Nobility
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | :''[[courtesan]], [[courtier]]'' | ||
| '''Nobility''' is a government-privileged title which may be either hereditary (see [[hereditary titles]]) or for a lifetime. Titles of nobility exist today in many countries although it is usually associated with present or former monarchies. The term originally referred to those who were "known" or "notable" and was applied to the highest [[social class]] in [[Pre-industrial society|pre-modern societies]]. In the [[Feudalism|feudal system]] (in Europe and elsewhere), the nobility were generally those who held a [[fief]], often land and/or office, under [[vassalage]], i.e. in exchange for allegiance and various, mainly military, services to the Monarch and at lower levels to another nobleman. It rapidly came to be seen as a hereditary [[caste]], sometimes associated with a right to bear a hereditary title and, for example in pre-revolutionary [[France]], enjoying fiscal and other privileges. Today, in most countries, "noble status" is a purely honorary dignity that confers no legal privileges; an important exception is the [[United Kingdom]], where certain titles (titles of the [[peerage]], until recently guaranteeing a seat in the [[Upper house|Upper House]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]], hence its name [[House of Lords]]), still confer some residual privileges. | '''Nobility''' is a government-privileged title which may be either hereditary (see [[hereditary titles]]) or for a lifetime. Titles of nobility exist today in many countries although it is usually associated with present or former monarchies. The term originally referred to those who were "known" or "notable" and was applied to the highest [[social class]] in [[Pre-industrial society|pre-modern societies]]. In the [[Feudalism|feudal system]] (in Europe and elsewhere), the nobility were generally those who held a [[fief]], often land and/or office, under [[vassalage]], i.e. in exchange for allegiance and various, mainly military, services to the Monarch and at lower levels to another nobleman. It rapidly came to be seen as a hereditary [[caste]], sometimes associated with a right to bear a hereditary title and, for example in pre-revolutionary [[France]], enjoying fiscal and other privileges. Today, in most countries, "noble status" is a purely honorary dignity that confers no legal privileges; an important exception is the [[United Kingdom]], where certain titles (titles of the [[peerage]], until recently guaranteeing a seat in the [[Upper house|Upper House]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]], hence its name [[House of Lords]]), still confer some residual privileges. | ||
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| Countries without a feudal tradition do not have a nobility as such; various republics, including [[Article One of the United States Constitution#Section 9: Limits on Congress|the United States]] and [[Italy]] have expressly abolished titles of nobility. Although many such societies have a privileged 'upper class' with great wealth and power, this does not entail a separate [[legal status]], or different [[Style (manner of address)|forms of address]]. | Countries without a feudal tradition do not have a nobility as such; various republics, including [[Article One of the United States Constitution#Section 9: Limits on Congress|the United States]] and [[Italy]] have expressly abolished titles of nobility. Although many such societies have a privileged 'upper class' with great wealth and power, this does not entail a separate [[legal status]], or different [[Style (manner of address)|forms of address]]. | ||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | :''[[court]], [[courtesan]], [[courtier]], [[Il Cortegiano|The Book of the Courtier]], [[courtly love]]'' | ||
| + | * [[Almanach de Gotha]] | ||
| + | * [[Aristocracy (class)]] | ||
| + | * [[Caste]] (social hierarchy of [[India]]) | ||
| + | * [[Debutante]] | ||
| + | **[[International Debutante Ball]] | ||
| + | * [[False titles of nobility]] | ||
| + | * [[Gentleman]] | ||
| + | * [[Gentry]] | ||
| + | * [[Grand Burgher]] (German ''Großbürger'') | ||
| + | * [[Heraldry]] | ||
| + | * [[King]] | ||
| + | * [[Magnate]] | ||
| + | * The [[Military Revolution]] | ||
| + | * [[Nobility particle|Nobiliary particle]] | ||
| + | * [[Noblesse oblige]] | ||
| + | * [[Nze na Ozo]] | ||
| + | * [[Ogboni]] | ||
| + | * [[Patrician (ancient Rome)]] | ||
| + | * [[Patrician (post-Roman Europe)]] | ||
| + | * [[Peerage]] | ||
| + | * [[Princely state]] | ||
| + | *[[Principalía]] | ||
| + | * ''[[Redorer son blason]]'' | ||
| + | * [[Raja]] | ||
| + | * [[Royal descent]] | ||
| + | * [[Royal and noble ranks]] | ||
| + | * [[Social environment]] | ||
| + | * [[Symbolic capital]] | ||
| + | * [[Honour]] | ||
| + | * [[Ascribed status]] | ||
| + | * [[Military elite]] | ||
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Nobility is a government-privileged title which may be either hereditary (see hereditary titles) or for a lifetime. Titles of nobility exist today in many countries although it is usually associated with present or former monarchies. The term originally referred to those who were "known" or "notable" and was applied to the highest social class in pre-modern societies. In the feudal system (in Europe and elsewhere), the nobility were generally those who held a fief, often land and/or office, under vassalage, i.e. in exchange for allegiance and various, mainly military, services to the Monarch and at lower levels to another nobleman. It rapidly came to be seen as a hereditary caste, sometimes associated with a right to bear a hereditary title and, for example in pre-revolutionary France, enjoying fiscal and other privileges. Today, in most countries, "noble status" is a purely honorary dignity that confers no legal privileges; an important exception is the United Kingdom, where certain titles (titles of the peerage, until recently guaranteeing a seat in the Upper House of the UK Parliament, hence its name House of Lords), still confer some residual privileges.
Nobility is a historical, social and often legal notion, which should not be confused with socio-economic status which is mainly statistical based on income and possessions. Being wealthy or influential does not automatically make one a noble, nor are all nobles wealthy and influential (aristocratic families have lost their fortunes in various ways, and the concept of the 'poor nobleman' is almost as old as nobility itself).
Countries without a feudal tradition do not have a nobility as such; various republics, including the United States and Italy have expressly abolished titles of nobility. Although many such societies have a privileged 'upper class' with great wealth and power, this does not entail a separate legal status, or different forms of address.
See also
- Almanach de Gotha
- Aristocracy (class)
- Caste (social hierarchy of India)
- Debutante
- False titles of nobility
- Gentleman
- Gentry
- Grand Burgher (German Großbürger)
- Heraldry
- King
- Magnate
- The Military Revolution
- Nobiliary particle
- Noblesse oblige
- Nze na Ozo
- Ogboni
- Patrician (ancient Rome)
- Patrician (post-Roman Europe)
- Peerage
- Princely state
- Principalía
- Redorer son blason
- Raja
- Royal descent
- Royal and noble ranks
- Social environment
- Symbolic capital
- Honour
- Ascribed status
- Military elite
