The Nobility of the Robe, or French nobles (grands seigneur), held heredity political offices originally purchased from the crown, and held power as administrative officials of the reigning king. Virtually all judicial offices in the ancien regimewere venal, that is the candidate had to purchase the office he wished to fill. Although forms of venality has existed since the late Middle Ages in France, in 1604 this system became formally institutio...
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The Nobility of the Robe, or French nobles (grands seigneur), held heredity political offices originally purchased from the crown, and held power as administrative officials of the reigning king. Virtually all judicial offices in the ancien regimewere venal, that is the candidate had to purchase the office he wished to fill. Although forms of venality has existed since the late Middle Ages in France, in 1604 this system became formally institutionalised through the creation of the droit annuel or Paulette, a fee paid to the royal government that allowed office-holders to bequeath or sell their offices at will. The purchase of ennobling offices in the judiciary continued to be the main source of legal social mobility down to the Revolution in 1789. They were distinguished from the older "nobles of the blood" in that the latter were ennobled for service to the King through military accomplishment or prowess. (reference: Bossenga,Gail in Old Regime France, 2001, OUP, William Doyle ...
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