The Crème de la Crème Aristocracy Mediaeval scaffolding Aristocrats spend their childhood being beaten by fierce nannies and their later years murdering wildlife, so it is hardly surprising their sex lives are a bit cockeyed Jilly Cooper The Grand Old Duke of York, He had ten thousand men. His case comes up next week. Spike Milligan An Aristocrat without servants is about as useful as a glass hammer. Dowager, Countess of Grantham How did it come about? The hierarchy What it meant to be an aristocrat Outrageous riches or the right parentage? Aristocracy from the Greek meaning excellence and power, is a form of government that places power in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best" Medieval hierarchical system. The crème de la crème ! Daniel Defoe's’ list of social orders The Great who live profusely The Rich who live plentifully The Middle Sort who live well The Working Trades who labour hard, but feel no want The Country People who fare indifferently The Poor who fare hard The Miserable who pinch and suffer The Great in Jacobean times Personage Servants per Average annual household income £ King 100’s £1,200,000 11 Dukes 40 £19—28,000 3 Marquesses 40 ditto 66 Earls 40 ditto 11 Viscounts 40 ditto 65 Barons 40 ditto 26 Bishops 20 £1,300 800 Baronets 16 £880 600 Knights 13 £650 Professionals 4 £75 Labourers 0 £16 Where did it start? Offa….the dirty facts! Born around 740 A.D. Father was Thingfrith Seized throne in 757 after murder of cousin Aethelbald Battles with men of Kent and Welsh and builds Dyke 784 Rules Mercia until death in 796 Murdered his prospective son in law Ethelbert ruler of East Anglia Ruthlessly put down rebellions and united his realm The Anglo-Saxons drove the Celts to the country’s margins The country at that time had been divided into seven kingdoms, Wessex, Northumbria, Kent, Sussex, Essex, East Anglia and Mercia. Each Kingdom fought for supremacy over the other. They were very powerful warlords. Offa was the ruler of Mercia, but united the kingdoms Ruthlessly killed the other nobles Offa's wife, Cynethryth was considered evil by the church Signed a trade agreement with Charlemagne Winebert Ælfthyth. Offa’s wife Cynethryth was jealous of her happiness Ethelbert Start of Viking raids He was very strong ruler! …and then a series of monarchs…….until……. 802-839 Egbert House of Wessex 839-856 Aethelwulf House of Wessex 856-860 Aethelbald House of Wessex 860-866 Aethelbert House of Wessex 866-871 Aethelred I House of Wessex 871-899 Alfred the Great House of Wessex 899-924 Edward the Elder House of Wessex 924-940 Athelstan House of Wessex 940-946 Edmund House of Wessex 946-955 Edred House of Wessex 955-959 Edwy House of Wessex 959-975 Edgar House of Wessex 975-978 Edward the Martyr House of Wessex 978-1016 Ethelred II the Unready House of Wessex 1016 Edmund lronside House of Wessex 1016-1035 Cnut (Canute) House of Denmark 1035-1040 Harold I Harefoot House of Denmark 1040-1042 Harthacanut House of Denmark 1042-1066 Edward the Confessor House of Wessex 1066 Harold II King Edred 946 --had eating issues. He could barely eat King Edwy 955—had an over amorous mother in law. Edward the Martyr 975—murdered by half brother Aeathelred II Ethelred 978 --‘the poorly advised’. The Danes invaded after a massacre of Danish settlers Cnut 1017– thought he was powerful Edward the Confessor 1042—Deeply religious Harold II—Ouch! ……..King William I of Normandy crowned at 8 years old 1028---1087 William ‘The Bastard’ was promised the throne of England by Edward the Confessor Seized the English throne and ruthlessly stamped his authority Established Norman Nobility ( Aristocracy) to rule Facts about William 1 succession In his time he was never referred to as ‘Conqueror’ Every major church was rebuilt in stone 100,000 people died following the conquest He established a chivalry order Abolished English slavery He died near Rouen His body exploded at his funeral in 1087. More than 25 percent of the English population is also distantly related to him. He was illiterate His wife bore him 10 children and made him depressed!!!!!! ….and then follows another string of Royals…….. 1087-1100 William II House of Normandy 1100-1135 Henry I House of Normandy 1135-1154 Stephen House of Blois 1154-1189 Henry II House of Angevin 1189-1199 Richard I House of Angevin 1199-1216 John House of Angevin 1216-1272 Henry III 1272-1307 Edward I House of Plantagenet 1307-1327 Edward II House of Plantagenet 1327-1377 Edward III House of Plantagenet 1377-1399 Richard II House of Plantagenet 1399-1413 Henry IV House of Lancaster 1413-1422 Henry V House of Lancaster 1422-1461 Henry VI House of Lancaster 1461-1483 Edward IV House of York 1483 Edward V House of York 1483-1485 Richard III House of York 1485-1509 Henry VII 1509-1547 Henry VIII House of Tudor 1547-1553 Edward VI House of Tudor 1553-1558 Mary I House of Tudor 1558-1603 Elizabeth I House of Tudor 1603-1625 James I (King of Scotland House of Stuart as James VI 1567-1625) 1625-1649 Charles I House of Stuart 1649-1653 Commonwealth Commonwealth 1653-1658 Oliver Cromwell (Lord Commonwealth Protector) 1658-1659 Richard Cromwell (Lord Commonwealth Protector) 1660-1685 Charles II House of Stuart 1685-1688 James II House of Stuart 1689-1694 William III of Orange and House of Orange Mary II (jointly) 1694-1702 William III (alone) 1702-1714 Anne House of Stuart 1714-1727 George I House of Hanover 1727-1760 George II House of Hanover 1760-1820 George III (Elector, 1760- House of Hanover 1815, and King,1815-20, of Hanover) 1820-1830 George IV House of Hanover 1830-1837 William IV (King of House of Hanover Hanover 1830-7) 1837-1901 Victoria (Empress of India House of Hanover 1876-1901) 1901-1910 Edward VII House of Saxe-Coburg- Gotha 1910-1936 George V House of Windsor 1936 Edward VIII House of Windsor 1936-1952 George VI House of Windsor 1952- Elizabeth II (Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Head of the Commonwealth of Nations) The Monarch Her Consort The Royal succession Succession to the Crown Act 2013 Not to depend on gender, born after 28th October 2011 Removal of disqualification arising from marriage to a Roman Catholic Prince George of Cambridge William Wales, Duke of Cambridge …AAAAAhhhh! Princess Charlotte of Cambridge Prince Andrew Henry alias Harry Princess Beatrix and Eugenie of York Prince Edward, James and Louise Windsor Ann, Peter and Zara Philips, Viscount Linley (David Armstrong Jones) Notable Aristo’s What does it mean to be a member of the landed gentry? Who are the nobility? How did they come about? Earl Spencer of Althorpe The highest stratum of society after royalty. Grew out of Feudal warrior classes Allegiance to the monarch earned them land The title passes to the eldest son Primogeniture Duke created in 1337 Edward III The highest noble 27 Dukedoms and addressed by ‘Your Grace’ Hugh Grosvensor Dukedom or Duchy From Latin ‘Dux’ or military commander Edward III adopted French Ducal system of non royal Duchy is the land ruled by a Duke with special privileges However there are 2 Royal Duchies—Lancaster and Cornwall Dukes of the Realm Duke of Norfolk Duke of Cornwall Somerset Richmond Grafton Beaufort St Albans Bedford Devonshire Marlborough Norfolk Rutland Westminster Lancaster Marlborough Marquess From Germanic word for Mark or border or March Lord. Created in 1385 by Richard II Holder of large estates and originally a warlord Addressed by Lord and Lady However, two thirds of Dukes are also marquesses! Alexander Thynne Exeter Northampton Camden Wellington Cholmondeley Hastings Ailesby Chandos Bristol Cleveland Westminster( now Duke) Normanby Kedleston Reading Bath Earl and Countess Earl derives from old Norse for Jarl---warrior , nobleman, or Latin ‘comes’ ..related to ‘county’ First used in 800A.D by King Egbert. The Monarchs official representative in the counties Addressed by Lord and Lady The Carnarvon's of Highclere’ Earl of Arundel is also the 11th Duke of Richmond Viscount and Viscountess Created in 1440 by Henry VI The sheriff of the shire and Earl’s deputy Addressed by Lord and Lady It was an ‘afterthought’ title Viscount Linley and 2nd Earl of Snowdon! Confused----so am I ! Viscount Bolingbroke (Lord Exton) Baron and Baroness From Germanic word, baron or Baroness Natalie Evans…..Leader of freeman the Lords Created 1066 by William I The lowest rank Land granted by the Monarch Once an important role before the Renaissance Can be important or the reverse! Life peers are always Barons or Baronesses Baronet and Baronetess Created 1611 by James I to raise money for Ulster rebellion £1,080 Sir Thomas Grosvenor Ranked above Knight Addressed Lord and Lady They are not a peers! No seats in the House of Lords!!!!!! Knight Not transferable A mounted warrior of the monarch Sir John Chandos fighting Created 890 A.D. by Athelstan the French! Religious or political significance ORDER OF PRECEDENCE The Sovereign The Prince of Wales So to recap…….0n the male The Younger sons of the Sovereign line……………… The Grandsons of the Sovereign The Brothers of the Sovereign The Uncles The Nephews The Archbishop of Canterbury The Lord Chancellor The Archbishop of York The Premier The Lord High Treasurer The Lord President of the Council The Lord Privy Seal ORDER OF PRECEDENCE The Queen Princess of Wales Princess Royal Other Daughters of the Sovereign, according to birth The female line Wives of Sovereign’s Sons, according to seniority of their Husbands Granddaughters of the Sovereign Wives of Sovereign’s Grandsons, according to seniority of their Husbands Wives of the Sovereign’s Brothers Nieces of the Sovereign Wives of the Sovereign’s Nephews Wives of the Sovereign’s Uncles Other Princesses of the Blood Royal Duchesses Marchionesses Wives of eldest sons of Dukes Daughters of Dukes Countesses Wives of eldest sons of Marquises Daughters of Marquises Wives of younger sons of Dukes Viscountesses Wives of eldest sons of Earls Daughters of Earls Wives of younger sons of Marquises Queen/King As sovereign, the king or queen outranks everyone.