The aristocracy[1] is historically associated with "hereditary" or "ruling" social class. In many states, the aristocracy included the upper class of people (aristocrats) with hereditary rank and titles.[2] 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 societies, for aristocrats to belong to priestly dynasties. Aristocratic status can involve feudal or legal privileges.[3] They are usually below only the monarch of a country or nation in its social hierarchy.[4] 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 generic term when describing earlier and non-European societies.[5] Some revolutions, such as the French Revolution, have been followed by the abolition of the aristocracy.
French aristocrats, c. 1774
A castle, the symbol of the rule of aristocracy in medieval Europe (Krásna Hôrka in Slovakia)
The term aristocracy derives from the Greekἀριστοκρατία (aristokratia from ἄριστος (aristos) 'excellent' and κράτος (kratos) 'power').[6] The royals and the aristocrats or people from noble descent were called "Blue Bloods" in medieval times in English language.[citation needed] 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.
Heraldica: European Noble, Princely, Royal, and Imperial Titles
Look up aristocracy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
March 20, 2023
aristocracy, class, aristocrat, redirects, here, other, uses, aristocrat, disambiguation, aristocracy, historically, associated, with, hereditary, ruling, social, class, many, states, aristocracy, included, upper, class, people, aristocrats, with, hereditary, . Aristocrat redirects here For other uses see Aristocrat disambiguation The aristocracy 1 is historically associated with hereditary or ruling social class In many states the aristocracy included the upper class of people aristocrats with hereditary rank and titles 2 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 societies for aristocrats to belong to priestly dynasties Aristocratic status can involve feudal or legal privileges 3 They are usually below only the monarch of a country or nation in its social hierarchy 4 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 generic term when describing earlier and non European societies 5 Some revolutions such as the French Revolution have been followed by the abolition of the aristocracy French aristocrats c 1774 A castle the symbol of the rule of aristocracy in medieval Europe Krasna Horka in Slovakia Contents 1 Etymology 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksEtymology Edit Count Carl Robert Mannerheim 1835 1914 aristocrat businessman and father of Marshal C G E Mannerheim The term aristocracy derives from the Greek ἀristokratia aristokratia from ἄristos aristos excellent and kratos kratos power 6 The royals and the aristocrats or people from noble descent were called Blue Bloods in medieval times in English language citation needed 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 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 EditGentry Gentry Landed China Gentry Landed Poland Gentry Landed United Kingdom Honorifics Monarchy Capitalism Nobility List of fictional nobility Upper class Imtiaz Egypt Chieftaincy Nigeria Old money Peerage United Kingdom Royal and noble ranks Styles manner of address Styles royal and noble Styles United Kingdom Titles Titles false Titles hereditary Titles honorary Social capital Social environment Symbolic capital Honour Moral responsibility Yangban Korea Kuge Japan Zamindar or Jenmi India References Edit Definition of Aristocracy Definition 2 of Aristocracy The Aristocrats a portrait of Britain s nobility and their way of life today by Roy Perrott London 1968 pp 5 10 Native Wood Preservation Ltd on British Aristocracy and Hierarchy 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 links Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to Aristocracy Heraldica European Noble Princely Royal and Imperial Titles Look up aristocracy in Wiktionary the free dictionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aristocracy class amp oldid 1141891121, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
