Franklin (class)
Encyclopedia
The term franklin denotes a member of a social class
or rank in England in the 12th to 15th centuries.
In the period when Middle English
was in use, a franklin was simply a freeman;
that is, a man who was not a serf
, in the feudal system
under which people were
tied to land which they did not own, in bondage to a member of the nobility
who owned that land.
The meaning of the word "franklin" evolved to mean a freeholder; that is,
one who holds title to real property in fee simple
. In the 14th and 15th centuries, franklin was
"the designation of a class of landowners ranking next below the landed gentry
" .
A franklin is one of the characters in The Canterbury Tales
by Geoffrey Chaucer
.
Middle English
franklen, frankeleyn, francoleyn, from
Anglo-Latin
francalanus a person owning francalia, "territory held without dues".
Collins mentions the Anglo-French fraunclein, "a landowner of free, but not noble birth", from Old French franc free + -lein, "-ling", formed on the model of "chamberlain"; all these go back to
Late Latin
francus "free" or "a free man", from Frankish
*Frank, "a freeman", literally, "a Frank";
cognate with Old High German
Franko, which meant
a German from a confederation in Franconia
of which a branch conquered Gaul
, from which event is also explained
the name of the country France
.
, esquires
and gentlemen
,
the lower grades of the upper class)
let alone of the nobility
(barons, viscounts, earls/counts, marquis, dukes),
evidently represents the beginnings of a real-property-owning middle class
in England in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Note that the land and property owned by this English middle class
might well be in the country, one factor distinguishing it from
the mainland European bourgeoisie
which term means "town-dwellers".
such as esquire
and gentleman
, franklin has no modern usage other than
historical reference to the medieval period.
Social class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
or rank in England in the 12th to 15th centuries.
In the period when Middle English
Middle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
was in use, a franklin was simply a freeman;
that is, a man who was not a serf
Serfdom
Serfdom is the status of peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to Manorialism. It was a condition of bondage or modified slavery which developed primarily during the High Middle Ages in Europe and lasted to the mid-19th century...
, in the feudal system
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
under which people were
tied to land which they did not own, in bondage to a member of the nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
who owned that land.
The meaning of the word "franklin" evolved to mean a freeholder; that is,
one who holds title to real property in fee simple
Fee simple
In English law, a fee simple is an estate in land, a form of freehold ownership. It is the most common way that real estate is owned in common law countries, and is ordinarily the most complete ownership interest that can be had in real property short of allodial title, which is often reserved...
. In the 14th and 15th centuries, franklin was
"the designation of a class of landowners ranking next below the landed gentry
Landed gentry
Landed gentry is a traditional British social class, consisting of land owners who could live entirely off rental income. Often they worked only in an administrative capacity looking after the management of their own lands....
" .
A franklin is one of the characters in The Canterbury Tales
The Canterbury Tales
The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century. The tales are told as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together on a journey from Southwark to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at...
by Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer , known as the Father of English literature, is widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages and was the first poet to have been buried in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey...
.
Etymology
According to the OED, the term franklin is derived fromMiddle English
Middle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
franklen, frankeleyn, francoleyn, from
Anglo-Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
francalanus a person owning francalia, "territory held without dues".
Collins mentions the Anglo-French fraunclein, "a landowner of free, but not noble birth", from Old French franc free + -lein, "-ling", formed on the model of "chamberlain"; all these go back to
Late Latin
Late Latin
Late Latin is the scholarly name for the written Latin of Late Antiquity. The English dictionary definition of Late Latin dates this period from the 3rd to the 6th centuries AD extending in Spain to the 7th. This somewhat ambiguously defined period fits between Classical Latin and Medieval Latin...
francus "free" or "a free man", from Frankish
Old Frankish
Old Frankish is an extinct West Germanic language, once spoken by the Franks. It is the parent language of the Franconian languages, of which Dutch and Afrikaans are the most known descendants...
*Frank, "a freeman", literally, "a Frank";
cognate with Old High German
Old High German
The term Old High German refers to the earliest stage of the German language and it conventionally covers the period from around 500 to 1050. Coherent written texts do not appear until the second half of the 8th century, and some treat the period before 750 as 'prehistoric' and date the start of...
Franko, which meant
a German from a confederation in Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
of which a branch conquered Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
, from which event is also explained
the name of the country France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Significance
The social class of franklin, meaning (latterly) a person not only free (not in feudal servitude) but also owning the freehold of land, and yet not even a member of the "landed gentry" (knightsKnight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
, esquires
Esquire
Esquire is a term of West European origin . Depending on the country, the term has different meanings...
and gentlemen
Gentleman
The term gentleman , in its original and strict signification, denoted a well-educated man of good family and distinction, analogous to the Latin generosus...
,
the lower grades of the upper class)
let alone of the nobility
British nobility
-General History of British Nobility:The nobility of the four constituent home nations of the United Kingdom has played a major role in shaping the history of the country, although in the present day even hereditary peers have no special rights, privileges or responsibilities, except for residual...
(barons, viscounts, earls/counts, marquis, dukes),
evidently represents the beginnings of a real-property-owning middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
in England in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Note that the land and property owned by this English middle class
might well be in the country, one factor distinguishing it from
the mainland European bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
which term means "town-dwellers".
Modern usage
Unlike some other terms referring to social class or status in mediaeval Englandsuch as esquire
Esquire
Esquire is a term of West European origin . Depending on the country, the term has different meanings...
and gentleman
Gentleman
The term gentleman , in its original and strict signification, denoted a well-educated man of good family and distinction, analogous to the Latin generosus...
, franklin has no modern usage other than
historical reference to the medieval period.
See also
- The Franklin's Prologue and TaleThe Franklin's Prologue and Tale"The Franklin's Tale" is one of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. It focuses on issues of providence, truth, generosity and gentillesse in human relationships.- Structure of the Tale :...
- Social classSocial classSocial classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
- Middle classMiddle classThe middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
- BourgeoisieBourgeoisieIn sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
- EsquireEsquireEsquire is a term of West European origin . Depending on the country, the term has different meanings...
- GentlemanGentlemanThe term gentleman , in its original and strict signification, denoted a well-educated man of good family and distinction, analogous to the Latin generosus...
- KnightKnightA knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
- NobilityNobilityNobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
and British nobilityBritish nobility-General History of British Nobility:The nobility of the four constituent home nations of the United Kingdom has played a major role in shaping the history of the country, although in the present day even hereditary peers have no special rights, privileges or responsibilities, except for residual...