Earldom of Denbigh

Earldom of Denbigh held with Earldom of Desmond
Arms of Feilding, Earls of Denbigh: Argent, on a fess azure three fusils or
Creation date	1622
Monarch	James VI and I
Peerage	Peerage of England
First holder	William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh
Present holder	Alexander Feilding, 12th Earl of Denbigh, 11th Earl of Desmond
Heir apparent	Peregrine Feilding, Viscount Feilding
Subsidiary titles	Viscount Feilding Viscount Callan Baron Feilding of Newnham Paddox Baron St Liz Baron Fielding of Lecaghe
Seat(s)	Newnham Paddox
Armorial motto	Crescit sub pondere virtus (Virtue increaseth under oppression)

Earl of Denbigh (pronounced "Denby") is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1622 for the courtier and soldier William Feilding, 1st Viscount Feilding.

The family seat is Newnham Paddox House, near Rugby, Warwickshire.

The Feilding Family have been Lords of Newnham Paddox in Monks Kirby, Warwickshire since 1433.

Despite almost certainly being of Warwickshire origin, in the middle of the seventeenth century following their elevation to the peerage, the Feilding family began to claim descent from the Habsburgs through the counts of Laufenburg and Rheinfelden. The claim, though widely accepted at one time, including by the historian Edward Gibbon, was also the subject of ridicule. It was comprehensively debunked at the start of the twentieth century.

William Feilding was Master of the Great Wardrobe under King James I and also took part in the Expedition to Cádiz of 1625. Feilding had already been created Baron Feilding, of Newnham Paddox in the County of Warwick, and Viscount Feilding in 1620. These titles are also in the Peerage of England.

William Feilding, owed his elevation in court and to the peerage primarily to his connection with Villiers family, who were also minor Midlands gentry until George Villiers became the confidante and lover of King James I and was granted the dukedom of Buckingham; Susan Villiers - George's sister - married William Feilding.

Lord Denbigh was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. In contrast to his father he fought as a Parliamentarian in the Civil War. In 1664 he was created Baron St Liz in the Peerage of England, with remainder to the heirs male of his father.

William's second son the Hon. George Feilding was created Earl of Desmond in 1628 (see below).