There was no country in Europe where the feudal system had received so little modification.[13] Every law seemed to have been made, and every custom to have been established for the exclusive benefit of the nobles.

They were even exempted from many of the taxes, an exemption which was the more intolerable from the vast number of persons who were included in the list.
Practically it may be said that there were two classes of nobles--the old historic houses, as they were sometimes called, such as the Grammonts or Montmorencies, which were not numerous, and many of which had greatly decayed in wealth and influence; and an inferior class whose nobility was derived from their possession of office under the crown in any part of the kingdom.

Even tax-gatherers and surveyors, if appointed by royal warrant, could claim the rank; and new offices were continually being created and sold which conferred the same title.

Those so ennobled were not reckoned the equals of the higher class.

They could not even be received at court until their patents were four hundred years old, but they had a right to vote as nobles at elections to any representative body.