THE WARRIOR NOBLES

THE WARRIOR NOBLES

Life in the Middle Ages was rather strictly centered around something of a caste system. A clear hierarchy existed, a pyramid of sorts with royalty at the top and peasants, comprising the bulk of the population, at the bottom. Between the peasants and royalty, however, were well-regarded, privileged and elite families known as nobles or lords.

The nobles’ place in society was essentially to function as middle-men between the peasants and the royal family. Nobles provided work, land, and protection to the peasants while providing funding, supplies, and military service to the king.

Noble life was far from the ordinary life of the time. Most people were peasants, and, under the feudal system of the era, were beholden to and in debt to the nobles for whom they worked. Nobles, on the other hand, had lives focused much more around military strategy, financial obligations and responsibilities, and social affairs.

Becoming a member of the noble class was either a hereditary birthright—the so-called “blue bloods”—or an honorarium bestowed by royalty in appreciation for service or loyalty. Successful military conquests and strong displays of skill, performance, and loyalty could lead to the social and economic elevation of an entire family. The nobles themselves had regal-sounding titles given them by royalty, such as Duke, Count, and Lord.