The medieval era in Europe was largely governed through feudalism where the rule was based on personal loyalty and through the hugely subsistence agricultural nature of the economy. The sitting monarch would normally confer a title of nobility in exchange for loyalty to the sitting power and service by governing lands in the name of the royalty.
A title of nobility is bestowed on a higher class of the society wherein there are distinguishable social classes. First it is acquired and once it becomes part of the lineage, it is passed on to descendants depending on the rules that apply. It began during the earlier times in history when warriors are bestowed distinctive titles out of their chivalry or exemplary war experience and loyalty to the sitting monarch. This is during the feudal stage when aside from noble titles or knighthood; these warriors are promised lands together with some subjects inhabiting the said lands.
A distinguished warrior who earn a nobility title, unless later stripped off that title, carries with him this pre-eminence and the privilege to exercise command on land resources, food, money and labor service from common people or nobles of lower ranks. They also carry with them this lifetime title and may pass them on to their descendants. Noble titles existed in the powerful empires in Europe and were passed on to modern day descendants who still carry the distinction of these titles.
But just like the monarchical families that still exist today and still regarded their royal eminence, a title of nobility no longer command any political or administrative power as they were during the feudal but remain popular as status symbols. Most European nobility titles and royal lineage exist as part of cultural tradition and they are now more ceremonial in character although they still command respect and adulation from the people.
Among the nobility titles that were common and more popular include the marquis, the prince and the knight. The marquis as a title of nobility normally referred to holding a march or a mark or the frontier of a particular district. They were originally counts who were provided extra powers to protect territorial borders. The prince on the other hand is a part or member of the royal family and is the highest among the nobility titles and is normally what is use to call the ruler or the leader. They are normally sons or brothers or anyone who is closely related by blood to the king or the queen or the emperor. Among the noble titles, the knight was the one who was regarded the title because of acts of chivalry. This is because he is one of the types of soldiers. These acts of chivalry were recognized for their extreme care and respect for women, unquestionable loyalty to the king, being of persons of humility, and their commitment to defending the weak and the oppressed.
After the French revolution and the institution of democratic ideals, nobility and royalty were no longer the powerful figures during those early times and nobility titles thus remained only just as titles. Political and administrative powers are already defined by a constitution approved by the majority of the citizens although monarchial families and nobles in Western Europe still are regarded special status and respect by virtue of cultural tradition. There are some absolute monarchies and nobles though in other countries that still are the ones in control both on the politics and administration of the nation. Perfect examples would be those monarchical kingdoms and sheikdoms in the Arab World and that of the Sultanate in Brunei.
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