Summary
Nobles, blue-bloods, are the connecting bridge between the peasants, who are in the bottom in the pyramid of classes and the monarch. Despite being a minority within the population, they dictate the daily lives of the peasants - who are the majority within medieval population.
The nobles provide land to farm, work and protection to the peasants while assisting the monarch with financial means, supplies and military service in the form of troops and knights. They mainly engage in administrative duties while also conducting military strategies in the times of war, in addition - their daily lives consist of social interaction between other nobles and the peasants living within the area they rule.
The nobility, despite being the direct rulers of the population - answer to their monarch and are always beneath him. He grants them special privileges and leases them lands in return for their oath, loyalty and assistance - depending on the needs of the realm. They have the right to bear arms, carry their own banners and coats of arms. They are expected to deploy troops in the field of battle in times of war - which they may of course refuse, but treason is always seen as dishonorable and not trustworthy.
Most nobles were born into it, inheriting the titles of their predecessor along with the lands they owned. But, there are also those who have proven themselves in military duties, successful military conquests or defenses and showing a strong sense of skills, performance and loyalty. In addition, there are those who have amassed enough wealth to buy their way into the noble class of the realm.
The King (of England)
https://lore.medieval-roleplay.com/index.php?title=Royalty Part of the Royal family.
The King is in complete control of the feudal system, owning all the land of the country and technically leasing it to those underneath him - his vassals who later on can pass the lands in inheritance to their eligible children.
Vassals are usually people close to the King who earned his trust, they swore an oath of fealty to him and are to uphold it at all times.
The Duke of Flintwhenia
https://lore.medieval-roleplay.com/index.php?title=Godric The Duke is the person in charge of the territory incorporated with the Duchy of Flintwhenia, bestowed upon him by the King of England.
The Duke established his own system of justice and implemented his own taxation policy, yet he upholds the King's law in territory far away from England and provides him with military assistance when requested. In addition - the Duke is responsible for all of his subjects, often using Counts to assert better control over them.
Counts
Counts are the direct vassals of the Duke, being trusted with running operations in lands that are bestowed upon them by the Duke - ultimately making sure the lands are farmed and that the Duke's subjects are protected.
When time calls, they provide soldiers and other military services to the Duke.
Knights
Knights are given manors or small land by the Counts in return for their military service when demanded by the Duke or King. They are also tasked with protecting their liegle-lords along with the County and uphold a certain code of honor.
Knights were provided with properties due to the high maintenance costs of their equipment, and the fact they were raised to some degree of nobility by either the King or the Duke.
There were knights who were simply provided with monetary gifts, and less-influential knights were sometimes not awarded at all but instead were simply granted a place to sleep at in the castle of their liege.
Differences of Ranking via Clothing
Nobles of high standard would usually be recognized by the party they travel with - servants and household guards prominently, among with the clothes they wore.
Clothes are a big part of medieval society and they usually make a statement as to who you are, what you wear depends on who you are and your position within society.
If you were rich you would probably own a variety of clothing items in the latest realm's style and bright colors. Alas, if you are a poor peasant - you may only own a mere tunic. Common clothes were usually made of wool, itchy and difficult to wash, difficult to dry out.
Clothing-pieces of nobles are usually unique and decorated, some even having the luxury of wearing silk-made clothes which were imported from abroad. While the clothing of the peasantry was basic, practical and not decorated at all.
Earlier version
From the old forum. Posted by theSerpent on 17 September 2018.
Nobility
Noble status didn’t necessarily mean you had a great deal of wealth in the Middle Ages, often it was enough that you had a military upbringing, you had subjects and servants to moderate administration and administer physical work, a man of Nobility’s main duties were the assortment and collection of taxes, managing and administering the militia and all hereditary functions. Their own possessed lands came with it's inhabitants who had to pay their liege lord rent and labour on his farmlands.
Medieval art was undoubtedly influenced by Nobility necessarily because they were the main source of sponsors and patrons of such artistic work, this applied to a variety of things ranging from architecture, paintings, sculptures, fashion accessories, hairstyles and even furniture.
Nobility, the highest position of feudal society beneath the monarch, with the capabilities and and power of legal privileges commensurate with their landed title or family crest. Men of Noble status were answerable to the king, their possessions such as land were to be paid to the King’s dues were they were obligated to assist with military in the event of war or battle. The becoming of a Nobleman when one’s heritage are of nothing but Peasants is a rarity in and of itself, there are many ways of becoming a man of Nobility however the procedures are strict and uncommon.
In most cases, peasants who take over various work industrial-like corporations, such as being a multi-possessed blacksmith distributing business is most likely to become of Noble status. An additional rare circumstance is the hiring of a person who already sustains and holds the Nobility status, where the peasant is obligated to work for and assist, and in return is granted free housing inside the garrison.