Noblesse facts for kids
The idea of the Scottish Noblesse was a special way of thinking about noble people in Scotland. It was strongly supported by a man named Sir Thomas Innes of Learney. He was an important official who dealt with coats of arms and family histories.
Sir Thomas believed that anyone in Scotland who was given a coat of arms by the Court of the Lord Lyon (which is like Scotland's official office for heraldry) automatically became a "Noble in the Noblesse of Scotland." He thought this was a type of hereditary nobility, meaning it could be passed down through families.
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What Was the Scottish Noblesse?
Sir Thomas Innes of Learney had a unique view on Scottish nobility. He thought that if you had a coat of arms, you were part of a special group of nobles. These people, called armigers, were seen as having a noble status that could be passed down to their children.
Sir Thomas's Ideas and Challenges
Sir Thomas based his ideas on old historical documents, sometimes even looking at practices from England. He believed that because other important officials in the past had the power to make people nobles, the Lord Lyon should also have this power. However, his ideas were not always fully accepted. There was some uncertainty about how strong the historical evidence was for his beliefs. Even though he used English history, he also didn't want Scottish heraldry to be exactly like English heraldry.
Changes to the Idea
For many years, the idea of the "nobility clause" was part of the official documents given to people who received a coat of arms. This clause suggested they were part of the Noblesse. However, in 2008, the Lord Lyon quietly stopped including this special clause in new documents. This meant that the official recognition of this specific idea of "Noblesse" was no longer being issued.
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