The aristocracy is historically associated with a "hereditary" or a "ruling" social class. In many states, the aristocracy included the upper class of people (aristocrats) with hereditary rank and titles. In some, such as ancient Greece, ancient Rome, or India, aristocratic status came from belonging to a military class. It has also been common, notably in African and Oriental societies, for aristocrats to belong to priestly dynasties. Aristocratic status can involve feudal or legal privileges. They are usually below only the monarch of a country or nation in its social hierarchy. In modern European societies, the aristocracy has often coincided with the nobility, a specific class that arose in the Middle Ages, but the term "aristocracy" is sometimes also applied to other elites, and is used as a more general term when describing earlier and non-European societies. Aristocracy may be abolished within a country as the result of a revolution against them, such as the French Revolution.
Etymology
The term aristocracy derives from the Greek ἀριστοκρατία (aristokratia from ἄριστος (aristos) 'excellent' and κράτος (kratos) 'power'). In most cases, aristocratic titles were and are hereditary.
The term aristokratia was first used in Athens with reference to young citizens (the men of the ruling class) who led armies at the front line. Aristokratia roughly translates to "rule of the best born". Due to martial bravery being highly regarded as a virtue in ancient Greece, it was assumed that the armies were being led by "the best". This virtue was called arete (ἀρετή). Etymologically, as the word developed, it also produced a more political term: aristoi (ἄριστοι). The term aristocracy is a compound word stemming from the singular of aristoi, aristos (ἄριστος), and the Greek word for power, kratos (κράτος).
From the ancient Greeks, the term passed to the European Middle Ages for a similar hereditary class of military leaders, often referred to as the nobility. As in Greece, this was a class of privileged men and women whose familial connections to the regional armies allowed them to present themselves as the most "noble" or "best" of society.
See also
- Gentry
- Landed gentry (United Kingdom)
- Landed gentry in China
- Landed gentry in Poland
- Honorifics
- Nobility
- List of fictional nobility
- Upper class
- Imtiaz (Egypt)
- Chieftaincy (Nigeria)
- Old money
- Peerage (United Kingdom)
- Royal and noble ranks
- Styles (manner of address)
- Royal and noble styles
- Forms of address in the United Kingdom
- Titles
- Hereditary title
- Honorary titles
- False titles of nobility
- Social capital
- Symbolic capital
- Honour
- Yangban (Korea)
- Kuge (Japan)
- Samanta, Thakur, Zamindar and Jenmi (India)
References
- "Definition of Aristocracy". Archived from the original on 2019-03-26. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
- "Definition of ARISTOCRACY". www.merriam-webster.com. November 29, 2024.
- The Aristocrats: a portrait of Britain's nobility and their way of life today, by Roy Perrott, (London 1968), pp. 5–10.
- "British Aristocracy - Buy a Laird Title, Lord Title, Lady Title". June 16, 2010.
- "Modern European societies and the nobility of aristocracy".
- The Oxford Companion to British History, John Cannon (editor), Oxford University Press, 1997, ISBN 978-0-19-866176-4
External links
- Heraldica: European Noble, Princely, Royal, and Imperial Titles
The aristocracy is historically associated with a hereditary or a ruling social class In many states the aristocracy included the upper class of people aristocrats with hereditary rank and titles In some such as ancient Greece ancient Rome or India aristocratic status came from belonging to a military class It has also been common notably in African and Oriental societies for aristocrats to belong to priestly dynasties Aristocratic status can involve feudal or legal privileges They are usually below only the monarch of a country or nation in its social hierarchy In modern European societies the aristocracy has often coincided with the nobility a specific class that arose in the Middle Ages but the term aristocracy is sometimes also applied to other elites and is used as a more general term when describing earlier and non European societies Aristocracy may be abolished within a country as the result of a revolution against them such as the French Revolution The Ladies Waldegrave a portrait of three English aristocrats from the Waldegrave family by Joshua ReynoldsA chateau the primary form of residence for the French aristocracyEtymology2nd Earl and Countess Harcourt in their coronet and coronation robes by Joshua Reynolds The countess was a confidant of Queen Charlotte The term aristocracy derives from the Greek ἀristokratia aristokratia from ἄristos aristos excellent and kratos kratos power In most cases aristocratic titles were and are hereditary The term aristokratia was first used in Athens with reference to young citizens the men of the ruling class who led armies at the front line Aristokratia roughly translates to rule of the best born Due to martial bravery being highly regarded as a virtue in ancient Greece it was assumed that the armies were being led by the best This virtue was called arete ἀreth Etymologically as the word developed it also produced a more political term aristoi ἄristoi The term aristocracy is a compound word stemming from the singular of aristoi aristos ἄristos and the Greek word for power kratos kratos Hon Arthur Wellesley later made Duke of Wellington after defeating Napoleon From the ancient Greeks the term passed to the European Middle Ages for a similar hereditary class of military leaders often referred to as the nobility As in Greece this was a class of privileged men and women whose familial connections to the regional armies allowed them to present themselves as the most noble or best of society See alsoGentry Landed gentry United Kingdom Landed gentry in China Landed gentry in Poland Honorifics Nobility List of fictional nobility Upper class Imtiaz Egypt Chieftaincy Nigeria Old money Peerage United Kingdom Royal and noble ranks Styles manner of address Royal and noble styles Forms of address in the United Kingdom Titles Hereditary title Honorary titles False titles of nobility Social capital Symbolic capital Honour Yangban Korea Kuge Japan Samanta Thakur Zamindar and Jenmi India References Definition of Aristocracy Archived from the original on 2019 03 26 Retrieved 2019 09 18 Definition of ARISTOCRACY www merriam webster com November 29 2024 The Aristocrats a portrait of Britain s nobility and their way of life today by Roy Perrott London 1968 pp 5 10 British Aristocracy Buy a Laird Title Lord Title Lady Title June 16 2010 Modern European societies and the nobility of aristocracy The Oxford Companion to British History John Cannon editor Oxford University Press 1997 ISBN 978 0 19 866176 4External linksWikiquote has quotations related to Aristocracy Heraldica European Noble Princely Royal and Imperial TitlesLook up aristocracy in Wiktionary the free dictionary
