Nobles were always recognized as lower families of the King/Queen. Nobles usually ruled Duchy's, Counties, and principalities. Nobles were usually given a "House" which was of course a noble house. Nobles usually worked as advisors to the King, and land owners. But some families did not work at all because they were really rich. But not all nobles were rich. Some Nobles were very poor. One of the richest claim to be noble families were the Medicis. The Medici's ruled Tuscany, Milan ect. The Medici's were pretty much common people, but they were richer than most monarchs at there time until there fall in the 1700's. One of the poorest family's were a period of time was the Bonaparte family. They were poor until Napoleon became Emperor of the French. 