rico-homen
Quick Summary
The ricos-homens were the highest class of Portuguese nobility during the medieval period. They were powerful magnates who owned large estates and held significant influence, often possessing private civil or military authority. This class included bishops and abbots, as well as masters of knightly orders.
At court, the ricos-homens were part of the king's council, advising him on matters of state. However, many of the old aristocracy lost their positions with the advent of the House of Aviz in 1385, leading to the rise of a new nobility. The title of grandee, a similar honorific for the highest nobility, was formally established in Spain in 1520, granting specific privileges and forms of address when interacting with the king.12
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