One French buffoon governed without rank (8)
I believe the answer is:
untitled
'without rank' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'one french buffoon governed' is the wordplay.
'one' becomes 'un' (northern English dialect form of 'one').
'french buffoon' becomes 'tit' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'governed' becomes 'led' (lead can mean to govern or rule).
'un'+'tit'+'led'='UNTITLED'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for untitled that I've seen before include "common?" , "Lacking a name - having no claim" , "Having no name or rank of nobility" , "commoner" , "Non-specific way to label painting" .)