An hidalgo or fidalgo was a member of the lower Spanish and Portuguese nobility. Hidalgos were exempt from paying taxes, but did not necessarily own real property. // Nobility is a traditional hereditary status (see hereditary titles) that exists today in many countries (mainly present or former monarchies). ... A tax (also known as a duty) is a financial charge or other levy imposed on an individual or a legal entity by a state or a functional equivalent of a state (e. ... Real property is a legal term encompassing real estate and ownership interests in real estate (immovable property). ...

Since the 7th century, the words fijodalgo and fidalgo were used in Spain, especially Castile, to refer to low-ranking landed gentry. Both were corruptions of the term "fijo de algo" (son of something). In the middle ages pronunciation changed to hijodalgo and hidalgo. The 7th century is the period from 601 - 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... This article or section needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ...

To qualify as an hidalgo solariego ("ancestral hidalgo"), one had to prove that all four of one's grandparents were hidalgos. One could also receive the title as a reward for meritorious acts, or by joining a fraternity. The natives of Biscay were all born hidalgos, opening them access to military and administrative careers. Unlike other hidalgos who refused manual work as contrary to their honour (as seen in Lazarillo de Tormes), Biscayne universal gentry extended to the lowliest native worker. Hidalgos de bragueta ^[1] ("fly hidalgoes") obtained tax exemption from having seven sons in a row. Of all those who held the title, hidalgos solariegos were regarded as the most noble and treated with the most respect. Look up fraternity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Vizcaya province Vizcaya (Basque Bizkaia) is a province of northern Spain, in the northwestern part of the autonomous community of the Basque Country. ... Alexander Hamilton defending his honor by obliging to duel Aaron Burr. ... Title page of the 1554 edition The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes and of His Fortunes and Adversities is a Spanish novel, published anonymously, 1554, in Alcalá de Henares in Spain, and, in 1557, in Antwerp, Flanders, then under Spanish rule. ... A fly is any species of insect of the order Diptera. ...

Over the years the title lost its significance, especially in Spain. Kings routinely awarded the title in exchange for personal favors. By the time of the reign of the House of Bourbon, over half a million people enjoyed tax exemptions, putting tremendous strain on the state. Attempts were made to reform the title and by the early 19th century it had entirely disappeared, along with the social class it had originally signified. Quid pro quo (Latin for something for something[1]) indicates a more-or-less equal exchange or substitution of goods or services. ... Also see:  Early Modern France The House of Bourbon is an important European royal house. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In Portugal the title was lost after the overthrow of the Monarchy in 1910.

The prototypical hidalgo is the fictional Don Quixote, who is sometimes known as "The Hidalgo". His possessions allowed to him a meager life devoted to his reading obsession, and his concept of honour led him to emulate errant knights. (IPA: ) or (The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha) is a novel by the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. ... This article cites its sources but does not provide page references. ... A knight errant is a figure of Medieval romantic chivalric literature. ...

See also

• Hidalgo (disambiguation)

Hidalgo in Spanish and Fidalgo in Portuguese were traditional titles of persons of nobility or gentry, derived respectively from hijo de algo and filho de algo, son of some (important family). Read more at Hidalgo (Spanish nobility). ...

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