On the territory of France since the Middle Ages anduntil 1871 there was a single system, according to which the feudal lords were divided into several categories. Noble titles and their hierarchy today is of great interest. And this is not surprising, since the representatives of the aristocracy and their offspring are constantly the object of close attention of the press along with the stars of show business and well-known politicians.
Hierarchy
Head of the medieval french statewas the king. At the next step of the hierarchical ladder stood the overlords - the dukes and large counts who were the supreme rulers of a particular area. Moreover, their power in the land was almost equal to the royal. Then came the owners of domains, beneficiaries or plots issued for the service, and fiefs who had been granted for the service and were inherited. These nobles had various titles. Interestingly, any feudal lord could be both a suzerain, and a domain owner and benefice at the same time.
Le Roi (King)
As already said, this is the highest title of nobilitymedieval France. At different periods, its owners were vested with more or less power. The highest power of the French kings possessed in the era of absolutism, especially during the reign of Louis XIV.
Le Duce (Duke)
This is the highest non-crowned title in French.Kingdom, which was translated into Russian as "Duke". It is believed that he originally designated the leader of the tribe and appeared in the days of the Carolingians, when the French, Italians and Germans were the subjects of one king. In the course of the formation and expansion of the Frankish state, the German dukes became officials of the king, and the graphs - the rulers of certain regions submitted to them.
Le Marquis (marquises)
These noble titles in France emerged even whenCarla the Great. Their name comes from the name of the border administrative unit - brand. This is due to the fact that the Marquis was the royal governor in the area.
Le Comte (count)
That was the name of the royal servant who hadpowers to govern a particular territory and exercise the functions of the judiciary He was next after the Marquis in the hierarchy of noble titles and almost single-handedly, with the exception of some questions, ruled his county. By the way, from the word comte came the name "Komtur", denoting a position in the spiritual and knightly orders.
Le Vicomte (Viscount)
Noble titles in France were transmitted byinheritance. In different epochs for this, different rules acted. For example, the Viscount title, which in the early period was designated as deputy graph, was later worn by younger male heirs of marquises and earls, as well as their descendants.
Le Baron
Noble titles in france were enoughare numerous. Their hierarchy included the step of the baron. So called feudal lords with their own domain, which, being vassals of the king themselves, themselves were sovereigns of their own subjects. In France, this title was one of the few.
Le Chevalier (Chevalier)
Noble titles in France were among thoseRepresentatives of this class who did not have their own domains. They joined the ranks of the army and made up most of the knighthood. The word "chevalier" means a heavily armed rider. In the countries of Western Europe, knighthood was originally meant to be taken to military service to their overlord. For loyalty to the chevalier they received from the master a hereditary fief and a lifelong benefit.
Monsieur de
Junior noble title in france oldorder - equier (ecuye). They were designated a squire, and literally translated it meant "clothing." In addition, the so-called independent noble children who had no opportunity to outfit and equip themselves on their own. Service as a squire was the only opportunity for Chevalier to win the right to own a fief or a benefit. However, part of the squires for one reason or another did not achieve the desired and remained just Monsieur de (name). Over time, this estate merged with the chevalier.
Title inheritance
Во Франции в Средние века во главу угла ставилось birthright. This meant that the title was inherited by the eldest son of its owner. At the same time, daughters born before the appearance in the family of a boy were deprived of this right.
While the father was alive, the son received the so-calledthe courtesy title is lower in rank than that of the parent. For example, the heir to the duke became the marquis. At the same time, when the position of a particular nobleman in the hierarchy of the French aristocracy was considered, the title of father was taken as a basis for determining his place. In other words, the count, who is the son of the duke, was above the "colleague", whose father was the marquis.
Usually the highest aristocracy had severaltitles that remained in the family, so sometimes their offspring had to change them with the death of older relatives. For example, if after the death of his grandfather the son became a duke, then the grandson occupied his place of count.
Women's titles
Дворянский титул во Франции и Англии обычно transmitted through the male line. As for women, they became their owners in two ways. The first option is marriage, and the second is receiving from the father. In the latter case, it was again about the title of courtesy, which did not give the lady any privileges. It is a different matter when a woman becomes, for example, a duchess as a result of a marriage with a duke. This meant that she was at the same level of hierarchy as the spouse, and avoided everyone, including the male representatives, who followed him. In addition, for example, of the two Marquis below was the one whose husband had the title of courtesy, and did not inherit it after the death of the parent.
At the same time in France there was a salic law.inheritance, according to which women unconditionally could not inherit family titles, i.e. the daughter of the duke did not become duchess, even if her father had no male heirs.
The most famous aristocratic houses of France
- House de Montmorency.
The genus is known from the 10th century and gave France 6constables, 12 marshals, a cardinal, several admirals, as well as masters of various noble orders and numerous famous statesmen.
The first in the family, who received the ducal title, in 1551 became Anne de Montmorency.
- House d "Albre.
This house has reached the very top of the hierarchicalthe stairs becoming royal in Navarre. In addition, one of his representatives (John d. Albre) married the Duke of Vendome. In this marriage, the future king was born, first of Navarre, and then of France, Henry the Fourth.
- House Artois.
A county with that name in the Middle Agesrepeatedly became the apple of contention. In addition, it was one of the few, the inheritance of which went contrary to the Salic law. Later, the county became part of Burgundy. In 1482 the title with the lands was ceded to the Habsburgs. However, in 1659 it returned under the French protectorate and became a nominal county. At the same time, its owners received the title of Peer of France, and later one of the representatives of this clan became King of France Charles the Ninth.
- Princes Conde.
This younger branch of the royal dynasty of Franceplayed an important role in the public and political life of the kingdom until their disappearance in 1830. Throughout its history, this genus has repeatedly claimed the throne and participated in various conspiracies.
- Family Lusignan.
The genus is known for spreading its influencefar beyond france. Its representatives from the 12th century as a result of dynastic marriages became the rulers of Cyprus and Jerusalem, and in the 13th century became the kings of the Cilician Armenian kingdom and the principality of Antioch. Thanks to them, the hierarchy of noble titles of France partially transferred to these states.
- House of Valois-Anjou.
Представители рода были королями Неаполя и одной from the branches of the ancient Capetian dynasty. In 1328, their representative Philip the Sixth entered the throne of France. He did not receive it as an inheritance, but because of the absence of male heirs from his cousin, the king of France. The dynasty ruled for more than 2 centuries, until the throne passed to Henry the Fourth.
Now you know how many hierarchical stepsthe ladder was divided by the ordinary aristocrat and the one who held the highest noble title of France, England or other Western European states. Today, many of their offspring, who inherited only a big name, live like ordinary people and only occasionally recall their ancestors who gave them blue blood.
