| Part ofa series on |
| Imperial, royal, noble, gentry and chivalric ranks in Europe |
|---|
.svg) |
Nobile ([ˈnɔːbile], abbreviatedNob.) is an Italianhereditary title borne by a noble who ranks similarly or just below abaron, similar to the rank ofBaronet in England,Fidalgo in Portugal orRitter in Germany.[1] Unlike higher Italian titles which are typically referred to in lieu of an individual's name,nobile is used immediately before thegiven andsurnames, usually in the abbreviated formNob..
The word “nobile” is derived from the Latin “nobilis”, meaning "honourable". It is often abbreviated to "N.H." (Nobilis Homo) for men or "N.D." (Nobilis Domina) for women, just prior to the first name, and such noblemen are styled "Your/His Lordship".[2][3]
Theheraldic coronet of anobile consists of a jewelled circlet of gold surmounted by five pearls, either on stems or set directly upon the rim. The armorial shield of anobile is surmounted by a silver helm displayed in a ¾ side-view and surmounted by the coronet already described. It is typically displayed above the shield in the full heraldic achievement associated with a noble's specific title.
The rank ofnobile had existed for centuries, used to denote either titled nobles (e.g.,baron,count) or theircadets. In this connection, however, by 1800 manysignori (lords of the manor) in Sicily and vassals in Piedmont were recognised as barons, whereas formerly they would have been simplenobili. The most famous holder of such a title wasNobileGiuseppe Maria Buonaparte, grandfather ofNapoléon.
Prior to the creation of theKingdom of Italy, the Heraldic Court ofMilan (the legal body empowered to decide on matters regarding titles of nobility) awarded and registered the termnobile as a title of nobility, untilNapoléon's army overran the AustrianHabsburg-controlledDuchy of Milan in 1796. When such a title was granted, the coat of arms of the new “nobile” was entered into theBook of Coat of Arms of Maria Teresa of Austria (subsequently kept at theState Archives of Milan {ASMi}), along with a painting of thearms concerned. The records of such grants and the depictions of their corresponding arms show that, at that period, the title ofnobile did not include a corresponding coronet of rank.
Following the creation and formalproclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, the existingConsulta Araldica, thenceforth denoted as the Italian Heraldic College, recordednobile as the lowest rank in the hierarchy of Italian titles of nobility (but comparecavaliere ereditario,patrizio andcoscritto). Thenobile title was transmitted to not-firstborn sons of nobles, whose main title was transmitted by firstborn rule (article 20 ofConsulta Araldica's regulation).
The Italian Republic does not recognise titles of nobility. The Italian Constitution of 1948 abolished theConsulta Araldica, and with it any official registry of titles of nobility.