Refuting some of the most widespread myths about medieval and early modern European aristocracy. How aristocracy transformed from 15th to 18th century.
I wish I could make this article required reading for people who comment on my blog's social media accounts. One of their biggest misconceptions is that the French nobility in the reigns of Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI was a monolithic entity. As you so rightly point out, they were a diverse group with many lines of origin and many intra-class economic disparities. I noticed early on, for example, that 2 of the main court diarists, the Marquis de Dangeau and his grandson the Duc de Luyens, ALWAYS mention the details of people's income and assets when recording a marriage or a death.
The Spanish Hidalgo is an interesting case. People could buy their Nobility, or earn it through warfare, which their descendants inherited. This caused a great deal of problems, since Hidalgos (nobles) were not supposed to work for a living. There was little income and only pride, which didn't amount to much. You can't eat pride.
There aren't really that many that deal with medieval European nobility as a whole, it's mostly about specific parts of Europe.
I remember a book Nobles and Nobility in Medieval Europe: Concepts, Origins, Transformations which is a collection of 14 essays on various topics regarding medieval nobility from all over Europe, so you might be interested in that.
Interesting, thanks for the recommendation. I did a quick check online, and it seems this one has a bit of a diffuse focus. My principal interest at this time is HRE, Germany, Poland & Bohemia. Call it Central European. Could you recommend anything along those lines?
Interesting article. However how does the history of Venetian noble families fit into your thesis? Their ascendancy is well known - 4 major waves of establishing new ranks - and quite a few of them still exist.
I wish I could make this article required reading for people who comment on my blog's social media accounts. One of their biggest misconceptions is that the French nobility in the reigns of Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI was a monolithic entity. As you so rightly point out, they were a diverse group with many lines of origin and many intra-class economic disparities. I noticed early on, for example, that 2 of the main court diarists, the Marquis de Dangeau and his grandson the Duc de Luyens, ALWAYS mention the details of people's income and assets when recording a marriage or a death.
The Spanish Hidalgo is an interesting case. People could buy their Nobility, or earn it through warfare, which their descendants inherited. This caused a great deal of problems, since Hidalgos (nobles) were not supposed to work for a living. There was little income and only pride, which didn't amount to much. You can't eat pride.
That's a hugely comprehensive article, thank you.
Very enlightening read. Could you recommend any works that examine the European nobility prior to 1400?
There aren't really that many that deal with medieval European nobility as a whole, it's mostly about specific parts of Europe.
I remember a book Nobles and Nobility in Medieval Europe: Concepts, Origins, Transformations which is a collection of 14 essays on various topics regarding medieval nobility from all over Europe, so you might be interested in that.
Interesting, thanks for the recommendation. I did a quick check online, and it seems this one has a bit of a diffuse focus. My principal interest at this time is HRE, Germany, Poland & Bohemia. Call it Central European. Could you recommend anything along those lines?
I'll try to compile a list and send it to you when I have time.
Wonderful article! The only objection I have is that I would have split it into two articles.
Interesting article. However how does the history of Venetian noble families fit into your thesis? Their ascendancy is well known - 4 major waves of establishing new ranks - and quite a few of them still exist.