Nobility Articles

Are You Related To Royalty?

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...

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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...

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How Nobles Could Be Stripped Of Their Titles

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...

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Noble German Surnames & What They Mean

Noble German Surnames & What They Mean

Like many of their European neighbours, and similar to German royalty last names, the German nobility 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...

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What Are The Smallest Kingdoms In The World

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...

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The Grandest Dynasties Of Europe

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...

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Noble Old Money Families of Europe

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...

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Who Were the Nouveau Riche Aristocrats?

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...

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Who Are the American Aristocracy?

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...

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The Italian Aristocracy of the Renaissance

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...

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Legends of Spanish Royalty

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,...

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Lavish Lifestyles of the French Aristocracy

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...

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The Grand Homes of German Royalty

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...

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Aristocratic Lifestyles of Colonial India

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...

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Notable Noblewomen of Medieval Times

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...

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Aristocratic Families of the Renaissance

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...

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The Lifestyles of Nobles in the Middle Ages

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...

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The Lifestyles of Renaissance Nobles

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,...

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The Top 3 Royal Palaces in France

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...

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5 Types of Palaces for Royals & Aristocrats

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...

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The 10 Most Beautiful European Palaces

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...

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German Nobility Ranks

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...

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Who Were the Dukes of Burgundy?

Who Were the Dukes of Burgundy?

Of all the many colourful aristocratic dynasties and eminent noble families of the Middle Ages, one of the most fascinating and renowned is the legendary line of the Dukes of Burgundy. This ancient noble lineage has been a source of fascination and curiosity for...

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How to Address Nobility & Royalty

How to Address Nobility & Royalty

The Importance of Etiquette The formalities most royal courts employ today are different to how things were in the past. Many formal vestiges of the royal courts and aristocratic systems of old are no longer observed as strictly as they once were – when a breach of...

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5 Synonyms for Aristocracy & Nobility

5 Synonyms for Aristocracy & Nobility

The terms aristocracy and nobility are often used interchangeably these days, even though their original definitions and etymology do vary slightly. Both words give a sense of superiority, suggesting the air of an elite social class. As the hierarchies of society...

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What is the Landed Gentry?

What is the Landed Gentry?

Throughout the history of social evolution, there are many references to a class known as the Landed Gentry. They appear in folk songs and fairy tales. They provide the plotlines and imposing mansions of Victorian novels. And in modern times, they grace our sumptuous...

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Who are the Wealthiest Modern Aristocrats?

Who are the Wealthiest Modern Aristocrats?

Throughout the ages, the world's aristocrats and nobles have been renowned for their lives of luxury, privilege, and enormous wealth. Though the status and power of modern aristocrats may have waned in recent centuries as ancient systems have given way to republics or...

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What is Hereditary Aristocracy?

What is Hereditary Aristocracy?

When it comes to the world of nobility titles and aristocratic ranks, the hereditary nature of those titles and ranks are a big deal. After all, many noble titles throughout history have included components such as vast wealth, palatial estates or property, eminent...

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Famous Noble Families Around the World

Famous Noble Families Around the World

In the centuries since the medieval period, when the aristocratic structures began to emerge, the various noble families have had a chequered history. Some great lineages dominated their times and maintained their power and influence for generations, only to disappear...

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The Royalty Titles of Asia

The Royalty Titles of Asia

The diverse blend of countries and regions within Asia gives rise to an eclectic mix of cultural history, and nowhere is this more apparent than in their kings and queens and royal families. The names and titles of monarchs and sovereigns within the Asian continent...

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Indian Royal Titles & Aristocratic Ranks

Indian Royal Titles & Aristocratic Ranks

The diverse cultures of the modern Indian subcontinent are the result of centuries of change and evolution, incorporating a bewildering array of tribes, kingdoms, cultures, languages and faiths. These tumultuous times resulted in a rich and fascinating legacy of royal...

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Noblewomen of the Middle Ages

Noblewomen of the Middle Ages

As decreed by the Church and religious leaders that dominated the centuries of the Middle Ages, the role and importance of women were regarded as secondary to that of men. As a result, the lives and times of medieval women were rarely documented and even more...

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The Original American Aristocracy

The Original American Aristocracy

In 1787, America's founding fathers outlined details in their Constitution prohibiting the granting of nobility titles by the United States. In a spirit of liberty, fraternity and 'domestic Tranquility', America held a vision of all persons being of equal merit and...

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Barony Titles for Sale

Barony Titles for Sale

Our company owns archival software and databases listing practically the totality of all the Barony Titles existent in France, Italy and the Germanic Lands of Europe. This gives us a privileged position to research and find extremely valuable Barony Titles. Our...

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