Nobility was the highest social class all over Europe, with close boundaries and traditional conceptions of behaviour (noblesse oblige) and their position. The Finnish verb derived from the word "nobility" has a double meaning: to raise to nobility and to ennoble.
The birth of the nobility in Sweden is closely connected with the heavily armed cavalry. A person who served in the armed cavalry (or was prepared to do so) was, from the 13th century onwards, afforded exemption from taxes (called rälssi in Finnish) as a compensation. This status became hereditary. Once raised into nobility, a person could later serve the crown in different posts, and nobility became thus permanent. During the 1500s, class distinctions were introduced into the Swedish nobility: in addition to the basic nobility, there were Dukes (of royal ancestry), Counts and Barons. As an estate, the nobility (knights and noblemen) tried to keep their privileges and status, for which purpose the King later established the House of Nobility in the 17th century to attend to their interests. When Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy, the Finnish House of Nobility was soon established.
The
Mannerheim family had attained the title of Baron in 1768. In 1825 Gustaf
Mannerheim’s great-grandfather had been promoted Count. After that the eldest member
of the family and his eldest male descendant belonged to the count’s family and was
allowed to use the title of Count, whereas the younger brothers of the eldest member of
the family (like Gustaf Mannerheim), as well as the members of younger branches of the
family were entitled Barons. Reciprocally, the female members of the family were
countesses or baronesses. Among the folk, Gustaf Mannerheim was sometimes called count.
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