[Discuss] On adventurers and their "noble relatives"

[Richard Cronan]

On 11/6/07, James <TheKobald at tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
> > Nobles had plenty of illegitimate children and such, I don't think it
> > is scandalous to realize you are related to a commoner because your
> > uncle had an affair with a slave girl.
>
> There's a difference in what you say and what you know.

Evidently.

Illegitimate children *were* often recognised by their noble parents.
Significantly there were heraldic charges to indicate illegitimacy,
the baton sinister and border compony being examples of these.  What
need would there have been for a coat of arms for a bastard if he was
only ever to be considered a commoner?

Being a bastard was not necessarily a disgraceful thing.  Recognised
bastards were noblemen, though there were limits on their position in
the family line - for example, a legitimate son would always take
precedence over an illegitimate one.

- rick


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