In the medieval period nuns came from many social classes, including royalty. It is a fact that many came from the aristocracy and this was for several reasons.
1) Aristocratic ladies tended to be very religious in their daily lives and did no physical work of any kind - many used rosaries (paternosters) to recite prayers and they had time to attend many church services (peasant women had little spare time since they were generally working from sunrise to sunset).
2) There was no welfare system or pension arrangement for elderly ladies, so entering a nunnery ensured constant care, food, warmth, clothing and companionship. A widow whose husband had been a knight would usually find herself homeless, since the eldest son inherited everything, including all lands, manors and wealth, so entering a nunnery solved all her problems.
3) The aristocracy would be in a position to fund the establishment of a new nunnery and give donations of cash, land and valuables to ensure its continued upkeep. When these noblewomen grew old they expected something in return, treating it as an investment for their own security and wellbeing.
4) A girl from a wealthy family might decide not to marry and to devote herself entirely to the service of God. This might well involve personal fears about marriage, since people were not so informed as they are today.
The landed aristocracy.
nobility
A society in which the landed aristocracy has most of the wealth and political power is described as feudal.
A society in which the landed aristocracy has most of the wealth and political power is described as feudal.
Landed nobility or landed aristocracy is a category of nobility in various countries over the history, for which landownership was part of their noble privileges.
An aristocracy is the highest class in a society. The nobility rules an aristocracy, holding exceptional ranks, hereditary titles and privileges.
Landed property was an aspect of feudalism. It usually refers to land that generates income for the owner without the owner having to do any of the work. Where there is landed property there is an aristocracy.
Government by the few is an oligarchy, by a single powerful ruler an autocracy, and by the landed gentry an aristocracy.
No, noble women are women who were born from noble parents, the aristocracy. Nuns are women who have given everything up to follow God under a religious Rule of Life.
Government by the few is an oligarchy, by a single powerful ruler an autocracy, and by the landed gentry an aristocracy.
Edmund BurkeÕs Reflections on the Revolution in France is considered to be the first major statement of conservatism. Burke argued that there was a sanctity about private property and that it was only natural to have a landed aristocracy. Without the landed aristocracy, Burke thought there was chaos as was shown in the French Revolution.
A term that best describes a society where the landed aristocracy holds most wealth and power is a feudal society. In a feudal society, power and resources are concentrated in the hands of a small noble class that controls land and resources, often at the expense of the rest of the population.