Draft:Count of Charny

The Count of Charny is a feudal title that originated in the village of Charny-sur-Meuse in northeastern France. The village is located near the city of Verdun, which was the site of major battles during World War I.

History
Charny-sur-Meuse was originally the seat of a seigneurial lordship within the Duchy of Lorraine. Through faithful service to the Dukes of Lorraine, the lordship was eventually raised to the rank of county or countship.

The village itself has little historical significance, but it is situated on the Meuse River, which becomes part of the larger Maas River. The city of Maastricht on the Maas River was the location where the important Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1992, establishing key rules for the European Union.

The Cathedral of Verdun is one of the region's most impressive religious edifices. Verdun, along with Toul and Metz, formed the Three Bishoprics that played a pivotal role in the religious wars of the early 17th century across Europe. Until 1766, Lorraine was an independent state owing allegiance to both France and the Holy Roman Empire.

Legacy
The title Count of Charny was revived and sold by Burke's Peerage in 1999, with the purchase including just over 1/4 acre of noble land, particularly an orchard. The revival documents were signed by Harold Brooks-Baker of Burke's Peerage.

The title is best known from the 1853 novel The Countess of Charny by Alexandre Dumas, part of his series of books about the French Revolution. Dumas' most famous work was The Three Musketeers.