Dbq About French Nobles

In 16th century France, nobility was based on military service, virtue and morality, but then it was compromised by wealthy men who began to buy their nobility.

For centuries, French nobility had been based upon military service to the king. And through their heroic efforts, they gained more respect and fame. Gilles Andre de La Roque, a sword nobleman, states that, "They have won their renown by their calls to battle and by military exploits." As a sword nobleman, Gilles Roque believes that military heroics are what make up a noble. A sword noble may believe this because they think that buying their nobility and not acting upon it is hypocritical. These military accomplishments give most noblemen their self confidence and virtue. In this non-noble playwright, Moliere says, "A noble who lives badly is an unnatural monster- virtue is the first title of nobility." As an observer of nobles, Moliere believes that in order to be a true noble, is to live virtuously and be active in the military like their ancestors. But later on in France, many nobles were being denied of their military ranks that their ancestors once possessed. This was because of many men buying out noble positions. A sword nobleman by the name of Baron Francois-Philippe Loubert agrees with this statement. He says, "Often, they are humiliated to find themselves denied the same military commands their ancestors held and hallowed with their blood." He most likely agrees with this because he too is a sword nobleman. This may have happened to himself or his friends. In a noble's life, his military status was extremely important and without it they might not have been as renowned or successful.

The three documents used in this paragraph are about noble's military status. The first author, Gilles Roque, speaks about how nobles acquire their nobility through military actions (Document 9). In the second quote, Moliere's play says that you have to win your nobility through virtue, which is shown in war (Document 8). Lastly, in the third quote, Baron Loubert states that many men began to lose their military status because of men buying out their nobility, and he believes that this is wrong (Document 11). These documents represent how military status was important in nobility.

Although military status was a very high quality for a noble to have, nobility greatly depended on their virtue and morality. Pierre de La Primaudaye, a sword nobleman says that, "It does no good to boast of an ancient lineage or to live from the luster of one's noble and virtuous ancestors if you are worth nothing by yourself." As a historian and sword nobleman, Pierre may have experienced or may have been aware of men who may have acted like this, and was greatly disappointed in them. Since nobles are very wealthy and important, many people look up to them. Because of this, nobles should set an example for the regular townspeople, but this is not always the case. In fact, in a 1586 testimony to the Parlement, the Villagers of Mondeville state, "Pierre Morin claimed that his status as a nobleman permitted him to commit several acts of assault by using a stick to beat poor laborers and workingmen in the parish of Mondeville." Since these villagers were the ones being beaten, they obviously want Pierre Morin to be arrested and thrown into prison. This is definitely not the kind of behavior one might think a nobleman would possess. King Louis the XIII believes this too. He says, "These duels weaken the state, by spilling the blood of so many gentlemen who could more usefully and honorably shed it in defense of this kingdom." Although he is saying that these men should act more nobly and not duel, the only reason he wants