Magnate

A magnate is a man of high social status, wealth, or birth in Western Christian countries since the medieval period. The term includes members of the higher clergy, such as bishops, archbishops, and cardinals. In medieval times, it distinguished powerful territorial landowners and warlords—such as counts, earls, dukes, and territorial princes—from the baronage. In Poland, the szlachta (nobles) made up a significant portion of the population (around 10–12%), and magnat referred to the wealthiest nobles, despite their equal voting rights in Poland’s electoral monarchy.