A marquess (UK: /ˈmɑːrkwɪs/; French: marquis [maʁki]) is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German-language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave) and the Italian-language equivalent Marchese. A woman with the rank of a marquess or the wife (or widow) of a marquess is a marchioness (/ˈmɑːrʃənɛs/) or marquise (French: [maʁkiz] ). These titles are also used to translate equivalent Asian styles, as in Imperial China and Imperial Japan.
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Marquessate in the context of Partition of Jin
The Partition of Jin (simplified Chinese: 三家分晋; traditional Chinese: 三家分晉; pinyin: Sānjiā Fēn Jìn; lit. 'Three Families Partitioning Jin'), refers to the division of the State of Jin between rival families into the three states of Han, Zhao and Wei, a watershed event marking the division between the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Proceeding from the Jin, the three states were often referred to as the "Three Jins" (三晋; 三晉; Sān Jìn).
Because the process took several decades, there is some debate between scholars as to the year which best marks the true partition of Jin. Kiser & Cai (2003) state the most common dates picked by historians are 481, 475, 468, and 403 BCE. The last date, according to Sima Guang marks the conferring of Marquessates by King Weilie of Zhou on Wei Si, ruler of the State of Wei; Zhao Ji, ruler of the State of Zhao, and Han Qian, ruler of the State of Han.
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