Preview

Ap European History Dbq: French Nobility

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
615 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Ap European History Dbq: French Nobility
Jason Billinglsey
European History
9 May 2013
DBQ: French Nobility

During the time period of the late sixteenth century to the late eighteenth century the concept of what nobility is and what it was conceived to be varied greatly as more modern thoughts developed and desperation of monarchs grew to meet such demand. The arguments related to nobility differed greatly, but these were the most crucial; the difference between the sword and the robe and the right to even hold such a position at all. The nobles from military decent (the sword) have an extensive lineage that allows them to perform certain tasks as described by Jean de La Taille in the poem “The Retired Courtier,” the words speak of the need to be a noble, to be a pure noble, to hold the position of a courtier [Doc 1]. King Louis XIII has proclaimed in the Declaration of Duels and Affairs of Honor that nobles bought into the nobility are wasting time fighting with the nobles of military decent should rather have spent that energy defending the country that gives them such authority in the first place [Doc 6]. King Louis XIII only wants the political emancipation from such a minor distraction as this controversy caused such a up roar of the masses. Gilles André de La Roque said, “You can’t just earn the title of nobility because you lack the family necessary for it” [Doc 9]. On that note, note everyone had the exact same idea as to what makes a noble, a noble. Marc-Antoine Millotet supported the rights of being a robe nobleman being that it was acquired by law, so as to make it just [Doc 7]. This belief was most likely due to the fact that he was a Judge thus, influencing the idea of law. Molière created the scene in “Dom Juan” that nobility is not earned through birth, but by the actions of ced person [Doc 8]. He could have possibly thought that this because of his non-nobility status and his role thespianism, meaning only nobles would watch plays anyways. King Louis XVI changed the way the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    In fourteenth and fifteenth century armies the profession of arms could lead to the ennoblement of the lowliest man-at-arms. For example, the Black Prince's second in command was a lowly noble who carved out vast power and estates for himself by virtues of military prowess. Bertrand du Guesclin was pronounced France's flower of chivalry. After 40% of France's nobility were lost at Poitiers this man rose through the ranks to become France's for-most knight. However English historians - notably Keen - take great glee in pointing out the Bertrand was a Breton axe-man. Keen remarks 'in the case of Du Guesclin, it is hard indeed to dissociate the man who became the great Constable of France from the mercenary riff-raff who were so often his campaign companions' (Keen, Chivalry, pg. 232). Nonetheless, the late middle ages was a time when one could easily become famous and rich by feat of arms. Oliver de La March remarked on nobility at the…

    • 1796 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Spice Chart Tang vs. Song

    • 26030 Words
    • 24 Pages

    Although the system allowed for more commoners to become scholar-gentry, being noble was still advantageous…

    • 26030 Words
    • 24 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    French Revolution Dbq

    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Every system has its own merit. However, Louis XVI, the king of France, was too…

    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The nobility were important in maintaining political stability as the Crown relied heavily on them for many different purposes,…

    • 835 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The nobles help top jobs in government, the army, the courts, and the Church. They were also exempt from paying taxes, though they resented the royal bureaucracy that employed middle-class men in positions that had once been reserved for them. Both rich and poor members of the Third Estate resented the privileges enjoyed by their social “betters.” Wealthy bourgeois families in the Third Estate could but political office and titles, but the best jobs were still reserved for nobles. Urban workers earned terrible wages.…

    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The major social groups in France on the eve of the revolution consisted of the first estate, second estate, and the third estate. The first estate was made up of the clergy, the second estate was made up of the nobility, and the third estate was made up of the commoners. The commoners' aspiration was to try and gain more power and freedom while the clergy and the nobility were trying the hold on to their power and not lose any.…

    • 570 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Henry VI and the Nobility

    • 1329 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The power of the Nobility was the most important cause of unrest in the period of 1450 to 1470. ‘How far…

    • 1329 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Aristocracy also gained something from napoleon as well. During the french revolution the nobility along with the Aristocracy were diminished. when napoleon proclaimed himself emperor he brought back the traditional french Aristocracy. thus the aristocracy was brought back from its decline. though napoleon also started granting titles of nobility to his favorites as well.…

    • 455 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A Courtier could distinguish himself from others if he showed exemplary qualities. The issue, however, was that due to social stratification, only men of gentle birth could ever attain renown in the court of a prince. In today’s current society, it is completely possible to rise well above the station of one’s birth due to a society less separated by social class. For someone to rise to success today they do not need the multitude of skills that a perfect courtier must possess, they need only be extraordinary at the skill that is vital within their chosen field. This was not the case in the Renaissance Italian Courts where a trusted advisor was one that could advise a prince on all matters and sometimes defy the prince’s wish. This is due to the nature of who you serve. The courtier must have an assortment of skills in order to gain the respect and favor of the prince, so that he can better advice the prince. The Prince, being an autocratic ruler, has no reason to heed the advice of someone he does not respect. Thus, the Courtier’s niceties better allow him to advise the prince. In today’s society, advisors are appointed to advise their superiors. This allows them to gain favor through the dispensing of sound advice, not on how well they may sing. Many of the qualities of the Courtier are superfluous for success in this day and age.…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gilles André de La Roque thought that those born into noble families have a certain skill they possess which makes them better warriors. (Document 9) They have to acquire it from their ancestors. With that said, non-nobles would never possess those skills and that makes them unworthy. His bias is expected because he is a nobleman. Unlike the other open-minded sword noblemen, he sticks up for the people like him. Being born into a certain family, a noble one makes it special. It wouldn’t be special if anyone could become a warrior. Baron Francois Philippe Coubert carries the same sentiment. He stated “the rank of officer is no longer reserved for them alone.” (Document 11) The ancestors of the nobles worked hard for their positions, so it is only fair for than honor to be passed down. His point of also expected, as one of the noble swordsman similar to Roque. They feel threatened by the non-nobles taking over what is “rightfully theirs”. Philippe-Antione Merlin explains the impact of the non-nobles. He feels that they are out of place and act like they are superior. The nobles feel that they would never be on the same level. All of these men feel that the title is most important. Not just anyone can have…

    • 1007 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The pursuit of glory and honour outweighed the security of England in deciding Henrician foreign policy. Although Henry’s foreign policy in this period was greatly influenced by his desire for security, both personal and national, there is much historiographical debate as to whether it was the primary motive of his actions abroad. In this essay glory and honour will be dealt with together, although glory tends to be associated with wartime victory, whereas honour is related to the upholding of status and in particular the dignity of Henry VIII - together both of these contribute to the overall prestigious nature of a monarch and are associated heavily with one another in a late Medieval context. Whilst security was consistent with the desires…

    • 1339 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    During the rule of Henry VI, certain nobles had increasing amounts of power, which angered some of the other nobles who felt they were being ignored. It is certain that they had too much power at the time, and that this was a contributing cause for the outbreak of the conflicts, however it was catalysed by things like bastard feudalism These sources show various views linked to the statement that “the problem of an over-mighty nobility was the main cause of the outbreak of the wars of the roses”. In this essay, I will put the sources in context using my own knowledge and see how far they support or disagree the statement, and to what extent it is true.…

    • 959 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Henry Vs Patho

    • 1075 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In the plays Henry V and Saint Joan the difference in class is apparent with him being noble and her being a peasant, Joan of Arc was more persuadable because she was considered an underdog and didn’t follow the social norms of the time. There is no denying the power of both individuals and the impact they had on their people. In the end…

    • 1075 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The nobility social class were “those who fought as mounted warriors” (381). The noblemen were mainly in charge of executing war. This social class was considered “Europe’s most valued military assets” (367). The…

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Gunpowder Weapons

    • 1486 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Nobles and the military leaders of the era were also at odds with the new gunpowder weaponry. As gunpowder weaponry continued to develop it eventually progressed to the point of being very effective, and nobles, the knightly class, began to recognize that firearms represented a threat to their dominance. Unlike traditional medieval warfare which respected social status, “...gunpowder weapons had no such respect for class, and nobles risked death as much from gunshot as did non-noble soldiers”. Nobles feared firearms. Their armor could protect them from swords, axes, arrows and crossbows, but it couldn’t stop a long gun like a harquebus-a large heavy rifle- or a cannon.…

    • 1486 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays

Related Topics