royalty and titled nobility
Collective term for kings, princes, and hereditary nobles; often used in historical or formal contexts.
In medieval Europe, royalty and titled nobility held great power.
貴族 refers to nobility in general, while 王侯貴族 specifically includes royalty (kings and princes) alongside titled nobles.
王族 means 'royal family' and focuses on blood relatives of a monarch, whereas 王侯貴族 is a broader class including both royalty and high-ranking nobles.
Compound of 王侯 (kings and princes) and 貴族 (nobility). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is conventionally used to refer collectively to the highest ranks of a hereditary ruling class.