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Hidalgo (Spanish nobility)
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Since at least the VIIth century, the words fijo dalgo and "fidalgo"(literally translated "son of something", meaning son of someone of importance) were used in the the territories that would be Kingdom of Castile as synonym of noble,though in colloquial use is mostly used to refer to the untitled or not wealthy nobility. Hidalgos were exempt from paying taxes, but did not necessarily own real property.
Some sources, based on the "Leyes de Partidas", assert that the word derives from "itálico", man with full roman citizenship.
In Portugal the term was "fijodalgo", although the nobles so called had a different status.
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Since at least the VIIth century, the words fijo dalgo and "fidalgo"(literally translated "son of something", meaning son of someone of importance) were used in the the territories that would be Kingdom of Castile as synonym of noble,though in colloquial use is mostly used to refer to the untitled or not wealthy nobility. Hidalgos were exempt from paying taxes, but did not necessarily own real property.
Some sources, based on the "Leyes de Partidas", assert that the word derives from "itálico", man with full roman citizenship.
In Portugal the term was "fijodalgo", although the nobles so called had a different status. In the Kingdom of Aragón they would be called "infanzones" (singular: "infanzón")
It should be noted that although the word algo generally means "something," in this expression the word specifically denotes "riches" or "wealth"; therefore, it was originally a synonym of ricohombre (literally, "rich man"), although with time hidalgo came to colloquially mean the lower-ranking gentry, and ricohombre, the high nobility. With the changes in Spanish pronunciation that occurred in the late Middle Ages, the [f] became silent giving rise to the modern pronunciation and spelling, hidalgo. (See, History of the Spanish language.)
To qualify as an hidalgo solariego ("ancestral hidalgo"), one had to prove that all four of one's grandparents were hidalgos. One could also receive the title as a reward for meritorious acts, or by joining a fraternity. The natives of Biscay were all born hidalgos, giving them access to military and administrative careers. Unlike other hidalgos who refused manual work as contrary to their honour (as seen in Lazarillo de Tormes), Biscayne universal gentry extended to the lowliest native worker.
Hidalgos de bragueta ("fly hidalgoes") obtained tax exemption for having seven sons in legal matrimony.
In Asturias, Cantabria and other regions of Spain every seven years the King ordered the creation of "Padrones" where the population was classified either as Hidalgos Nobles (exempt due military status, tax free) or "Estado llano" , "Pecheros" (exempt from military service,tax duty). Those "Padrones" constitute nowadays a rich source of information about population genealogy and distribution as well as proof of nobility in certain cases.
Of all those who held the title, hidalgos solariegos were regarded as the most noble and treated with the most respect.
Over the years the title lost its significance, especially in Spain. Kings routinely awarded the title in exchange for personal favors. By the time of the reign of the House of Bourbon, over half a million people enjoyed tax exemptions, putting tremendous strain on the state. Attempts were made to reform the title and by the early 19th century it had entirely disappeared, along with the social class it had originally signified.
In Portugal the title was lost after the overthrow of the Monarchy in 1910.
The prototypical hidalgo is the fictional Don Quixote, who is sometimes known as "The Hidalgo".
His possessions allowed to him a meager life devoted to his reading obsession, and his concept of honour led him to emulate knights-errant.
See also
External links
- In Spanish: (Association of Spanish nobles)
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