How many Earl's of Grantham have there been? | Fandom

Amateur Obsessive·11/12/2013 in General Discussion

How many Earl's of Grantham have there been?

<p>I thought it might be helpful for us to have a place where we can collect all the evidence we have for how many Earl's of Grantham there have been - even if some of that evidence is contradictory. </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Canon_evidence">Canon evidence</span></h3> <p>This is for evidence from canon sources, either the show itself, the behind the scenes books, or other official sources (see our policy on canon if you're unsure what canon is). </p>

The book The Chronicles of Downton Abbey: A New Era tells us that Robert is the 7th Earl of Grantham.

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Possible_evidence">Possible evidence</span></h3> <p>This is for evidence which we're unsure of. Either because it may or may not be canon, or for some other reason. </p>

This paparazzi picture shows the grave stone of Sybil Branson, which describes her as "daughter of the 5th Earl". However, this can not be taken as canon information unless it comes from a canon source - e.g. it appears in the show.

<p>If anyone has anything I've missed, or anything else we should consider then please leave a comment! </p>

(Edited by Amateur Obsessive)

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Ehj666·1/24/2015

<p>The 7th Earl is as good a guess as any, but there remains no canonical reference to firmly establish this. At this point grandson George is heir presumptive, as there remains the possibility, unlikely as it might be, that he could be preceded. It does not begin a new line of Earls, any more than it did when Louis XIV was succeeded by his grandson, Louis XV. </p>

(Edited by Ehj666)

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HarryPotterRules1·1/25/2015

Ehj666: The Chronicles of Downton Abbey calls Robert the 7th Earl.

(Edited by HarryPotterRules1)

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A Fandom user·3/8/2016

Is there any significance to Bertie saying the 7th Marques of Hexam is marrying the daugther of the 5th Earl of Grantham when he was refering to him marrying Edith?

(Edited by A Fandom user)

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Ehj666·3/9/2016

<p>It is covered here, among other places. </p>

(Edited by Ehj666)

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A Fandom user·7/8/2016

<p>On the show, Matthew says that his great-great-grandfather was a younger son of the third earl, meaning that Robert's great-great-grandfather is the eldest son of the third earl, making them third cousins, as previously known from the first episode. Roberts 2G-grandfather would be the fourth earl, his great-grandfather the fifth, his grandfather the sixth, his father the seventh and Lord Grantham the eighth earl. </p>

(Edited by A Fandom user)

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HarryPotterRules1·7/8/2016

<p>Actually, no. Violet refers to Robert's father (6x06) as "your late Papa, the 6th Earl" or something like that, but she is clear. Robert's father was Earl number 6 - that is as clear as biscuits are tasty. </p>

(Edited by HarryPotterRules1)

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Ehj666·7/11/2016

<p>The ordinality of Earls does not necessarily go in strict accordance with generations. For example, in the case of George, the title will skip a generation because the title holder (Robert), outlived the only heir (Matthew) of the next generation. </p>

(Edited by Ehj666)

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HarryPotterRules1·7/12/2016

<p>Aye, true. True. </p>

(Edited by HarryPotterRules1)

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A Fandom user·7/12/2016

<p>About the crests: in series 4, episode 1 (ca. min. 2:37), you can see at the banister 4 crests on the long side and 3 crests on the short side, so Robert may be the Seventh Earl. </p>

(Edited by A Fandom user)

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Ehj666·7/12/2016

<p>The crests are not props but actual features of Highclere Castle, thus any correlation with the number of Crawley Earls would be entirely coincidental. </p>

(Edited by Ehj666)

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