Nobility Articles

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

In the fictional TV series, Downton Abbey, the character of Cora, the beautiful chatelaine of the estate, is an American heiress whose fortunes and million-dollar dowry played a key role in her marriage to the handsome Earl of Grantham. While the characters of Downton...

Throughout history, the noble classes have been famed for their decadent lifestyles. The landed gentry are renowned for the vastness and splendour of their plush homes, estates, palaces and castles. Stories of wealthy aristocrats over the ages are rife with lavish...

King James I of England left an indelible mark on the history books, famed for a whole range of royal roles and historic connections. As the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, James was proclaimed King of Scotland during infanthood, and went on to become the first King of...

The centuries of the Renaissance call to mind images of audacious opulence, lavish decadence, palatial properties, and rich living in the lap of luxury. Nowhere was this spectacular period played out more fully than in the French royal courts and palaces during the...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Adel is the original name of the German Nobility since time immemorial. This peculiar social class was a hereditary and very elite group that dominated the social, political and economic life of the Holy Roman Empire and the German and Austrian Confederation. The...

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...

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...

Noble & Royal Titles for Females In the fascinating system of aristocracy and nobility that emerged during the Middle Ages, a particular hierarchy developed that meant noble titles had a rank and unique set of privileges. These nobility titles were often based on...

The Renaissance Period is renowned for being a Golden Age of music, art, architecture, science and discovery. There was a cultural shift away from the constant labour and back-breaking toil of medieval times, as people began to pursue more refined lifestyles and...

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...

In the late 19th century, America began to see a new breed of successful businessmen accumulating vast fortunes from their triumphant enterprises in ventures such as finance, stockbroking, rail and retail. However as these business titans and their families grew in...

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...

During the Middle Ages, a system of hierarchy began to emerge within the noble families and aristocratic ranks. Over time, these groupings became a firmly delineated social order, with strict rules regarding status and privilege. However, during the early generations...

Throughout the ages, the great noble families of Europe have been renowned for their power and influence within the royal courts and governments. These positions of prestige and status were usually accompanied by vast wealth, grand estates and opulent homes, ranging...

During the Middle Ages, the drama and politics played out most notably in the hubs of government, the royal courts and the palatial seats of imperial power. Yet the everyday stories of millions of medieval people, from all walks of life, were simultaneously carried...

Is there anywhere in the world that sums up the opulence and grandeur of royal life more than the palaces of India? Boasting over eighty palaces and palatial royal retreats, India’s wealth of regal residences are the result of centuries of dynastic development...