adligt

Adligt is an adjective used in Scandinavian languages to denote belonging to or characteristic of the nobility. In Danish and Norwegian, the related noun refers to the noble estate, while in Swedish the concept is commonly described with terms like adlig and adeln. The word centers on a social class historically defined by lineage and privileges rather than wealth alone.

Historically, adligt status emerged in feudal Europe as a hereditary class connected to landholding, military service, and political influence. Members of the nobility often enjoyed special rights not granted to commoners, such as exemptions from certain taxes, jurisdictional privileges, and precedence in court and ceremonial settings. In many kingdoms, the adlige estate formed a distinct social and political layer, sometimes represented in advisory assemblies or parliamentary bodies.

The privileges and roles of the adlige varied by country and era but commonly included obligations to provide military service and governance, as well as the right to bear arms, pass on titles, and maintain formal seats of power. Titles such as knights, counts, and barons were associated with the adlige class, alongside heraldic traditions and family seats.

In modern times, many legal privileges connected to adlig status have been abolished or reduced as states adopted egalitarian laws and constitutional reforms. Today, adligt mainly persists as a historical and genealogical concept, with ceremonial functions and cultural memory in some countries. Coats of arms, lineage, and noble titles continue to be of interest in heraldry and heritage contexts, even though they no longer confer legal privileges.

See also: Nobility, Feudalism, Heraldry.