The lifestyles of the rich and famous have long been a source of fascination to people from all walks of life. It seems to be human nature to be interested in those who have risen to the highest levels of social, cultural or political esteem – or those fortunate few who were born into them.
One such prestigious echelon is the realm of the Aristocratic Class.
What Is The Aristocratic Class?
The Aristocratic Class is a formal group within many social hierarchies around the world, occupying some of the highest social and political ranks, second only to royalty or imperial power.
The Aristocratic Class, also known as the aristocracy, is comprised of the exclusive and rarified collection of individuals and families that can claim noble or aristocratic heritage, or who have acquired a genuine title of nobility.
Who Can Join The Aristocratic Class?
Historically, the Aristocratic Class has been a highly exclusive, restrictive and limited group, with many rules and regulations about who can claim to rank among their number.
For centuries, it appeared to many that the only possible way to join the aristocracy was to either marry into a noble family or receive an aristocratic title from the monarch. Both of these options were extremely limited and unlikely for the vast majority of people not born into the right social circles.
On these occasions, it was technically possible for ordinary people to marry into the Aristocratic Class or to become ‘ennobled’ i.e. granted a noble title from the king or queen.
In reality, however, it was a virtual impossibility for the many millions of people who didn’t move in the right circles, i.e. those not mixing with royals and nobles on a regular basis, or come from the right families, i.e. those recognised as having a legitimate noble heritage.
Yet even in the most exclusive days of the aristocracy, there have been ways for people without noble connections or backgrounds to ascend socially.
In other words, ordinary people have been able to join the Aristocratic Class throughout history, and the good news is that it is also possible today.
Even if you don’t know anyone with a royal or noble title, even if you are unlikely to receive any kind of Knighthood or Damehood for altruistic works, and even if you are unlikely to be a marriage candidate for a high-ranking bachelor or bachelorette, it is possible for ordinary people to join the Aristocratic Class.
Ways To Join The Aristocratic Class
As mentioned, there are a number of rare opportunities to join the esteemed ranks of the aristocracy.
These include;
• Marriage
This has traditionally been the most obvious and often the most sought-after route into the realms of the noble classes and ranks of royalty, both in centuries past and in modern times.
• Surprise Inheritance or Heritage
A surprise inheritance or the discovery of a long-forgotten noble connection is another way that ordinary people may find themselves with access to the Aristocratic Classes.
• Ennoblement
Receiving a noble title from a king, queen or other sovereign is another route to obtaining an official title of the Aristocratic Classes. In modern times, these are extremely rare and usually limited to such titles as a Knighthood or Damehood for a lifetime of good works within society.
These paths to the noble classes do still exist, albeit via far more limited routes than in the past.
Yet there is another much more reliable and accessible route to the Aristocratic Classes that is available to the vast majority of people all over the world, and it’s one that also has roots and history almost as ancient as the aristocracy itself.
How Can Ordinary People Join The Aristocracy?
In modern times, just as in times past, there’s a commercial route to joining the ranks of aristocrats and nobles that populate the most esteemed echelons of society around the world.
It’s possible to simply purchase a genuine title of nobility and, subject to the legalities, formalities and paperwork etc, you can then become a bona fide member of the Aristocratic Classes.
This is an option for anyone in today’s society who wishes to elevate their social standing or to ensure a noble future for their family and future generations.
This is perhaps the easiest and most reliable way to pursue higher-ranking status within society, as all that is required is to source a reputable agent that can identify legitimate nobility titles that have been offered for sale, and then help you comply with the relevant regulations to ensure your new aristocratic title is authentic, legal and appropriately matched to your aims.
Buying Aristocratic Titles – An Ancient Practice
While it may seem that the buying and selling of aristocratic titles is a distinctly modern or commercial development within the Aristocratic Classes, the truth is that it’s a practice that has been part of the very fabric of the noble tapestry throughout the ages.
The monarchs of old were not averse to ennobling their wealthy subjects in return for financial recompense. Often, these transactions were more subtle than an outright payment for a noble title or estate. For example, dutiful subjects may have sought favour with their king and queen in the hopes of being rewarded with social elevation or noble status, but their prize was at the discretion of the monarch in question.
Yet there were other sovereigns who openly proffered noble titles for sale in exchange for fixed sums of money. Some even created aristocratic ranks and titles specifically for this purpose. One historic example is King James I of England, who is credited with creating a collection of new Baronet titles in order to fund his military expenses and restock the royal purse.
So the practice of joining the Aristocratic Class through a simple financial transaction is part of the very history of the aristocracy itself.
There are many wonderful reasons that ordinary people would like to join the Aristocratic Class. These range from improved social esteem, business advantage, political power or ensuring a better future for generations to follow.
While the practice of simply purchasing a noble title may not be a new phenomenon, perhaps the fact that it’s possible for ordinary people from all walks of life – regardless of class, lineage, status or origin – is a modern and democratic twist on the age-old system of social hierarchies.