Nobility

thumb|286x286px|The House of Lords is the upper legislature of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom and is filled with members that are selected from the aristocracy (both hereditary titleholders and those ennobled only for their individual lives).]] Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. The characteristics associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non

An appanage, or apanage (; ), is the grant of an estate, title, office or other thing of value to a younger child of a monarch, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture (where only the eldest inherits). It was common in much of Europe.

Title of nobility used by a man because his wife holds it in her own right

right|thumb|Cleric, knight, and peasant archetypes represent the virtues of prudence, fortitude, and temperance, respectively. In [[classical antiquity and Christendom, prudence and fortitude were seen as the cardinal virtues that should govern society.]]

concept that nobility confers social responsibilities

a person who either possesses hereditary titles granted by a monarch or is related to such people

in their own right

noble house composed of descendants of a monarch's or aristocrat's younger children (cadets)

Ennoblement is the conferring of nobility—the induction of an individual into the noble class. Currently only a few kingdoms still grant nobility to people; among them Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Vatican. Depending on time and region, various laws have governed who could be ennobled and how. Typically, nobility was conferred on individuals who had assisted the sovereign. In some countries (e.g. France under the Ancien Régime), this degenerated into the buying of patents of nobility, whereby rich commoners (e.g. merchants) could purchase a title of nobility.

personal name component indicating a ruling or aristocratic pedigree

A peerage is a legal system historically comprising various hereditary titles (and sometimes non-hereditary titles) in a number of countries, and composed of assorted noble ranks.

British and Irish social class of wealthy land owners

courtsmanship, honary of judicial outcome

A secundogeniture (from 'following, second', and 'born') was a dependent territory given to a younger son of a princely house and his descendants, creating a cadet branch. This was a special form of inheritance in which the second and younger son received more possessions and prestige than the apanage which was usual in principalities practising primogeniture. It avoided the generational division of the estate to the extent that occurred under gavelkind, and at the same time gave younger branches a stake in the stability of the house.

Sire is an archaic respectful form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French.

document confirming a nobility

latin phrase meaning "by right of his mother"

Wikimedia list article

lower nobility classes

type of title of nobility or royalty

principal country residence of an upper-class family across multiple generations

type of farm in Scandinavia where a nobleman had his permanent residence