Grand duke

Grand duke (feminine: grand duchess) is a European , used either by certain monarchs or by members of certain monarchs' families. The title is used in some current and former independent monarchies in Europe titled as Grand Duchy, particularly:

• in present-day Luxembourg, the last territory ranked as Grand Duchy
• historically by the sovereigns of former independent countries, such as Tuscany (from 1569 to 1860, now part of Italy)
• in Baden, Hesse, Oldenburg, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (officially simply the Grand Duchy of Saxony) – grand duchies from 1815 to 1918, and all now part of Germany
• formerly also in some countries in Northern Europe, such as the Grand Duchy of Finland or the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
• currently by claimants to the Russian Imperial Throne (eg. Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia)