The title "Baron of France" refers to a noble rank in the French feudal system. Barons were typically landowners who held their estates directly from the king. They played a significant role in local governance and military service, often managing their lands and the people living on them. In the hierarchy of French nobility, barons ranked below counts and above knights. The title could be hereditary, passed down through generations, or granted by the king as a reward for loyalty or service. Barons often participated in the French Revolution and the subsequent changes in the French nobility.