[MR] 4th Peerage

[Marybeth Lavrakas]

If this were my beloved 16th C England rather than my beloved modern Atlantia, those men owning property worth more than L40 per year would be required to take up knighthood. Another good way was to become a lawyer, then buy a place. Of course, some folk would also pay fines to AVOID being made to be a knight, not because of any military connotation, but because of the financial costs associated with properly maintaining the dignity of the rank.

And in late period France, there was a great deal of selling of knighthoods to eager buyers. It's been far too long since I read French history in depth, but I'm thinking there was a 'nobility of the robe' versus a 'nobility of the sword'...

Kateryn Rous