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Spoiler Alert Spoiler Alert: WARNING! This page happens to contain a lot of heavy spoilers that are all originated from the Overlord Light Novel series written by the author Kugane Maruyama. To every Anime-only watchers and Manga-only reader out there viewing this warning, please mindfully consider your decision first before choosing to expose yourself on reading the information below. If you're not currently up-to-date with the main source material in the official books, do consider staying away from the page for non-spoiler sake until you actually read it first ahead of time.


Noble (貴族) is a generic term for an individual who is a member of the upper class or aristocracy. So far, it is a job class that seems to only exist in the New World.

Background

Nobles are an integral part of human society in the New World. They are the ruling heads of their territories and populations. In a feudal nation, nobles were statesmen that served the head of the country, acting as advisers.[1] Nobles who had a large number of servants often had an official merchant. Whenever nobles went to go buy things, they would be guided by their official merchant.[2]

In regards to fashion, materials that are shiny and smooth against the skin are especially treasured by nobles and royalty as materials for dresses. Clothes are a status symbol to nobles to display their financial means to buy new dresses in line with the latest trends, while still maintaining a classical impression to show that they were from of good family background.

In a solemn atmosphere, such as ceremonies and festivals, stiff or heavy fabrics were deemed appropriate for nobility to wear. Though for balls or social gatherings, where dancing was involved, the former type of fabrics were waived in favor of fabrics that would allow more movement. This was for mostly pomp to give the appearance of moving lightly for a more graceful impression and so as to not make their dancer partner feel uncomfortable. For noblewomen, selecting a skirt that is easy to move in, light, and flutters beautifully, was deemed suitable for these occasions.[3]

Ranks

The Nobility possesses a hierarchy based on their titles. In the Baharuth Empire, blood-related relatives of the Emperor would be Dukes, and below them were Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts, and Barons. A Margrave was equivalent to a Marquis in the Empire. It was the highest rank that a non-blood related noble could reach, excluding marriage. Such a noble had a large private army, a wide and vast territory, and could make their own laws to a limited extent. A Margrave was seen as a Marquis and was nothing more than a change in title.[4]

Known Nobles

Known Noble Groups

Abilities and Powers

Nobles were the hereditary rulers within a feudal nation. They were a privileged class and gained their wealth from taxes and tolls they levied in their assigned domains. The only ones that the nobles acknowledge was their sovereign lord. However, due to their elitism and privileges, most nobles abused their power and authority, resulting in bitterness towards them by the commoners.[5] Besides merchants, nobles were also able to handle platinum coins in international trade.[6]

For nobles, their mansions were their status symbol. Although it was ostentatious, it was meant to keep appearances with their fellow other nobles. Whether it be artworks, jewelry, clothing, mansions, and gardens, all these were the tools of war for nobles to use in their own battlefield.[7]

At the end of the day, the aristocracy was nothing more than a bunch of creatures whose eyes could not see past one’s appearances. Clothing was naturally a part of the game. A shabby garment could signify the owner’s weakness and was therefore very useful for someone who wished to be under the protection of their superiors. An outfit like this was a must-have for those who wish to play the role of a weak nobleman on the stage.[8]

Even for nobles, it was common for those who could not inherit the household to become butlers or maids. The more prestigious a noble's title, the likelier they wished to employ such servants under them.[9]

On the other hand, if a noble was the eldest of the siblings and wanted to succeed in the family, this would usually happen rather late in their lives. They had to at least be roughly thirty years old. Prior to this, nobles were given an allowance to spend as much as they wished, by their fathers who were the head of their family households. In the event that they have already married adults with children, nobles are given an invitation to places like a mansion for their own leisure or entertainment. There, they have access to wine, women, drugs, and so on. Along the way, a conversation between fellow nobles in a similar situation can result in the nobles building closer relationships with one another. In doing so, they can simultaneously enjoy themselves while establishing connections.[10]

Trivia

  • In the Re-Estize Kingdom, only nobles could gain the status of a knight.[11]
  • The nobles in Re-Estize Kingdom have a prejudice against Magic Casters and do not take them seriously.
  • Maids that worked in the Valencia Palace were actually daughters of noble families.
  • Typically whereas commoners possessed two names, nobles possessed three. And lastly titled people like royalty had four names.[12] Though in the Web Novel, nobles are said to possess four names.[13]
  • It is highly possible for female nobles who were stripped away of their wealth to be sold off to Slavery as slaves especially by their own parents. Particularly, the parents of Arche Eeb Rile Furt did just that to their two remaining daughters after the oldest one passed away.
  • Before the fall of the Re-Estize Kingdom, the Sorcerer Kingdom/Nazarick have already convinced multiple nobles to switch sides and join the latter nation.[14]
  • In the Baharuth Empire, the theatre was the main entertainment for the nobility.[15]
  • Inspectors responsible for counting the undead killed by subjugation teams in the Free City of Vadis are said to sometime include nobles whose families are in decline or those failed to inherit the family business.[16]

References

  1. Overlord Volume 09 Chapter 1: A War of Words
  2. Overlord Second Half Chapter 25: The Academy Part 5
  3. Mass for the Dead Special Event: A Young Lady Casting a Shadow of Ambition
  4. Overlord First Half Chapter 93: Negotiations Part 6
  5. Overlord Volume 01 Chapter 2: Floor Guardians
  6. Overlord First Half Chapter 11: Knowledge
  7. Overlord First Half Chapter 53: Invaders Part 1
  8. Overlord Volume 14 Chapter 1: An Unexpected Move
  9. Overlord Volume 05 Chapter 3: Those who pick up, those who are picked up
  10. Overlord Volume 06 Chapter 9: Jaldabaoth
  11. Overlord Volume 05 Chapter 2: Blue Roses
  12. Overlord Volume 10 Chapter 3: Re-Estize Kingdom
  13. Overlord Second Half Chapter 24: The Academy Part 4
  14. Overlord Volume 14 Chapter 2: The Beginning of the End
  15. Overlord: The Undead Oh! Chapter 79
  16. Overlord Special Edition 01 Chapter 1
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