Wednesday, 7 July 2010

Russian Oligarchs vs English Landed Gentry Aristocracy

Is there really any big difference between the two?

My latest blogpost: Russian Oligarchs vs English Landed Gentry AristocracyTweet this! Posted by Mark Wadsworth at 07:45

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13 comments:

The Englishman said...

Eh?
I think this may be libellous.

7 July 2010 at 08:06
J said...

I thought Landed Gentry was a class around the Upper Middle or Lower Upper, not to be confused with the Aristocracy. Many of the Landed Gentry don't own very much land.

7 July 2010 at 09:22
Mark Wadsworth said...

TE, can you answer the question?

EKTWP, I have amended the title.

7 July 2010 at 09:38
Nick Drew said...

Ans: one lot are massively insecure psychologically; the other lot are massively insecure financially

7 July 2010 at 09:53
dearieme said...

"Many of the Landed Gentry don't own very much land." And some own vast amounts. The point isn't how much land they own, but that they are not aristocrats i.e. not barons and above. They are gentry i.e. baronets and below.

7 July 2010 at 10:01
Mark Wadsworth said...

ND, good answer.

D, let's not argue and bicker over precise terms. I'm sure you know what I mean.

7 July 2010 at 10:31
Anonymous said...

LG "You are trespassing on my land!"

OP "Your land? How did it get to be 'your land'?"

LG "I'll have you know my ancestors fought for this land."

OP "All right, then - I'll fight you for it."

7 July 2010 at 10:48
Bill Quango MP said...

I knew a chap who's first name was Baron. Baron Omeldi.

I wanted to call first born Doctor.
Doctor Quango. Thought it would help later in life.

Mrs Q wouldn't go for it. Very short sighted of her.

7 July 2010 at 12:14
dearieme said...

I knew an American academic whose first name was Dean.

7 July 2010 at 12:27
bayard said...

"EKTWP, I have amended the title."

Now it's even more misleading. I assume you mean "rich landowners who inherited their land". Many of the aristocracy aren't rich or don't own land any more.

Personally, I'd say the Russian oligarchs are far more like the big commercial landlords than the English landed gentry/aristocracy.

7 July 2010 at 15:05
Mark Wadsworth said...

B, yes, that is what I meant.

To be even more precise about it, what is the difference between today's Russian oligarchs and the Norman barons who came over here and appropriated our land?

At least commercial landlords pay a shedload in taxes and provide buildings for business to take place in.

7 July 2010 at 15:34
bayard said...

"At least commercial landlords pay a shedload in taxes and provide buildings for business to take place in."

Well, change "buildings" to "space" and widen "business" to include agriculture and the same can be said about rural landowners. Yer average upper class landowner is more likely these days to be the owner and manager of a farming and property company than the absentee playboy of yesteryear.

7 July 2010 at 22:11
Mark Wadsworth said...

B, try changing "a shedload in taxes" to "a shedload in agricultural subsidies", and maybe have a look at Agricultural Property Relief for Inheritance Tax. Or the VAT exemptions for agriculture.

Plus farmers don't need landowners, they just need land. But office blocks and factories don't just spring up out of nowhere.

7 July 2010 at 22:14

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