Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Nobility
(6,341 words)

1. Concept

“Nobility” in English (from Latin nobilis, “celebrated,” “renowned”) is essentially synonymous with “aristocracy,” that is, the privileged order (of the “best people”, Greek áristoi) that held …

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Gersmann, Gudrun, “Nobility”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_016563>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20200128



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