Nobility Articles
Who Was King Of The French After The Revolution
Historically, the lifestyles of kings, queens and aristocrats have featured levels of wealth, privilege, leisure, power and social influence that many ordinary working people could only dream of. Over the centuries of the Middle Ages, as the systems of royalty and...
What Is The Renaissance Famous For?
Of all the cultural movements that human civilisation has witnessed over the millennia, perhaps one of the most exciting and significant is that of The Renaissance. This relatively short period saw rapid changes that rippled out from its European origins and spread...
French Aristocrats That Flourished During The Revolution
During the millennia since a noble class first began to emerge in the days of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, there have been a number of occasions when being part of such an elite social group was less of a blessing and more of a curse. In fact, there were such...
When Did The Aristocracy Begin?
What we know today as the system of aristocracy and nobility has roots stretching back over millennia. Medieval Nobles The most popular noble titles and ranks within the social hierarchies that endured to modern times are largely the terms and roles that evolved...
Royal Residences Of Scotland
The British Isles are rich with the history of royals and nobles from the earliest times, when the various fledgling territories were ruled by clans and kings and their devoted knights and warriors. Some of the greatest myths and legends hail from the lands that...
Who Was Empress Josephine?
In the wake of Napoleon Bonaparte's legend and infamy, the Empress Josephine is a historic figure and key player in the story of France during the years of revolution and the birth of the new empire. This beautiful iconic lady rose to the epitome of power and...
What Happened During The Napoleonic Era?
The Napoleonic Era is an epoch of French history that not only changed the social and political structure within France itself, but the various Napoleonic Wars and their far-reaching effects changed the destinies and lifestyles of millions of people, both within the...
How Did Napoleon Become Emperor?
The stories of Emperors throughout the ages are often tales of royal birth, esteemed noble lineage, and inherited wealth and power. This is perhaps what makes the story of Napoleon Bonaparte all the more captivating and historic. The whole world loves a...
From French Nobility To Queen of Naples
There have long been strong connections between the royals of history's monarchies and the circles of nobility and aristocracy that have customarily surrounded the kings and queens of the ages. For centuries, it has been the tradition for the families of eminent...
What Is An Aristocratic Society?
Human civilization has evolved over the millennia, with various types of societies emerging, as cultures have sought ways to function successfully in larger numbers or to work together more efficiently as a group. Some of these social structures have been more...
Medieval Kings Of History
The medieval period is one of the most historic eras in the evolution of Europe, and nowhere were the most notable themes of the times played out more visibly than through the monarchs and sovereigns of the Middle Ages. The lives of the kings and rulers of these...
Medieval Queens Of History
The Medieval period of European history is one of the most fascinating stories of the development of the modern world. The medieval period, also called the Middle Ages, is generally regarded to be the era between the Roman times and the Renaissance, encompassing the...
The Most Famous Spanish Princesses
The story of Spanish royalty is a rich and captivating tale of legend and infamy, featuring some of the most fabled characters and events of European history. While the kings and queens of Spain may have dominated the headlines and the history books over the...
The Most Scandalous Queen Of France
The queens of France throughout the ages have provided the history books and their contemporaries with a rich array of delightful stories and captivating legends. The monarchy of France was one of the most famous and enduring European monarchies. So it's not...
Who Was The Most Famous French King?
There have been many famous French kings and emperors. From the legendary Sun King who bequeathed the world the magnificent Versailles Palace complex, to the iconic Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who initiated a new era of imperial rule in the 19th century, the French...
Who Was The Sun King?
Of all the French kings and queens that have left their mark on the history books, few are as iconic as the legendary Sun King. Who Was The Sun King? The Sun King, Le Roi Soleil in French, was the nickname given to one of France's greatest kings, King Louis XIV. He...
The Most Respected Aristocratic Titles
The development of the nobility and the hierarchy of aristocratic titles around the world is a rich and captivating history of social evolution and a fascinating insight into the human condition. A Brief History Of Aristocratic Titles The hierarchy of noble ranks and...
The Greatest Royal Battles In History
The lives of kings and queens and their royal courts is often depicted as a decadent whirl of social delights and extravagant opulence. The lavish lifestyles of many royals and nobles throughout the ages have been a vision of grand palaces, exquisite finery, days of...
The Proper Way To Greet Royals & Nobles
If you were to host a party, banquet or social gathering that included aristocrats and members of royalty on the guest list, would you know the proper way to greet these esteemed guests? Anybody who moves in the social circles that include royalty and nobles would...
How To Address Royalty Correctly
There’s a scene in the popular movie The King’s Speech that has become a classic education on how to address royalty correctly. This particular vignette, set in the 1930s, shows the English queen, Elizabeth, latterly The Queen Mother, (played with panache by Helena...
The Greatest Female Royals In European History
The lives and legends of the royals of Europe have fascinated history lovers for centuries. The power, prestige and influence of Europe’s royal families have taken centre stage in so many of the most historic dramas of the twentieth century, as well as earlier periods...
Are You Related To Royalty?
With the history books full of legendary tales of famous kings and queens or infamous princes and princesses, it can be tempting to wonder whether we have any links to these notable royal characters through our own family lineage. And given the value placed on the...
Famous Quotes From Princes & Princesses
Marie Antoinette, in response to the peasant folk facing a lack of bread; "Let them eat cake." According to some sources, the actual phrase was, Let them eat brioche - which is a rich and buttery type of French bread, more akin to indulgent cakes than the daily staple...
How Nobles Could Be Stripped Of Their Titles
Many people wonder how it's possible to become an aristocrat or to attain a noble title. Yet, there's an aspect of being a member of the aristocracy that is rarely discussed - the fact that nobles can be stripped of their titles. It's a little-known phenomenon that...
Noble German Surnames & What They Mean
Like many of their European neighbours, the nobility of Germany adopted the custom of using the name of their estate or region as their surname or integrating it into their given family name. This was often done using a prefix in front of the surname, and in...
The Monarchies That Didn’t Survive The Middle Ages
The great monarchies of history are famous for their hereditary lines of kings, queens, emperors and rulers. Within the history of royalty, the lines of succession, the blue bloodlines and the family ties played crucial roles in the stories and dramas of those who...
The Difference Between a Plutocracy & Aristocracy
Historically, the aristocracy has often been regarded as the realm of powerful nobles and the wealthy classes. So, it can be common to wonder exactly what official power the aristocracy hold within society, and what role their wealth plays in their status. For...
What Are The Smallest Kingdoms In The World
As the nations of the world evolved during the Middle Ages, boundaries and borders were drawn to represent the various kingdoms. In the earliest times, when the larger countries we know today were made up of many smaller territories, these would each be headed by a...
The Grandest Dynasties Of Europe
The Grandest Dynasties of Europe include some of history's most infamous and legendary royal and noble families. A dynasty is classed as a line of reigning sovereigns, or a prominent family line in the realms of commerce or politics, and throughout the ages, Europe...
Rich & Famous Aristocrats from Renaissance Europe
To be a member of the aristocracy must surely be one of the most fascinating of life paths. Not least are they blessed at birth with a rich and noble heritage, often with family histories that inspire esteem and admiration from all levels of society, aristocrats...
The Most Famous Aristocratic Families of Europe
The European aristocracy lays claim to a vast array of noble families that have left an indelible mark in the history books over the centuries. Many of the aristocratic families of Europe have been closely linked to the monarchies of the various countries and...
Noble Old Money Families of Europe
The aristocracy of Europe is regarded as the preeminent social class outside of the various nations' royal families. And it's true that this elite group of noble families have enjoyed a privileged and prestigious position in the higher echelons of society ever since...
Who Were the Nouveau Riche Aristocrats?
There are two aspects that have defined the aristocracy through the ages; wealth and exclusivity. And while the fortunes of many nobles and aristocrats may have risen and fallen over the centuries, the air of elitism, exclusion and rare privilege has been much more of...
Old Money vs New Money Within The Aristocracy
Within the higher echelons of society such as the nobility or aristocratic systems of the world, there's an idea of Old Money vs New Money. This is a kind of discrimination or judgement about individuals or their families, based on their background, familial lineage...
Who Are the American Aristocracy?
Over the last few centuries, there developed a class of eminent families and individuals in the United States that have come to be known as the American Aristocracy. In the truest sense of the term, America doesn't have an aristocratic or noble class, largely because...
The Italian Aristocracy of the Renaissance
The Italy that we know today is a unified country, a world-renowned nation that includes many famous cities and regions, such as Rome, Florence, Genoa, Milan and Tuscany, Sicily and Sardinia. While these places are an integral part of modern Italy, they each have...
Legends of Spanish Royalty
Spain and its surrounding territories are rich with history and legend. From the famous tales of how the city of Barcelona was named after the ships of Hercules, to the much-loved stories of San Jorge rescuing his princess from the fearsome dragon, the Spanish lands,...
Lavish Lifestyles of the French Aristocracy
La noblesse - the legendary nobility of France - conjures up the epitome of lavish aristocratic lifestyles. The heyday of the infamous court of 17th century Versailles is perhaps the ultimate example of the wealth, decadence, drama and refinement that the aristocrats...
The Grand Homes of German Royalty
While the life stories and legends of royalty through the ages may have filled the history books, there's another legacy of royal life that has long fascinated people from all walks of life and continues to captivate millions everywhere - the grand homes of those...
Aristocratic Lifestyles of Colonial India
India has always been a nation of contrasts. Throughout history, there has been a spectrum of social orders and hierarchies, ranging from the stupendous wealth of the Maharajas, Nizams and Nawabs to the everyday peasant workers and the poorer members of society. The...
Notable Noblewomen of Medieval Times
The Middle Ages were a period of great historic interest, with dramatic upheavals and transformations across the entire spectrum of civilised life, including politics, culture, agriculture, social orders and all aspects of daily living for all classes. Even the...
Aristocratic Families of the Renaissance
The Renaissance era is undoubtedly one of the most richly fascinating periods of history. With world-changing advances in science, politics and the arts, shifts that spread across the entire globe, this was a time of great change, but also a time of great improvements...
The Lifestyles of Nobles in the Middle Ages
The centuries of the Middle Ages, generally regarded as the period between the 5th and the 15th century, is one of the most captivating eras of European history. This enchanting epoch conjures up images of chivalrous knights in gleaming armour, fighting courageously...
The Lifestyles of Renaissance Nobles
After the centuries of feudal life and territorial battles that defined the Middle Ages, the Renaissance heralded a shift to the finer aspects of human existence. A new world of culture and politics emerged from the medieval period, one that celebrated art,...
The Top 3 Royal Palaces in France
During the early Middle Ages, as the social systems and hierarchies were evolving around the world, the rulers and leaders of the various kingdoms would usually inhabit a fortress-like building, such as a castle, fort or citadel. These would be highly functional...
5 Types of Palaces for Royals & Aristocrats
The common definition of a palace is that it is the grand home or headquarters of a king, queen, or head of state. A palace can also be the residence or administrative centre for religious leaders, such as the lavish ecclesiastical command posts of Europe that were...
The 10 Most Beautiful European Palaces
Throughout the ages, sovereigns, monarchs, royal families and political leaders have established their grand homes and residences around the world, staking their claim on their territories, and attempting to display to the world the extent of their power, wealth or...
The 3 Most Beautiful Royal Palaces in India
India is rich with colour and history, with a fascinating past that still lives on in the country's buildings and architecture. Nowhere is this rich history more evident than in the exquisite and lavish royal palaces that still captivate and delight locals and...
What Were the Earliest Medieval Noble Ranks?
The system of noble ranks and aristocratic titles that we know today evolved largely throughout the centuries of the medieval era, with the more formal aspects developing during the later Middle Ages and the Renaissance period. Although their power and social...
German Nobility Ranks
The nobility of Germany shares many of the traits and origins of the aristocratic systems of its European neighbours, such as France, Italy, Spain, Austria and England. Like them, the German nobility emerged in the Middle Ages and blossomed in wealth, power and...
