Noblesse d'épée

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La noblesse d'épée (English: nobility of the sword) were a class of traditional nobility in France during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern periods. In pre-revolutionary France, these aristocrats were part of the Second Estate. Nobles of the Sword held royal, judicial, or administrative posts in France. Their counterparts in the second estate were the Nobles of the Robe and the Courtiers.

Members of this class of nobility gained their status based on military service performed by a person (or his ancestors) for the king (or a past king); a king would personally bestow this title.


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