Abstract
Although there was no legal definition of noble status, the most powerful and prestigious in society became increasingly aware of themselves as a distinct group-an aristocracy-in the century between c. 1160 and c. 1260. Elite men, both lay and clerical, were accorded the title dominus ('lord', or 'sir') before their names, along with other linguistic status markers, with increasing frequency during this time. Titles like dominus were not applied uniformly, however. In this article, the People of Medieval Scotland database is used for the first time to undertake an exhaustive analysis of the charter evidence. Status markers have been used to examine the power dynamics inherent in the relationships between individuals and groups within the aristocracy, allowing for a much richer understanding of the contexts in which high-status language was successfully deployed. This period saw the concept of the aristocracy expanded, as second-tier knightly landowners tussled for recognition as members of the elite along with the much more powerful magnates. This article offers a new methodology for examining and understanding status anxiety among medieval elites. The study is set against wider European developments and rooted in an appreciation of the wider European historiography.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 171-222 |
| Journal | SCOTTISH HISTORICAL REVIEW |
| Volume | 99 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 30 Sept 2020 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2020 |
Keywords
- Aristocracy
- Medieval
- Scotland
- Status
- Status-markers