Unlocking the Noble Class: Jobs, Perks and Leveling Up in Medieval Times
Greetings folks! Today we‘re time traveling back to medieval Europe to unpack what it meant to be a noble – the perks, responsibilities, and progression systems underpinning this privileged class. So brew a goblet of mead, equip your finest tunic, and let‘s get to it!
Introduction: It‘s Good to Be the Lord!
Nobles occupied the tippy-top of Europe‘s socioeconomic pyramid. Numbering around 1-1.5% of the population, nobles enjoyed enormous privileges and power. So what were their core jobs and duties? As part of the contract with royalty, nobles had to:
- Provide military aid and service
- Govern lands and peasants under them
- Dispense justice and uphold laws
- Defend and protect commoners living on their domains
In return, the king granted them land assignments (fiefs) which were passed down noble family lines. Nobles collected taxes, rents, profits and gained quite the XP boost!
Now let‘s examine exactly how the "noble class" spec worked.
Grinding For Glory: Nobles as Medieval Warriors
"Outnumbered against the mighty horde, Sir Baudric raised his sword as battlecries thundered around him…"
Warfare was central to nobility. Knights started combat training as early as age 7, practicing weapons, horsemanship and chivalry. With experience, they ranked up:
- Page: Training stage for noble boys
- Squire: Assistant to a knight
- Knight: Elite cavalry warriors
Noble families supplied soldiers to the royal army when called to war. Their castles stored armaments too.
Fun fact: England had ~4,160 castles at the peak in 1300 AD! These strongholds helped English kings conquer Wales and Scotland.
Administering Fiefdoms: Keeping the NPCs Happy
When kings claimed new territories, they rewarded loyal nobles with land grants called fiefs.
Nobles governed these mini kingdoms, ensuring profitable agriculture and happy NPCs (peasants). Key tasks included:
- Collecting taxes and rents
- Building infrastructure like mills, roads
- Dispensing justice in manorial courts
- Granting land usage rights to vassals
- Managing natural resources like forests, quarries
Talk about an economic stimulation package! Nobles invested profits back into their fiefs. England‘s wool trade was financed by nobles eager for higher rents.
Political Powerups: Rubbing Shoulders With Royalty
Nobles didn‘t just influence local affairs. As members of the Great Council, England‘s barons had direct access to the monarch. Nobles advised kings on governance, provided administrative services, negotiated conflict.
They also checked royal power. English nobles forced King John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215, protecting aristocratic rights. This xp boosted the Baron faction making them quite OP!
Schmoozing With Style: Flaunting That Noble Cash
When not raiding enemies, governing lands or battling royals, nobles enjoyed leisure time. And they spent BIG on luxuries like:
- Extravagant feasts with exotic foods
- Elaborate castle renovations
- Falconry, hunting on private game reserves
- Fine wine, books, artworks
- Tournaments, jousting events, dances
- Servants for every household task
Their conspicuous consumption converted wealth into prestige. Of course, the peasant class footed the bill!
Cashing In Champion Rewards
Through military service, administrative roles and cunning political plays, nobles acquired massive XP upgrades. By 1200 AD, English nobles held 60% of all land and assets!
They certainly knew how to game the medieval system. Their ownership of fiefs strengthened noble power networks across Europe too. Kings had to keep them happy…or face hardcore mode peasant revolts!
So there you have it – the noble life sure was sweet. Maybe I‘ll respec my skills, catch a ship to England and grind enough gold to buy a small fiefdom. Divine Right privilege, here I come!
Sources
- Genzor, Alison. Elite Forces: The English Nobility in the Late Middle Ages. Edinburgh University Press, 2007.
- DeVries, Kelly. Medieval Military Technology. University of Toronto Press, 2011.
- "English Nobility". Wikipedia, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_nobility
Let me know what historical topics you‘d like covered next in the comments!
