ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Austrian nobility

Okay kiddo, have you ever heard of kings, queens, princes, and princesses? Well, a long time ago in a place called Austria there were people sort of like them, but they were called nobility.

The nobility were very important people in Austria because they were wealthy and powerful. They had lots of money and land, and they could tell lots of other people what to do. They lived in big fancy castles and wore beautiful clothes.

But there were different types of nobility. Some were born into noble families, which meant that their parents and grandparents were also nobles. These people were called hereditary nobles.

Other people became nobles because the king or queen said they could be one. These people were called ennobled nobles. They might have done something important for the country or given a lot of money to the king.

Being part of the nobility was a big deal because it meant you had a lot of power and respect. But it also meant that you had to follow some rules. You had to be polite and respectful to other nobles, and you had to behave properly in public.

Eventually, things started to change in Austria and other countries. People began to think that having a special title and lots of money didn't necessarily make you a better person. So they started to get rid of the concept of nobility. Today, there are still some people in Austria who have noble titles, but they don't have the same power and importance as they used to.

So that's the story of Austian nobility, my little friend. Did that make sense?