princes and marquises; great feudal lords
Historical term referring to high-ranking nobility, specifically dukes (公) and marquises (侯) in feudal systems. Rare in modern conversation; encountered in historical texts or discussions of pre-modern aristocracy.
In medieval Japan, princes and marquises ruled over large territories.
duke, marquis, count, viscount and baron (five ranks of nobility in Japan; 1869-1947)
Compound of 公 (duke/prince) and 侯 (marquis/lord), both high-ranking feudal titles. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is conventionally associated with the upper echelons of pre-modern nobility.