Revocation of nobility is the removal of the
noble status of a person.
It should be distinguished from the concept of
dérogeance ("derogation" of nobility), which, e.g., in the context of French history, led to removal of the privileges of nobility, but not necessarily the right for nobility itself. In particular, the nobility of descendants was not automatically lost.
Nobility could be restored by the King's Letter of Rehabilitation (''Lettre de réhabilitation'').
Since nobility was exempted from taxes, especially the ''
taille
The ''taille'' () was a direct land tax on the French peasantry and non-nobles in ''Ancien Régime'' France. The tax was imposed on each household and was based on how much land it held, and was directly paid to the state.
History
Originally ...
'', many usurped the appearances of nobility, and this usurpation could continue across generations. Therefore, in France there was a special establishment "Grand Inquiry into Nobility" ''
Grande enquête sur la noblesse'', which was in force during 1666–1727. This was accompanied by various edicts which declared certain elements of the outfit (heraldry, armaments, decorations, etc.) to be permitted only for nobility. Revocation of usurped nobility was accompanied with heavy fines.
In addition to real usurpation, inquiries were made into hereditary nobility: unless the nobility was given by a Letter of Ennoblement, according to ''Grande enquête'' one had to prove that at least four generations of his ancestors enjoyed the noble status.
["Contested Spaces of Nobility in Early Modern Europe", Matthew P. Romaniello, Charles Lipp (eds.), 2011, ]
In
Poland existed a practice of ''
nagana szlachectwa
Nagana szlachectwa ( la, 'Vituperatio nobilitatis'), literally reprobation/reprimand/censure of nobility, also translated by Norman Davies as Test of NobilityNorman Davies, '' God's Playground''/ref> was a legal procedure of the revocation of nobil ...
'', which was questioning the nobility by any accuser.
References
{{reflist
Nobility