Aristocracy

Aristocracy translating from Greek to Rule of the excellent or Rule of the best is a system of government where political power is concentrated within a relatively small class of formal nobility or gentry, a privileged ruling class, the aristocrats.^[1]. The term derives from the greek aristokratia meaning the rule of the excellent.

In Ancient Greece it was used to describe the rule of the most qualified or the best citizens. It was used by philosophers such as Aristotle or Plato, described, as said, as the rule of the most qualified, system which was favorably compared with Monarchy, the rule of the one. In this hypothetical Aristocratic system hereditary rule would be forbidden and would only be allowed in case the children of the former Aristocrats performed in a way worth giving them this role.^[2]^[3]

Oligarchy, although considered as a similar system because it also features the rule of the few, it differs on who these few are supposed to be. Aristocracy, as previously mentioned, features the election of the Aristocrats by who are the most qualified system, while in an Oligarchic system these few are passed hereditarily, usually among wealthy families with big political power. Oligarchy on this sense could be considered a corrupted form of Aristocracy. Plato, Xenophon and Aristotle considered Aristocracy as inherently better than the rule of the many but they still considered Democracy, or even the corrupted form of it, Mob Rule, as a better system than Oligarchy.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]

An alternate meaning of Aristocracy is a foreign policy opposed to the spatially-based Tellurocracy or Thalassocracy where the nation gains political power in the world by excellence in a field of human endeavor (or just by being very wealthy). Arguably, this is a more stable policy because it does not rely on using military force to enforce spatial dominance.

History

Aristocracies, for much of history, even on recent one, dominated almost everywhere in Europe, using their wealth and influence to get political power. Later, during the 18th century, with the rising middle class created during the Industrial revolution produced an increase of rich business owners, which eventually got their way buying into the aristocracy, although later during the first half of the 19th century these aristocracies tended to lose power basically everywhere, likely Russia being one of the only exceptions. As late as 1900s many Aristocracies remained in place in countries such as Britain, Germany, Austria and Russia, but after World War I the political power of them became precarious and later in Russia, basically the only place with a strong rule of the few still in place, they were exiled by the Communists.^[8]^[9]

Personality and Behavior

Loves hats and fancy clothes
Favorite game is Hatris
Snobby

Stylistic Notes

Should always be portrayed wearing one or more hats. These hats do not have to stay consistent between panels in comics.

How to Draw

Flag of Aristocracy

Drawing Aristocracy is somewhat difficult:

Draw a ball
Fill it with dark blue,
Draw a gold fleur-de-lis (⚜) in the centre,
Draw a hat (or hats),
Draw the eyes and your done!

Color Name		HEX	RGB
	Dark Blue	#2A334C	42, 51, 76
	Gold	#E7933A	231, 147, 58

Relationships

Friends

Noocracy - The best are usually the wisest.
Technocracy - My somewhat left-leaning grandson who has gained popularity through the Internet.
Plutocracy - There's a reason the rich are so well off. Many aristocrats also tended to be rich. But seriously, you should grow some taste and get the bourgeoisie out of the way.
Hamiltonianism - That's my style!
Paternalistic Conservatism - Fellow believer in the principle of noblesse oblige.
Feudalism - He got the right idea.

Frenemies

Republicanism - The best alternative to Aristocracy, but really seem to hate me.
Democracy - Stupid, but not the worst .
Machiavellianism - Sir, where is your honor?