Nobility Articles

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...

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...

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...

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...

No country in the world epitomises finery, opulence and elegance quite like the French. So, it is not surprising that some of the most beautiful and extravagant royal palaces throughout Europe are to be found across the French cities and regions. Their reputation for...

The royal palaces of Europe conjure up visions of vast wealth, extravagance and architectural splendour. Unlike the functional roles of defensive castles and keeps, palaces were designed for more refined purposes, such as sovereign celebrations, imperial pomp,...

As the empires of the Indian subcontinent rose and fell across the centuries, the many and varied royal dynasties left a historic legacy on the culture of India. Although its monarchy was officially abolished in 1950 when the country became a republic, the vibrancy,...

The Nobility is a powerful and glamourous social class that emerged during the Middle Ages. In the earliest times of the noble classes, the roles and levels were vague and fluid, especially across the different kingdoms and continents. However, as this influential...

The Titular Nobility of Italy, also known as the Italian Nobility, is a very complex and difficult historic and legal system. We do have in our books some rare and magnificent Italian Principalities. This type of title is even scarcer than the Duchies, and there are...

Our firm has in its archives an immense portfolio of aristocratic titles of nobility for sale. Here you can buy a French or Italian aristocratic title of nobility. We are exclusively dedicated to the genuine sale of hereditary and fully inheritable aristocratic titles...

The nobility of Europe is a topic that intrigues and fascinates people from all walks of life, the world over. There is something endlessly captivating about the esteemed and privileged classes who have enjoyed a position within the finest social circles across the...

In Part 1 of this series of Aristocratic Titles of Medieval Europe, we examined the highest-ranking roles of Europe’s noble classes, from the semi-royal positions of Archdukes and Grand Dukes, to the esteemed roles of Dukes, Marquesses and Counts. In Part 2, we...

The Aristocracy of Medieval Europe comprised illustrious groups of wealthy and powerful noble men and women, an elite class that was second only in rank to the royal families and reigning sovereigns. The realm of aristocracy featured the highest social positions, the...

There is some debate over which of Germany's 25,000 castles can rightly claim to be The Oldest of Them All. With so many castles dating from the early Middle Ages, it can be difficult to accurately state which is officially Germany's Oldest Castle, especially as many...

The history of medieval and Renaissance Europe features a whole host of legendary noble families. It is difficult to state which of the ancient noble families of Europe is officially the oldest, as this can depend on a whole range of definitions and criteria. However,...

Germany is renowned for its fairy tale castles. Although there are estimated to be over 25,000 castles throughout Germany, many of the more famous castles, the legendary Neuschwanstein for example, are relatively modern buildings, built in the last two hundred years,...

It's generally believed that only those born into 'blue-blood' families can ever be noble. However, this is not always the case. After all, these noble family lines had to begin somewhere. For every aristocratic family, there was a point of origin, a single founder...

We have in our archives several kinds of French nobility Titles of Baron for sale. In this world dominated by the loss of the traditional values and globalisation, there are many people interested in obtaining noble & feudal titles. Some want the titles for...

With over 25,000 castles in Germany, it can be difficult to know which ones to visit, or which area of Germany to base your trip. And with so many castles, there is such a vast range of architectural styles and structures. For example, many medieval castles were built...

Like many European countries, Italy’s turbulent and dramatic history gave rise to a wealth of castles and fortified buildings. Whether built to protect their coastline from invaders across the seas, or to fortify the northern territories against the threat from...

French Titles of Nobility The French Nobility of the Middle Ages comprised the class of people below the reigning sovereign in the country's social order. At the pinnacle of the social hierarchy were the emperors and empresses, the kings and queens. These positions...

The idea of aristocracy conjures up a rich array of imagery and history. From the dazzling grandeur of a British Baronet's Banquet, to the fabulous wealth and power of Venetian Merchant families, the elite worlds of the aristocratic classes can be as diverse as they...

The noble families of medieval Europe shaped the very history of the period. From their esteemed positions of power and privilege, the famous noble houses of the Middle Ages impacted the politics and governance, influenced the royal dynasties and the church, and left...

The common European ranks of royals and nobles are quite well known. Most people are familiar with Kings and Queens, Counts and Dukes, Lords and Barons etc… Some royal and noble titles, however, are less well known, perhaps because they belong to unfamiliar cultures,...

The stories and lifestyles of aristocrats have intrigued and captivated people for centuries. Even in the times of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, the ordinary man and woman would have been fascinated by the members of this social elite. Louis de Silvestre / Public...

Europe is famous for its abundance of castles, many dating back to medieval times. With so many neighbouring nations, as well as the turbulent history of the last 1000 years, European countries needed to defend their territories and protect their people. In medieval...

The aristocratic families of medieval Europe provided some of history's most captivating characters and legendary stories. From saints to infamous sinners, from military heroes to conquering queens, a richly diverse cast of fabled nobles left their indelible marks on...

The castles of Europe each have their own unique and fascinating stories to tell. Some are fairytale legends of happy unions, or triumph over adversity. Some are complicated family sagas, full of intrigue, drama and scandal. While others reflect the cultural changes...