Early aristocrats in the west
In ancient Rome, nobles were privileged citizens. They opposed the civilian class and formed a privileged citizen family group. Before 400 BC, nobles monopolized all official positions and clergy. Roman emperors must be of noble birth. Nobles are exempt from military service. After the 4th century, aristocrats gradually evolved into non-hereditary honorary titles. The most obvious difference between nobles and other classes is that they have titles. Titles can be hereditary or non-hereditary.
Western aristocratic system
The first nobles developed from knights or warriors in feudal society. At first, warriors or knights swore allegiance to their lords and fought for them in exchange for land (usually living with serfs). In the military technological revolution of feudal society, the invention of musket gradually lifted the private control of the nobility over the army.
A person's aristocratic status can come from inheritance or from military exploits. In the most universal and strict sense of the term "noble", the characteristic of "outstanding" is inherited. For example, unless the privileges of the nobility are explicitly deprived, the legitimate heirs of the nobility (some societies are limited to men) are still nobles. In this respect, "aristocrats" are different from "English aristocrats": the latter is only inherited by one member of the family. Noble and noble are informal names for people or families ranking among nobles. They lack distinguishability. For example, young brothers and sisters of British aristocrats wandering in the small circle at the top of the hereditary pyramid (even children's self-styled VIP) are also considered aristocrats, and "blue blood" is the British expression of aristocratic descent. It may mean that people in that circle have delicate and pale skin-blue blood vessels are easier to see through the skin, or it may be a description of widespread silver poisoning in the upper class. Silver poisoning can lead to permanent blue skin, which is caused by excessive intake of silver, which was widely used as tableware and pharmaceutical elements at that time.
In countries where modern aristocrats dominate, the bourgeoisie gradually grows into a right class; Rich businessmen in cities are often more influential than small aristocrats in rural areas. In France, the influential senior bourgeoisie, especially the legal professionals, obtained the title of nobility from the king. The old aristocrats who started their careers ("sword aristocrats") became increasingly dissatisfied with new noble ("robe aristocrats").
During the restoration several years before the French Revolution, the old nobles tried to defend their privileges. They pushed the restrictions of specific departments and promoted chivalry among those who can prove that they have enough nobles. "quartiers de noblesse" refers to a noble who uses badges to prove that each of his blood ties comes from ancestors who are qualified to wear badges, that is, from ancient aristocratic families who can determine their paternal badges. On the other hand, it can be said that they are not the original bourgeois new noble.
The aristocrats will be required to provide genealogy showing' capture a quarter '( 16 quarter) or even' Trent-Deux quarter '(32 quarter), so as to show all the consanguinity of the last five generations (great-great-grandfather) or six generations (great-great-grandfather) respectively, so as to prove the aristocratic lineage.
Nobles control resources, such as food, money, ordinary people and lower-class aristocratic labor, and can exercise religious and political rights in them. Interestingly, nobles sometimes have the right to land fiefs, which can be expressed by naming. For example, the Earl of chesterfield in the name shows wealth, and the Earl of Keynes was founded for this name. However, these are not necessary. Many times, nobility is only related to social honor and specific social privileges. An example of the latter is szlachta in Poland. In modern society, the hereditary concept of having special rights is gradually incompatible with the modern lifestyle of western society, and the founders of the United States oppose anything that may help the nobility; The French Revolution abolished aristocrats and deprived them of their rights (although Napoleon I and Charles Louis Napolé on Bonaparte restored some titles of nobility, which were more honorable).
The Middle Ages was a typical period of aristocratic rule. The nobility maintained the ruling class structure. No matter officials or non-officials, they all have the right to rule, and their composition is complex and constantly changes with the pre-,mid-and post-period.
In the early days, people didn't pay attention to genealogy, because it was a period when the nation and Rome were mixed, and they paid attention to the existing power and land; In the middle period, the society was basically stereotyped, and people began to pay attention to genealogy, title and origin. At this time, the aristocratic group also formed and became a closed group. In the later period, due to the developed commodity economy and the increase in the flow of social factors, the lower classes began to join the ranks of nobles, and at the same time, some ruined nobles with titles but no land appeared.
On the origin of nobility
Now scholars have different views, which are mainly divided into two kinds: the first one comes from scholar Brock, who thinks that the Middle Ages are divided into two periods. The first period (1 1, 12 centuries ago) was a period without nobles. The original nobles in Rome disappeared with the demise of the empire, but the barbarian nobles did not form. In the second period (after12nd century), aristocrats began to appear, with the typical feature that the knight class began to formally appear, that is, knights and aristocrats were equal. But later scholars did not agree with the above statement through investigation. After the Germanic invasion, the Roman nobles did not really die out, but they merged with the upper class of barbarians later. There were nobles in the early Middle Ages, and nobles and knights merged in the late Middle Ages, but there were also differences. It was not until peacetime that the military function of knights weakened and the two became one.
12 and 13 centuries later, with the integration of nobles and knights, an obvious hierarchy began to form between nobles. To be a nobleman, you must be a knight, with obvious hierarchy and collectivity. Knights must be descendants of knights. This gap widens with the groups of other classes, which makes the aristocrats obviously closed, and the aristocrats also have different grades and show different powers.
The rank of nobility
Duke: Among the nobles, the duke is the first rank and has the highest status. There are three sources of this title: one is the military leader of the Germanic tribe when the European clan society disintegrated; Second, the military leaders of ancient Roman tribes; Third, the frontier generals in ancient Rome, later referring to local military and political officials, Latin means "commander in chief." With the development of feudal relations and the strengthening of kingship, the duke became an upper-class figure in the ruling class. In Britain, dukes were originally enfeoffed by King Edward III of England in14th century, and all dukes were members of the royal family. It was not until the15th century that this convention was broken, and a few non-royal members were also made dukes. They have political, economic, legal and rights. Their actions often determine the fate of many people, and they only join in name.
Marquis: Marquis is the second rank of nobility. When Charlemagne was in office, he meant the chief of the border area with special powers, equivalent to a vassal, appointed by the king, and after a long time he became semi-independent. After the Charlemagne Empire split, it became an independent feudal Lord. After the feudal monarchy was strengthened, Marquis became a title between Duke and Earl, and its status was equal to that of other Ors. It was not until the tenth and fourteenth centuries that the marquis was recognized as above the count. Most of these people come from large local families and are semi-independent forces. They can appoint local officials.
Earl or Count: In the Roman Empire, the earl was the emperor's attendant, in charge of military, civil and financial power, and sometimes served as a local official. After the feudal system was strengthened, the earl could become a hereditary feudal Lord. Later, the status gradually declined, between the marquis and the viscount, and it was the third rank of the nobility. In Britain, the title of Earl has the longest history, and it was the highest title in Britain before black prince Edward was made Duke in 1237. This title comes from Denmark in Scandinavia. The duke's trustee, also known as the count, has great power. Especially when representing the duke, the defenders of social order often become rulers, such as the Earl of Anjou, who established the Anjou Dynasty in Britain, and the Earl of Champagne in France.
The above three kinds of aristocrats are all senior aristocrats, and they all have a large number of territories, and they can exercise independent or semi-independent rule.
Viscount: Viscount was originally the official name of the Frankish kingdom. It was first sealed by King Charlemagne in the eighth century and later spread to other continental European countries. Viscount was the count's deputy at first, but later he existed independently and could be inherited. Viscount was not introduced to England until15th century. Beaumont John was the first person to be awarded the viscount of England in 1440, ranking higher than baron. They can handle affairs and judicial cases on their behalf. When senior nobles are not present, they can exercise their rights independently. Later, they began to build castles, forming a small ruling center.
Baron or Lord: This is the lowest rank of nobility. In the 1 1 and 12 centuries, it was a direct vassal of the kings or feudal lords of European monarchies. In English, the word Baron was introduced by the Normans when they conquered the European continent. Its original intention was "just an ordinary person", and later it evolved into "a powerful person". At that time, the large sharecroppers in Britain who directly obtained land from the king could be called barons, but this was not enfeoffed by the king. It was not until 1387 that Richard II made John Beacham a baron that the baron became the official title of the British nobility. Most of them were knight leaders connected with the army, and they obtained land from the king to support the land on the condition of military service. A baron has at least 40 ~ 50 knight collars (a knight collar refers to the land area needed to support a knight).
The characteristics of nobility are also reflected in other aspects of social life.
clothing, food,shelter and means of traveling
The color and style of the clothes of the aristocratic class (10 pieces) are stipulated by law. Non-nobles are not allowed to wear gold, silver, velvet or fur clothes. Farmers can only wear black and gray, and nobles can pursue beauty, which is the promoter of clothing reform at that time; But there were still many defects in the clothes at that time, such as no shirts and pajamas, and there was little difference between men's and women's clothes styles. In diet, there are two differences: restriction and economic strength. Such as game: peacocks, venison and swans are restrictive aspects; Because of the strong game and backward storage technology at that time, long-distance transportation of spices from the East could be equated with gold, which became the patent of nobles at that time. From the place of residence, the medieval aristocrats were land aristocrats, who were born on the land. There are noble houses in the center of the manor, but the owners will not live permanently. The other is a castle representing the land of power. At first, it was a royal privilege. It is usually built on a mountain. This is a place that is easy to defend but difficult to attack. One is defensive, representing power and not pursuing comfort. The room is wet and dark. Castle has many functions, which are not only the residence and social place of aristocratic families, but also the refuge place of surrounding residents during the war.
Marital and family status
The marriage of aristocrats in the Middle Ages was a political marriage, and the purpose of aristocratic marriage was to continue the descendants and strengthen the ties between aristocratic families. A marriage can form an alliance and resolve conflicts. Therefore, the eldest son of the nobility considered political factors more, and the second son who had no inheritance rights considered economic interests, so it became a custom to pursue widows at that time. Because there was no free love in the Middle Ages, marriages were arranged by parents and families, so although women's status was low at that time, ladies were the exception. They all have dual roles. On the one hand, a good wife and mother have the responsibility to take care of each other and children. On the other hand, it is a romantic model, becoming the object pursued by knights and worshiping ideals; They represent the ideals of purity, nobility and love. At that time, the aristocratic family was an expanded family, including servants, servants and dependents, that is, poor relatives, adoptive parents and knights. If a person can live in a noble family for one year and one day, he can become a full member of this family, so there are many things in the noble castle. At that time, the family was centered on patriarchy, but the foster care system at that time made the feelings between children and their biological parents very weak.
Nobles belonged to the upper class in medieval society, so they had their own characteristics in all aspects. For example, aristocrats only contact aristocrats, and their living customs and contacts are fixed. In a closed group, everyone has a sense of nobility, which is established by external laws, so that the class is fixed and forms a clear boundary with other classes.
By the middle of the Middle Ages, the consciousness of aristocratic groups was obvious, mainly in the following aspects:
First of all, nobles consciously draw a line with free people. Becoming an aristocrat is not only a property requirement, but also a conferring ceremony, which is becoming more and more strict, making the aristocrat only born in aristocratic children, and only the king can confer titles, and the conditions for becoming an aristocrat are becoming more and more harsh.
Secondly, the nobility began to pay more attention to genealogy, and there should be no ambiguity. Nobles also began to adopt family emblems, the origin of which was related to war. At that time, the warring parties used a special symbol to distinguish between the enemy and ourselves, and later it gradually evolved into a noble emblem.
Then, as nobles, they are also strictly different from others in their occupations, and most of their work is related to war. At that time, the society generally divided the types of work into soldiers, prayers (churches) and laborers (farmers). Fighting is the privilege of knights and nobles and a symbol of status.
Finally, the lifestyle and ideas of the nobility are different from those of other classes. They advocate loyalty, romance and elegance. Its honor is innocent.
As a relatively independent class, aristocrats themselves have mobility, especially in the later period. With the development of commodity economy and the increase of social mobility, some descendants began to join this ranks in the late Middle Ages. Some are married through marriage, because the proportion of men and women in the aristocratic group is out of balance, and there is a marriage between the lower class and the nobility; Some people are awarded titles of nobility for their outstanding service in the royal family and nobility; There are also those who are economically rich and promoted to the nobility by virtue of their economic strength. At the same time, there have also been landless and ruined nobles, and the national emblem has become a symbol of poverty.
The formation of European nobility
European aristocrats are divided into blood aristocrats, fief aristocrats and status aristocrats. The most important thing is the blood aristocracy. Aristocrats of European descent were formed in the war. When they were nomads, a group of heroes who could fight gathered around the tribal leaders.
Later, these people became aristocrats of European descent. The titles of nobility in Europe, such as Duke, Hou, Bo, Zi and Men, were all produced in the war. They don't rely on connections, they rely on their own skills. He is responsible for this war. Whenever there is a war, the nobles should bring their own weapons and horses, and under the command of the king, they will take the lead. In the era of advocating strength, the battlefield is the best place to test people. On the battlefield, the weak and cowards are eliminated, and the strong and brave survive. This ensures the quality of European aristocrats. European aristocrats are hereditary, and hereditary aristocrats have to undertake the task of war so that the aristocratic class will not rot. The existence of war also made it impossible for the nobles to become dependent. In the Middle Ages, Europe was constantly in war, and nobles were constantly tested between life and death. During the battle, the nobles and their hereditary generations were constantly updated, and wars and bunkers were everywhere. Today, Europe still has this legacy of war. European aristocratic families attach great importance to children's education, and superb swordsmanship and equestrian skills are essential for shaping children.
Only under the influence of such culture can we exercise more people. The continuous improvement of people's quality is not negligence or slackness, but constantly updating and strengthening themselves. In Europe, the activities of nobles are all in the palace, and the palace culture has become the radiation source of national culture. In addition to court culture, aristocratic culture also includes three cultures. The first is the salon culture. The word "Sharon" has become popular in modern China society. In our cultural life, there are various theme salons, and this word is also liked by many young people. The original meaning of the word salon refers to a beautifully decorated living room. Originated in Italy. Because all the men in the court are paying attention to national affairs or going hunting, the aristocratic ladies stay at home and do nothing and hold cultural activities in the beautifully dressed salon. Salon must be presided over by the hostess. This is a high-level cultural exchange and activity way extending from the court. Salon culture is dominated by literature and art, and even discusses philosophical issues and pursues spiritual enjoyment and status. The second aristocratic culture is knight culture. This is an important faction of aristocratic culture. The inheritors of this culture are pure aristocratic children. In Europe, when the children of an aristocratic family reach the age of 10, they will be sent to the aristocratic side to learn court etiquette, fencing and equestrian, with the aim of learning how to become a real knight: a person with noble ideals and complete loyalty to love. The third is gentleman culture. The word gentleman means "gentleman" and "gentleness" in English.
Noble surname symbol
The symbol of surname of western aristocrats is between the first name and the last name. "Virtue" is a symbol of French aristocrats or ancient families. For example, the famous French fable poet Jean de La Fontaine was born in a noble family. "Tang" (translated as Tang) is a symbol of Spanish aristocratic surnames, such as Don Juan, the hero in Byron's Don Juan. "Feng" is a symbol of the surname of feudal nobles in Germany and Austria, such as Goethe's knight Goethe von Berlichenken.
Contemporary aristocrats
Noble refers to a kind of spirit, first of all, cultural education, resisting the temptation of materialism and not taking pleasure as the purpose of life. Second, the responsibility to society, strict self-discipline, cherish honor, and assume the responsibility to society and the country. The third is a free soul, an independent will, and the courage to say no in front of power and money. Moreover, it has intellectual and moral autonomy, can transcend fashion and trends, and is not enslaved by political power and the opinions of the majority.
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