The room around him was ornate, after the fashion of the old imperial nobility.

The old nobility existed through the force of law, because only patricians were allowed to stand for high office.

Both families were prominent and very old French nobility.

I have worked out how to castrate the nobility, old or new makes no difference.

The old nobility had several arenas on which they gathered.

For these reasons, a distant connection to a family of the old nobility is often merely considered as a curiosity.

"So, my lord chancellor, why is it you chose only the old nobility for your council?"

I'm no more a part of the old nobility here than you are!

The family is known since the 1300s and belongs to the old nobility.

After sixty-eight years they treat me as if I was born into the old nobility.