aristocracy
Blue-blooded governance
Aristocracy is a class of people holding hereditary titles and privileges—nobility, in other words.
The term also denotes government by such a class: France was an aristocracy before the Revolution.
More loosely, aristocracy refers to any elite group considered superior within a domain: the aristocracy of Silicon Valley, baseball's aristocracy.
The adjective is aristocratic.
Ranked authority structure
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
- class systemSocietal ranking by birth
- feudalismLand-for-service social structure
- casteInherited social division
social order · rank · nobility · commoner · peasantry · serfdom · upper class · ruling elite
Highest-ranking nobleman
- duchessWoman of ducal rank
- baronLow-ranking peer
- baronessFemale holder of barony
- countessFeminine noble rank
marquess · viscount · earl · peerage · knight · dame · lord · lady
Descent from progenitors
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
- pedigreeRecord of descent
- ancestryFamily line of descent
- genealogyStudy of family descent
inheritance · birthright · descent · forebears · dynasty · family tree · coat of arms · heraldry
Assumed right to benefits
- prerogativeExclusive right of office
- birthrightEntitlement from origin
- exemptionRelease from requirement
- immunityProtected from harm
advantage · preferential · patronage · noblesse oblige · favoritism · exclusivity · access · deference
Large property holdings
- manorLanded aristocratic residence
- chateauFrench country mansion
- landedCame to rest
- opulenceShowy, abundant prosperity
fortune · patrimony · endowment · holdings · country house · stately home · servants · dowry
National legislative assembly
- senateLegislative governing body
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- autocracyRule by one
republic · regime · ruling class · privy council · statesmanship · diplomacy · cabinet · ministry
Violent governmental overthrow
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- guillotineVertical beheading apparatus
- French RevolutionLate-1700s republican upheaval
class struggle · overthrow · Bastille · proletariat · bourgeoisie · Marxism · abolition · reform
hierarchy
Ranked authority structure
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
- class systemSocietal ranking by birth
- feudalismLand-for-service social structure
caste · social order · rank · nobility · commoner · peasantry · serfdom · upper class · ruling elite · ancien régime
duke
Highest-ranking nobleman
countess · marquess · viscount · earl · peerage · knight · dame · lord · lady · squire
lineage
Descent from progenitors
genealogy · inheritance · birthright · descent · forebears · dynasty · family tree · coat of arms · heraldry · crest
entitlement
Assumed right to benefits
- prerogativeExclusive right of office
- birthrightEntitlement from origin
- exemptionRelease from requirement
immunity · advantage · preferential · patronage · noblesse oblige · favoritism · exclusivity · access · deference · precedence
estates
Large property holdings
opulence · fortune · patrimony · endowment · holdings · country house · stately home · servants · dowry · trust fund
parliament
National legislative assembly
- senateLegislative governing body
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
autocracy · republic · regime · ruling class · privy council · statesmanship · diplomacy · cabinet · ministry · constitutional
revolution
Violent governmental overthrow
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- guillotineVertical beheading apparatus
French Revolution · class struggle · overthrow · Bastille · proletariat · bourgeoisie · Marxism · abolition · reform · peasant revolt
- aristocratic institutionspeerage, nobility, royal court, privy council, knighthood
- governmentsautocracy, republic, tyranny, dictatorship, theocracy
- royaltyking, queen, prince, princess, kings
- Royalty & Nobilityking, queen, prince, princess, duke
- eliteelite, elites, nobility, best, finest
- nobilityking, queen, prince, princess, duke
aristocracycommoners
Ordinary citizens, untitled
peasantry · proletariat · plebeians · masses · common people
aristocracydemocracy
Rule by the people
populism · mob rule · egalitarianism · meritocracy · republic
aristocracyegalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
populism · common folk · ordinary people · plain folk · salt of the earth
- British aristocracyEngland's hereditary upper class
- French aristocratTitled member of ancien régime
- landed aristocracyNobles whose wealth derives from estates
- aristocratic familyLineage of hereditary rank
- French aristocracyTitled upper class
- English aristocracyHereditary ruling class
aristocrat, aristocratic, aristocrats, aristocracies, aristocratically