A junior nobleman is a member of the nobility who holds a lower rank than the highest rank in their respective aristocracy. The exact definition of who qualifies as a junior nobleman may vary depending on the country and historical period in question, but generally it refers to those below the level of duke or earls and may include knights, baronets, esquires and viscounts. These individuals were typically the younger sons of the higher nobility and would often hold positions of responsibility and prestige, such as military officers, Members of Parliament or landowners. Their titles and privileges were inherited and carried a certain degree of social status, though not to the same extent as their more senior noble counterparts. While the concept of junior nobility began to decline due to social reforms and democratic changes in many countries, their historical influence, social significance, and legacy can still be felt in various aspects of modern society and literature.