Peer of the realm

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Peer of the Realm is a term for a member of the (aristocratic) highest social order (not considering the ruling dynasty) in a kingdom, notably:

  • a member of the peerage (noble and equivalent titles granted by the British crown; actually there are several peerage systems, such as the peerages of England, of Ireland, of Scotland, of the UK)
  • the English rendering of a member of a similar order in another realm, especially the French title pair as used in the French kingdom and the crusader state kingdom of Jerusalem
  • nobility proper of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth who enjoyed hereditary paritas. Those who would sit on hereditary basis in Land Parliaments, or be royal electors, enjoy personal immunity, and the right to be judged only by the King's court or the court of peers. Also the exclusive right to be granted state or Land dignities and titles. The Skartabelli who were middle-nobility by law were not peers. Nobles who were not direct barons of the Crown but held land from other lords were not peers de facto as they would not enjoy full noble privileges.

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