SPURIOUS NOBILITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 87, 4 July 1927, Page 9

SPURIOUS NOBILITY

MUSSOLINI OPENS WAR HERALDIC COMMISSION TO SIT By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright LONDON, Saturday. The Rome correspondent of the /Daily Mail” says the Prime Minister, Signor Mussolini, has declared war upon Italy’s spurious nobility. Signor Mussolini has appointed a special heraldic commission to draw up a list of individuals who rightfully ossess titles, the improper use of which will be a punishable offence. The correspondent adds; “Italy ha 3 the oldest nobility in Europe; also as many pseudo barons, spurious counts and bogus princes as can be found anywhere in the world. “In the last century the sales of titles, especially in Southern Europe, has reached unprecedented lengths. A regular tariff has existed. Those who have paid sufficient have been able to procure any title they fancied. “Owing to the laxity of the regulations thousands of others adopted the practice of arbitrarily tacking ‘Count’ or ‘Marquis’ to the front of their names, their constant use legitimating the titles. •‘The commission is to submit an official list of the legitimate claims, after which it will be illegal for those not included on that list to use a title.” —A. and N.Z.