Are you a Count of the Holy Roman Empire? Am I?

Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour (c. 1560 – 7 November 1639) was an English nobleman. He was the second son of Sir Mathew Arundell of Wardour Castle in Wiltshire, a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, and of Margaret, daughter of Sir Henry Willoughby.

In 1579 he was personally recommended by Queen Elizabeth to the emperor, Rudolph II, and was Created a Count of The Holy Roman Empire by Imperial Letters Patent of the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II, on the 14th of December 1595 for capturing the Turkish Standard at the Battle of Gran in the Kingdom of Hungary in the same year. Then formally recognized by King James I by Royal Letters Patent Creating him Baron Arundell of Wardour on the 4th of May, 1605.

He returned to England after suffering shipwreck and barely preserving his life in January 1596. His assumption of the foreign title created great jealousy among the English peers, who were wont to give little courtesy to foreign nobles, and he thereby incurred the resentment of his father, who objected to his superior rank and promptly disinherited him.

With the Death of the 16th and last Baron John Arundell in 1944 the Title of Baron Arundell of Wardour, became dormant.

The descendants of the 1st Count have the Universal Right to the formal usage of the Titles of Count or Countess of The Holy Roman Empire, being issued within the Imperial Letters Patent concerned. His Imperial and Royal Highness Prince Karl Friedrich of Germany, Duke of Swabia, de jure Emperor Charles VIII I.R. has formally issued an Imperial Decree to ratify the right of claim of all descendants of the body of the 1st Count Thomas Arundell of Wardour of The Holy Roman Empire. Whereas His Imperial Highness, has furthermore Conferred and Granted by Imperial Decree and Letters, the formal usage of the appellation style and title of Excellency, on all descendants of the 1st Count Thomas Arundell of Wardour, who may formally Petition His Imperial Highness, for formal recognition of the Imperial Titles of Count or Countess of The Holy Roman Empire, together with the formal appellation style and Title of Excellency, granted with full rights of Arms.

Thomas' title passes down both the male and femaile lines to all his descendants, so there are many who can claim to be a Count of the Holy Roman Empire. Can you?

Many believe that one of his sons, Matthew Arundell (1609–1620), changed his name to Matthew Howard of Virginia, whose death was faked. There is evidence on both sides of this centuries long controversy. This is a common ancestor of many Americans and their claim to royal blood - and to being a Count of the Holy Roman Empire.