Under the Ancien Régime of France, the Nobles of the Robe or Nobles of the Gown (French: noblesse de robe) were French aristocrats whose rank came from holding certain judicial or administrative posts. As a rule, the positions did not of themselves give the holder a title of nobility, such as baron or viscount (although the holder might also have such a title), but they were almost always attached to a specific function. The offices were often hereditary, and by 1789, most of the holders had inherited their positions. The most influential of them were the 1,100 members of the 13 parlements, or courts of appeal.
Calonne is shown in the costume of his rank, noblesse de robe.
They were distinct from the "Nobles of the Sword" (French: noblesse d'épée), whose nobility was based on their families' traditional function as the knightly class and whose titles were usually attached to a particular feudal fiefdom, a landed estate held in return for military service. Together with the older nobility, the Nobles of the Robe made up the Second Estate in pre-revolutionary France.[1]
Because these noblemen, especially the judges, had often studied at a university, they were called Nobles of the Robe after the robes or gowns that scholars wore, especially at commencement ceremonies. Originally given out as rewards for services to the king, the offices became venal, a commodity to be bought and sold (under certain conditions of aptitude). This practice became official with the edict of la Paulette, the Paulette being the tax paid by the holder to keep the office hereditary. As hereditary offices, they were often passed from father to son. Nobles of the Robe were often considered by Nobles of the Sword to be of inferior rank, because their status was not derived from military service and/or land ownership. The elite Nobles of the Robe, such as members of the parlements, fought to preserve their status alongside the Nobles of the Sword in pre-revolutionary French society.
Originally, the offices within the Nobles of the Robe were relatively accessible due to their venal nature. In the 17th century, the office of councillor in the parlement sold for 100,000 livres. By the mid-18th century, its value was reduced to half, due to the proliferation of offices.[2] However, after the 17th century, the descendants of those who had earned the rank as a reward for services to the monarchy fought to limit access to the class. The Nobles of the Robe protested heavily when the monarchy, in desperate need of money, would create massive numbers of such positions within the bureaucracy to raise revenue. A common family strategy was to designate a second or third son to enter the church while the elder son(s) pursued a career in the robe or the military.[3]
Access to nobility through a judiciary office thus became practically barred in the 18th century. However, there existed other offices for sale: a secrétaire-conseiller du roi acquired first-degree nobility immediately, and hereditary nobility after 20 years.[4] The office was not cheap (120,000 livres in 1773), but it was a sinecure, with no preconditions and no obligations. Real nobility looked down on it as a savonette à vilain (the commoners' "soap", that is, means of "washing away" the commonness to create a nobleman).
A new nobleman could acquire a fief and assume the title, which might need to be registered with the Estates.
In order to become a baron or viscount, a new untitled nobleman needed to acquire a fief (baronies, viscountcies, etc. were also sold as investment goods) and to add the name of the fief to his family name. For example, Antoine Crozat, having become extremely wealthy but a mere son of peasants, acquired the barony of Thiers in 1714 for the price of 200,000 livres. In some parts of France, the new baron or viscount needed to be registered by the Estates (who could refuse, as did the Estates of Béarn for Vincent Laborde de Montpezat in 1703).
The Enlightenment and the French Revolution
Nobles of the Robe played key roles in the French Enlightenment. The most famous, Montesquieu, was one of the earliest Enlightenment figures.
During the French Revolution, the Nobles of the Robe lost their place when the parlements and lower courts were abolished in 1790.
^Roland Mousnier, The Institutions of France Under the Absolute Monarchy, 1598-1789, Volume 2, p 346 .
^Peter Campbell, Power and politics in old regime France, 1720-1745 (Routledge, 2003) p 22
^the office of secrétaire-conseiller du roi is not to be confounded with that of conseiller du roi, a general denomination for a number of offices that did not confer nobility (though the ambiguity has been exploited by unscrupulous genealogists in attempts to prove ancient nobility for commoners seeking a "rétablissement de noblesse").
Further reading
Ford, Franklin L. Robe and sword: the regrouping of the French aristocracy after Louis XIV (Harvard U.P. 1953)
External links
Nobility and Titles in France by F. Velde
*Link no longer works*
February 19, 2023
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Under the Ancien Regime of France the Nobles of the Robe or Nobles of the Gown French noblesse de robe were French aristocrats whose rank came from holding certain judicial or administrative posts As a rule the positions did not of themselves give the holder a title of nobility such as baron or viscount although the holder might also have such a title but they were almost always attached to a specific function The offices were often hereditary and by 1789 most of the holders had inherited their positions The most influential of them were the 1 100 members of the 13 parlements or courts of appeal Charles Alexandre de Calonne by Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun 1784 London Royal Collection Calonne is shown in the costume of his rank noblesse de robe They were distinct from the Nobles of the Sword French noblesse d epee whose nobility was based on their families traditional function as the knightly class and whose titles were usually attached to a particular feudal fiefdom a landed estate held in return for military service Together with the older nobility the Nobles of the Robe made up the Second Estate in pre revolutionary France 1 Contents 1 Origins 2 The Enlightenment and the French Revolution 3 See also 4 Notes 5 Further reading 6 External linksOrigins EditBecause these noblemen especially the judges had often studied at a university they were called Nobles of the Robe after the robes or gowns that scholars wore especially at commencement ceremonies Originally given out as rewards for services to the king the offices became venal a commodity to be bought and sold under certain conditions of aptitude This practice became official with the edict of la Paulette the Paulette being the tax paid by the holder to keep the office hereditary As hereditary offices they were often passed from father to son Nobles of the Robe were often considered by Nobles of the Sword to be of inferior rank because their status was not derived from military service and or land ownership The elite Nobles of the Robe such as members of the parlements fought to preserve their status alongside the Nobles of the Sword in pre revolutionary French society Originally the offices within the Nobles of the Robe were relatively accessible due to their venal nature In the 17th century the office of councillor in the parlement sold for 100 000 livres By the mid 18th century its value was reduced to half due to the proliferation of offices 2 However after the 17th century the descendants of those who had earned the rank as a reward for services to the monarchy fought to limit access to the class The Nobles of the Robe protested heavily when the monarchy in desperate need of money would create massive numbers of such positions within the bureaucracy to raise revenue A common family strategy was to designate a second or third son to enter the church while the elder son s pursued a career in the robe or the military 3 Access to nobility through a judiciary office thus became practically barred in the 18th century However there existed other offices for sale a secretaire conseiller du roi acquired first degree nobility immediately and hereditary nobility after 20 years 4 The office was not cheap 120 000 livres in 1773 but it was a sinecure with no preconditions and no obligations Real nobility looked down on it as a savonette a vilain the commoners soap that is means of washing away the commonness to create a nobleman A new nobleman could acquire a fief and assume the title which might need to be registered with the Estates In order to become a baron or viscount a new untitled nobleman needed to acquire a fief baronies viscountcies etc were also sold as investment goods and to add the name of the fief to his family name For example Antoine Crozat having become extremely wealthy but a mere son of peasants acquired the barony of Thiers in 1714 for the price of 200 000 livres In some parts of France the new baron or viscount needed to be registered by the Estates who could refuse as did the Estates of Bearn for Vincent Laborde de Montpezat in 1703 The Enlightenment and the French Revolution EditNobles of the Robe played key roles in the French Enlightenment The most famous Montesquieu was one of the earliest Enlightenment figures During the French Revolution the Nobles of the Robe lost their place when the parlements and lower courts were abolished in 1790 See also EditLaw lord ParlementNotes Edit Ford 1953 Roland Mousnier The Institutions of France Under the Absolute Monarchy 1598 1789 Volume 2 p 346 Peter Campbell Power and politics in old regime France 1720 1745 Routledge 2003 p 22 the office of secretaire conseiller du roi is not to be confounded with that of conseiller du roi a general denomination for a number of offices that did not confer nobility though the ambiguity has been exploited by unscrupulous genealogists in attempts to prove ancient nobility for commoners seeking a retablissement de noblesse Further reading EditFord Franklin L Robe and sword the regrouping of the French aristocracy after Louis XIV Harvard U P 1953 External links EditNobility and Titles in France by F Velde Some random thoughts about the French nobility by Dr Pangloss Link no longer works Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nobles of the Robe amp oldid 1035599156, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
