What is False titles of nobility?
'''False titles of nobility''' are titles of nobility which are fake. They have been invented or taken by a person or family. They are not recognised by the present or past [[government]] of the country. There are a number of schemes that pretend to confer or sell such titles. They have flourished by use of the internet.<ref name=cramb>Cramb, Austan. [[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]. How to lord it over your friends for only £29.99. 11 December 2004. Retrieved 1 April 2016.</ref> == Self-styled titles == In [[monarchy|monarchies]], genuine titles do exist. But they may no longer be recognised by a [[successor state]] (such as a [[republic]]). Such is the case with French titles, for example. Formerly noble families often still use their old titles, and this is generally acceptable in that society. The title is borne or claimed by a hereditary [[heir]]. That is different from an invented or falsely-attributed noble title which is claimed without any historic basis.<ref name=pine>Pine L.G. ''Titles: how the king became his majesty''. Barnes & Noble, New York, 1992. pp. 8-11, 49. {{ISBN|978-1-56619-085-5}}.</ref> Self-assumption of a title is not necessarily illegal. It depends on the law in the particular country. The bearers of some self-assumed titles do not claim that the titles have been recognized by any nation at any time.<ref name=guardian>Example: {{cite news |title=The man who would be king |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/sep/25/1 |publisher=[[The Guardian]] |date=1999-09-25 |access-date=2010-08-15}}</ref><ref name=independent>Example: {{cite news |title=The Holy Roman Emperor is alive and well and living in Teddington |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/the-holy-roman-emperor-is-alive-and-well-and-living-in-teddington-743014.html |publisher=[[The Independent]] |date=1999-10-26 |access-date=2010-08-15}}</ref> Some individuals, associations or companies pretend to give a legal or official right to a title,<ref>or honour or membership in an order of chivalry</ref> to