Contrary to what many people think, noble titles may be purchased today. In Scotland, for instance, you may legally become a baron, feudal lord, earl and even a duke, recognised by the Lord Lyon and obtaining your very own coat-of-arms, registered in the Scottish registers. The price tag is of course an entirely different matter altogether…
In countries such as Germany and Denmark there has also been sale of nobility titles through marriage, on the legal basis that by marrying a noble person you may assume that person’s title even after divorce.
In France, however, it is very difficult to buy a nobility title and the closest you can get is probably to buy the right to use the feudal title associated with the Château de Massanes on the basis that you are helping with its restoration and hence may consider yourself a custodian of that castle.
Besides, who doesn’t want to refer to themselves as custodians of their very own castle?
