noblesse d'epée (English spelling) noblessedepee

...Through economic development since the end of the Middle Ages, wealthy bourgeoisie bought land from fallen nobles, became lords, and gradually slipped into nobility by taking up high-ranking positions such as in the High Court. However, these new nobles were called "robed nobles" and were looked down upon by the established "noblesse d'épée" (military nobles) that had existed since the Middle Ages. I wonder how much effort it must have taken for Molière's "townsman nobleman" Monsieur Jourdain to behave like an aristocrat...

*Some of the terminology explanations that mention "noblesse d'épée" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…中世末以来の経済的発展を通じて，富裕なブルジョアは没落貴族より所領を買って領主となり，高等法院などの高級官職に就くことによって，しだいに貴族身分へと滑り込んでいった。これらの新興貴族は，しかし，〈法服貴族〉と呼ばれ，中世以来の由緒正しい〈武家貴族noblesse d’épée〉からさげすまれることになろう。モリエールの描く《町人貴族》のジュルダン氏は，貴族らしくふるまうために，どれほど苦労したことか。…

※「noblesse d'épée」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報