The idea of aristocracy comes from the Latin aristocracy, although its etymological origin is found in the Greek language (aristokratía). Specifically, this Greek word is the result of the sum of two clearly differentiated parts such as:
-The word “aristoi”, which can be translated as “the best” and was used by the Mycenaeans or nobles who held power in the Pole government during what was the period between the 8th and 6th centuries BC They used it to define themselves.
-The noun “kratia”, which is equivalent to “government”.
The DigoPaul mentions as the first meaning of the term the form of government that is based on the exercise of power by the most capable.
That meaning that arose in ancient times was changing. Today, the aristocracy is understood as the class that holds the economic and political power of a territory. This power is hereditary and is always preserved by the same group.
The aristocracy is usually linked to the nobility. In Europe, barons, counts, princes and kings are aristocrats: they belong to a wealthy class that has had political power for centuries. No citizen can be elected “king” by the rest of the inhabitants: only those who belong to the noble family of the ruling aristocracy can access said investiture, and following certain internal mechanisms.
In this case, it must be established that there are two different types of nobility that are worth underlining:
-The blood nobility, which is that which is considered to be of lineage, that is, that which is inherited and passed from one generation to another. You can also meet those who have it as hidalgos.
-The nobility of privilege, which is what the king granted to those who had contributed to the maintenance of his kingdom through different forms. It was his way of thanking them for their support, support and help.
Specifically, the members of the nobility what they had was a noble title. Today in Spain such titles include the greatness of Spain, the marquisate, the duchy, the viscounty, the county, the lordship, the barony…
In the same way, we can highlight that in that country the most important ducal houses and that almost 200 ducats hold are Alba, Bourbon, Peñaranda, Fernán Núñez, Medina Sidonia, Osuna or that of Medinacelli, among others.
In a democracy, however, there is also the aristocracy. Beyond the representatives of the people who govern by popular vote, there is a class that wields symbolic power, usually associated with family wealth. These are individuals capable of influencing the rulers through different pressures (for example, threatening not to invest in the country).
It is possible that the aristocracy is associated with a certain economic sector. In Russia, to cite one case, oil exploitation led to the emergence of a new aristocracy, made up of billionaires who got rich from this business.
