Quote:
Originally Posted by ravenfish
I think there is a parallel structure. A bishop or lord mayor can probably be considered to have moderate social status without having any feudal rank. Moreover, a miscellaneous unlanded son of nobility can have the social perquisites of status without having any retinue to command via feudal rank.
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In the case of bishops, it depends on their bishopric, I think: A bishop is a Prince of the Church, and in that era, might have a body of troops at his command.