Scottish nobility

Scottish nobility comprises a hierarchy of hereditary landowners and titled elites, traditionally holding power and land granted by the monarchy. Key ranks include dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, and barons. Nobles played vital roles in governance, military, and society, often owning extensive estates and exerting influence over regions. Titles are passed down through generations, often with intricate systems of inheritance and social obligations. Historically significant, Scottish nobility helped shape the country's political and cultural landscape, adapting over time from medieval feudal structures to modern distinctions of aristocratic status.