The '''Lithuanian nobility''' was historically a legally privileged class in the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] consisting of [[Lithuanians]], from the historical regions of [[Lithuania Proper]] and [[Samogitia]], and in some cases [[Ruthenia]]n noble families. Families were primarily granted [[privileges]] for their military service to the Grand Duchy. After the [[Union of Lublin]] in 1569, it became less distinguishable from the Polish ''[[szlachta]]''. The [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] had one of the largest number of nobility in Europe, close to 7% of the population, in some regions, like [[Samogitia]], it was closer to 10%.