Definition of "marquesate"

His grace made a surrender to the crown, in 1706, of the titles conferred upon his father, and obtained a new grant of those honors, dated 17th of June, 1706, extending the remaindership to his heirs male or female, descended from William, first Earl of Queensberry, leaving the marquesate and earldom of Queensberry, with the viscounty of Drumlanrig, and barony of Douglas, of Hawick and Tibbers, untouched, and to descend according to the original patents of creation.

1826, John Burke, A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the United Kingdom, page 262

But Simone l was also involved in faction politics, which culminated in the conspiracy of Gian Luca Squarcialupo in Palermo. ln 1527 he judged it opportune to hand over the marquesate to his son Giovanni ll.

1984, Rodo Santoro, The Ventimiglia Countship: The Castle of Castelbuono, page 9

You forget your grandfathers were of the nobility. You are entitled to return to France and seek the return of the marquesate if you so desire.

2011, Patricia Rice, Moonlight and Memories