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Archiver > GENMTD > 2003-01 > 1041646568


From: Terry Brown <>
Subject: [GM] re: nobility question reply
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 18:16:15 -0800


De Francesco Wolfango <> wrote:

> I know there
>exists nobility , even small nobility, without titles, I'm trying to
>figure out what they would be considered, descending from such
>families.

What is your definition of "nobility"? What does it mean to be
nobility without a title? Being descended from a noble family of
ancient times doesn't make you nobility today, if that regime is no
longer recognized. One of my branches claims to be descended from
William the Conqueror, which - even if it's true - doesn't make me a
nobleman.

> I am
>at a loss since these families were not all from one country and
>under the same "laws" of nobility, which confuses me all the
>more!!!! I really need to ask this question of an expert on
>European nobility, not just from one country.

I think you've answered your own question -- there's no universal
nobility system. If a German princess married an English duke and
went to live in England, would she still be considered a princess?
Or is she now the wife of a duke (a duchess?). And her son is
probably not considered to be a prince.

The real question is, what is the goal of your investigation? If
you're trying to mix percentages of kings and barons and princes
from different countries and assign a title based on that, I don't
see that it would mean anything.

Terry Brown <>

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