Aristocracy (Greek ἀριστοκρατία aristokratía, from ἄριστος aristos "excellent," and κράτος kratos "power"), is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy. In later times, aristocracy was usually seen as rule by a privileged group (the aristocratic class), and contrasted with democracy.

The concept evolved in Ancient Greece, whereby a council of famous citizens was commonly used and contrasted with "direct monarchy" in which an individual king held the power. The Greeks did not like the concept of monarchy, and as their democratic system fell, aristocracy was upheld.

In Rome, the Republic consisted of an aristocracy as well as consuls, a senate, and a tribal assembly. Later, aristocracies primarily consisted of an elite aristocratic class, privileged by birth and often by wealth. Since the French Revolution, aristocracy has generally been contrasted with democracy, in which all citizens hold some form of political power. However this distinction is often oversimplified.

The German nobility (German: Adel) was the elite hereditary ruling class or aristocratic class from ca. 500 B.C. to the Holy Roman Empire and what is now Germany.

In Germany, nobility and titles pertaining to it were bestowed on a person by sovereigns, and then passed down through legitimate children. In a few cases, families which had been noble as far back as historical records document, their ancient nobility (Uradel) was recognised rather than conferred by a sovereign. Noble rank was usually granted by letters patent on men, whereas women could legally become members of the nobility by marrying a nobleman. Nobility was always inherited equally by all legitimate descendants in the male line of the original man who had been ennobled. German noble titles were also usually inherited by all male-line descendants, although occasionally they descended by male primogeniture, especially in Prussia. Noble families were almost always bearing a coat of arms. Blazoning an escutcheon was no privilege of nobility, also non-noble free families could bear coats of arms and non-noble crests are recorded since the 14th c.

Annie Mac (born Annie MacManus; 18 July 1978 in Dublin) is an Irish DJ and television presenter who hosts an eponymous electronic dance music show on BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom which airs at 7:00 pm on Friday evenings as well as a Sunday evening show alongside co-presenter Nick Grimshaw.

Annie Mac was born in Dublin, Ireland. She studied English Literature at Queens University, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Annie lives in London with her boyfriend, fellow club and Radio 1 DJ, Toddla T. Her brother, Davey McManus, was the lead singer and guitarist in The Crocketts.

Annie currently hosts a number of shows on Radio 1. Her main show, Annie Mac's Mash Up, airs 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Friday nights. She also hosted BBC Switch with Nick Grimshaw on Sunday evenings from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm until 21 March 2010. After this date they moved to 10:00pm - midnight with a new show simply called Nick Grimshaw and Annie Mac. She is currently one of only two presenters on the station to present shows in both the specialist and entertainment sector, the other being Huw Stephens.