Military & Servants
The following military ranks are listed in order from highest to lowest:
(1) Colonel
(2) Lieutenant Colonel
(3) Major
(4) Lieutenant
(5) Ensign
(6) Regimental Sergeant Major
(7) Sergeant Major
(8) Colour Sergeant
(9) Sergeant
(10) Coporal
(11) Lance Coporal
(12) Private
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Pride and Prejudice most likely takes place during the Napoleonic Wars (England vs. France) which began in 1793. Some argue that the identity of the British Military was forged during this time. The British Army reached it's largest in 1813 at over 250,000 men. Military men brought with them both a sense of danger and a sense of glamor. Wickham is a perfect example.
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Many enlisted men were forced into the army to avoid poverty. Additionally, army policy only permitted six married men per company because single men could be paid less.
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Military men, especially in the lower ranks would have been middle or lower class citizens, but they received respect because of the public's general fear of the war with Napoleon.
Military
S ervants
The servant class structure is fairly complex, but I have found a website that lays it out beautifully, even though this is technically Victorian era domestic servants, in my research the servant structure is almost exactly the same. Please use this link to gain a basic knowledge of where you fall in the structure:
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Additional details:
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The housekeeper was the undisputed head of the female staff. This role demanded huge responsibility and required dependability prudence, sensibility and honesty. A housekeeper was known as "Mrs" regardless of marital status. The housekeeper was most likely seen as terrifying by her underlings.
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The housemaid was responsible for keeping the home clean. Her duties required long hours and less than desirable work, such as emptying the chamber pot into a slop bucket.
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The butler, in some situations, was the leader of the household, but a butler's primary responsibility was to become well aquainted with the liquor cabinet. In smaller households the butler also took on the duties of a valet, seeing to the person needs of the men of the household.