Nobles and Nobilities of Europe: A History of Structures, Law and Institutions

The nobility was a significant force in feudal and early modern society, but there has been a lack of published material on its legal definition. This book provides an extensive survey of primary sources and examines juridical aspects, making it an invaluable reference tool for scholars and students.

Format: Mixed media product
Publication date: 24 February 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The nobility held a significant position in feudal and early modern societies, exerting a profound influence on history. However, there has been a notable scarcity of published material that delves into the legal definition of nobility, as opposed to its political and economic impact or the legal privileges associated with noble status. In this comprehensive four-volume work, Michael Sayer presents an extensive examination of the most significant primary sources related to the status of nobility in Europe from Roman times to the Medieval period and beyond. He contextualizes these sources within the broader historical framework of the time. Additionally, Sayer analyzes separately the various juridical aspects of nobility, including titles, arms, heraldry, chivalric orders, knighthoods, and offices, providing a thorough methodological foundation for the study of nobility. As a comprehensive survey spanning over 2000 years of European nobility, this book serves as an invaluable reference tool for scholars and students.

In feudal and early modern society, the nobility was a force of major importance. Yet despite its undeniable influence on the course of history, there has been a noticeable lack of published material covering the ways in which nobility was (and sometimes still is) defined in public law, as opposed to its political and economic influence, or the legal privileges which noble status guaranteed.

In this comprehensive four-volume work, Michael Sayer provides an extensive survey of all the most significant primary sources relating to the status of nobility in Europe from Roman times through the Medieval period and beyond. He contextualizes these sources within the broader historical framework of the time.

Additionally, Sayer analyzes separately the various juridical aspects of nobility, including titles, arms, heraldry, chivalric orders, knighthoods, and offices, providing a thorough methodological foundation for the study of nobility.

As a comprehensive survey spanning over 2000 years of European nobility, this book serves as an invaluable reference tool for scholars and students.

Weight: 3046g
Dimension: 168 x 254 x 143 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350284234