|Tuscany]], [[Duchy of Parma|Parma]] or [[Duchy of Modena|Modena]], or by the [[Holy See]] (Vatican) or the [[Republic of San Marino]]. Beginning around 1800, a number of {{lang|it|signori}} ([[lords of the manor]]) began to style themselves {{lang|it|barone}} but in many cases this was not sanctioned legally by decree, while there was even less justification in the holder of any large (non-feudal) landed estate calling himself a baron. Nevertheless, both were common practices. In most of peninsular Italy the widespread medieval introduction of the title was [[Lombards|Longobardic]], while in [[Sicily]] and [[Sardinia]] it was coeval with Norman rule some centuries later, and one referred to the ''baronage'' when speaking of landed nobles generally. The heraldic [[coronet]] of an Italian baron is a jewelled rim of gold surmounted by seven visible [[pearl]]s, set upon the rim directly or upon stems; alternately, the French style coronet (entwined in a string of small pearls, with or without four bigger visible pearls set upon the rim) is used.