Great Noble Houses Of Europe
The European continent has been the backdrop for the origin and evolution of many great noble family lines.
Many of these aristocratic lineages, known as Houses, stretch back across the centuries to medieval times, when the earliest nobles and aristocrats began adopting an early form of the social hierarchy that we still know and recognise today.
This social structure laid the foundations for the ranks and titles that are such familiar terms even centuries later. These include the ranks of Counts and Barons, Dukes and Lords, Viscount and Marquises, along with all their female equivalents such as Countess, Baroness, Duchess, Lady, Viscountess and Marchioness.
As this system of nobility began to develop more formally in the Middle Ages, the families associated with such esteemed titles would also adopt a more formal place within society. Certain families would become so closely associated with respected noble titles that the entire branch of the family, along with future descendants, would be classified as belonging to that family or House.
The term ‘noble House’ in this sense was not in reference to the physical dwelling or property of the family, though these great nobles would often live in grand manor houses, great halls or opulent castles.
In terms of nobility, a connection with a noble House was a reference to the individual’s genealogy and lineage – a recognition of their ancestors or the aristocratic status of the head of the family.
Great Noble Houses Of Europe
Many of the great noble Houses of Europe emerged from some of the lower or middle ranking aristocratic titles, those such as Lord, Baron, and Viscount, whereas some became established from higher ranking noble titles such as Count or Duke.
Over the centuries, regardless of the origins of these noble Houses, a great many would rise in stature, wealth and influence to such an extent that many later members of the lineage would enjoy elevated status at the level of royalty or even imperial standard.
The stories of the great noble Houses of Europe are a captivating narrative that reveals the nature of the aristocratic system of the Middle Ages and how it developed over the centuries.
Here are the stories of two of the esteemed noble Houses of Europe that perfectly illustrate the potential for greatness inherent in ascending social ranks.
House Of Wittelsbach
The House of Wittelsbach is typical of the many great noble Houses of Europe in that it dates back over a thousand years to the 11th century.
House Of Wittelsbach Coat of arms (13th to 14th century) – Hugo Gerard Ströhl, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
As with many other Houses that would go on to the highest echelons of social orders, the House of Wittelsbach originated with a family of nobles, in this instance a family that hailed from the early Bavarian Counts in the Germanic lands of Europe.
The earliest cited member of the House of Wittelsbach was Otto I, Count of Scheyern, whose ancestors acquired a castle by the name of Wittelsbach. It was common in the Middle Ages, and even in later times, for a noble family to become named after their castle or property.
The later Counts of Wittelsbach went onto greater social esteem and in less than two centuries, the family had been elevated to the status of Duke. Although the title of Duke was, and still is, a high-ranking noble title, regarded as the epitome of aristocratic rank, there were even loftier titles in store for members of the House of Wittelsbach.
This great noble family went on to attain such noble and royal titles as Duchy of Bavaria, Electorate of the Palatinate, Counts Palatine of the Rhine, Counts of Holland, Kings of Sweden, King of the Romans and Holy Roman Emperor.
Perhaps one of the most notable characters of the House of Wittelsbach was one of the female members of the family. Duchess Elizabeth, born into the great noble lineage in 1837 went on to become the Empress of Austria, after her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph.
House Of Medici
Another great noble House of Europe, one that went onto worldwide fame and legendary fortune, was the iconic House of Medici.
The Medici Family origins date back to the early 15th century, and the lineage first began its social elevation as successful merchants and financiers. As the subsequent wealth granted the most prominent members of the family significant social standing and political influence, their status was validated with a Dukedom, which was then elevated to a Grand Dukedom.
After various rises and falls in both their fortunes and favour, the House of Medici prevailed to become the famous patrons of the arts during the Renaissance era, a cultural movement that originated in Florence, Italy, the domain of the powerful Medicis.
Along with their vast commercial success and renown within the Renaissance movement, the House of Medici would attain even loftier ranks within the social strata of the period. Along with the great noble titles of Dukes of Florence and Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the family would ultimately be able to claim a number of titles of ecclesiastical nobility, including the ultimate papal rank, that of Pope, or The Holy See. Over the centuries, the House of Medici would go on to claim no less than four Popes from its family line.
Although the House of Medici was undoubtedly one of the greatest noble Houses of Europe, like many of the notable aristocratic families of the ages, they would know their share of mixed fortunes. Along with the great wealth, influence and social esteem, the family would experience its share of falls from grace, diminished fortunes, and even violence within the family itself.
While the dramas of this singular noble family were deemed intriguing enough to create a popular TV series around, there’s no doubt that the House of Medici played a key role in the social evolution of Italy, with their contributions and influence reaching even farther afield as the innovations funded by the family fortunes changed the world forever.
The great noble Houses of Europe occupied varied and extensive roles within society during the evolution of the aristocracy. Some family lines became famous for their collective contributions, garnered over centuries and generations, whereas others enjoyed renown due to individual characters achieving notable acclaim.
Regardless of the fame or origin of these aristocratic lineages, these noble families can each claim a singular role in the history of Europe’s nobility, along with the influence it played in the wider world.
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