I saw this scene brought up on the HPFF reddit today.

"There's a scene when Harry asks Remus about the Half-Blood Prince and Remus explains that there are no princes in the wizarding world."

Judging by the scenario of the conversation, we can use this scene to imply that there is nobility. So all the people basing Lord Potter of the "Sacred 26" or any other cannon are evidently wrong.

Thought that would be something this site would like to see.

 

I mean it's not a direct example but other than when the ruling class is mainly controlled by the nobility, I can't think of any example where there is a nobility because they would be essentially powerless.

Sure you can have a wealthy class, but actual lords?

And considering that the head of state is the minster of magic, that's not the case with the HP world.

Obviously there is some logic involved, but the fact that there isn't royalty and that there is an elected head of state, along with a complex government system with different branches with different power (i.e. wizengamot), I find it highly unlikely that lordships exist in the HP world.

 

I was trying to think of any canon mentions of nobility... And nearly missed the obvious. Why did Voldemort call himself a Lord?

Apart from his love of anagrams, of course.

 

Perhaps to seem powerful by bloodline to his followers. I imagine that there were lords before the statue of secrecy and using that name makes it seem like he (Lv) has a strong, old bloodline.

 

For any unknown number of reasons. Maybe Prince of Darkness was already taken? Without information on the subject, it's impossible to draw conclusions.

 

Well, we know that the Malfoy family holds a barony, because Pottermore tells us that they were awarded land by William the Conqueror for their role in the invasion of England. But importantly, this is not some magical system of nobility but just the regular, mostly defunct, Muggle one. Given the Muggle origin, it's no surprise that the Malfoys don't go around demanding everyone refer to them as Lord.

 

I was referring to a barony, not a baronetcy. A barony would typically contain a number of different lands associated with various titles. The "baron" (which does not correspond to the later noble title of baron, as it is refers to a swathe of land ownership rather than a single title) would use the most senior title and grant the lower ones to people below them in the feudal chain.

 

Well, a quick wiki-check says William the Conqueror was well before the Statute of Secrecy, so I'm sure the Malfoys could find a way to rationalize it without tainting themselves too much with muggle association. Maybe try to explain it away as being court wizards, with a bit of implication that they were the real power behind the throne...

 

I'm not sure the muggle baiting death eaters who avoided prison on a shoddy bribe filled technicality want to be hinting that their family has an awesome history of secretly controlling kingdoms. Gives it the ole bad imperio vibes.

 

Almost all life peers are barons. Barons are the lowest rank of aristocracy and are addressed as Lord or lady same as all the rest, other than duke. Hereditary barons aren't common, mostly absorbed into higher titles like you say, but hereditary or life, they're still titled: list

Are you thinking of baronets, which are hereditary sirs, not lords, and mostly defunct?

 

Knowledge is knowing whether or not nobility could be canon in the Wizarding World.

Wisdom is knowing not to include it.

 

There are a few examples of wizards with titles: the Bloody Baron, Nearly-Headless Nick (Sir Nicholas of something), that other decapitated ghost (Sir Patrick thingy).

According to some timeline JKR made for Pottermore (if you consider that canon, it's not on site anymore anyway), there were Queen witches in the Middle-Age, and one Lord Withers (1672-1769) that breeded flying horses. This last one is the only example I could find from after the Statute (and even that is debatable since he was born before).

So there were wizards with nobility titles before the Statute but whether their descendants would still hold these titles should be asked to people more knowledgeable than I am in British law.

In any case I agree with apoc here, adding nobility in a HP fanfic is useless. You already have blood purity if you want inequalities from birth, no need to copy the muggle system.

 

Because he is a Dark Lord .

 

*The Dark Lord

Came second not first I believe.