German nobility
Encyclopedia
The German nobility was the elite hereditary ruling class or aristocratic class
from ca. 500 B.C. to the Holy Roman Empire
and what is now Germany
.
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 entitled to bear a coat of arms
.
All privileges and immunities of the German nobility as a legally defined class were abolished on August 11, 1919 with the promulgation of the Weimar Constitution
, recognizing all Germans as equal before the laws of their country.
However nobility itself, as a class and as a hereditary attribute, were not explicitly abolished. Nor were hereditary titles abolished per se. Rather, henceforth they became part of each noble's surname, are inherited as are surnames, and remain protected under laws promulgated under the constitution, for that purpose.
Most, but not all, surnames of the German nobility were preceded by or contained the preposition von
, meaning of, or sometimes zu, which is usually translated as of when used alone or as in or at. The two were occasionally combined into von und zu, meaning, approimately, of and at. In general, the "von" form indicates the place the family originated, while the "zu" form indicates that the family remains in possession of the estate from which the surname is drawn: Therefore von und zu" indicates a family which is both named for and continues to own their original feudal holding or residence. Other forms also exist as combinations with the definitive article: e.g. "von der" or von dem → "vom" ("of the"), zu der → "zur" or zu dem → "zum" ("of the", "in the", "at the"). An example is Count Kasimir von der Recke whose title, now being a surname, need not be translated and would appear as Kasimir Graf von der Recke.
Some states within Imperial Germany
had strict laws concerning the conduct, employment or marriage of individual nobles. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in Adelsverlust ("loss of the status of nobility"). Until about the early 19th century, for example, it was commonly forbidden for nobles to marry people "of low birth", i.e. commoners.
Various organizations perpetuate the historical legacy of the former nobility, documenting genealogy, as well as chronicling the history of noble families.
, Grand Duke
, Archduke
, Duke
, Landgrave
, Margrave
, Count Palatine
, Prince
and Reichsgraf were borne by rulers who belonged to Germany's Hochadel. Other counts, as well as barons (Freiherr
en), lords (Herren), knights (Ritter]] were borne by noble non-reigning families. The vast majority of the German nobility, however, inherited no titles, and were usually distinguishable only by the particule von in their surnames.
The heirs to sovereigns or to headship of mediatised
families prefixed their title by Erb-, meaning Hereditary. For instance, the heir to a Grand Duke is titled Erbgroßherzog, meaning Hereditary Grand Duke. A sovereign duke's heir was Erbprinz (Hereditary Prince) and a prince's heir might be titled Erbprinz or Erbgraf (Hereditary Prince, Hereditary Count). The prefix distinguished the heir from similarly titled junior siblings.
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
from ca. 500 B.C. to the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
and what is now Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Principles of German nobility
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 recognized rather than conferred by a soverign. Noble rank was usually granted by letters patentLetters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
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
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
, especially in Prussia. Noble families were almost always entitled to bear a coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
.
All privileges and immunities of the German nobility as a legally defined class were abolished on August 11, 1919 with the promulgation of the Weimar Constitution
Weimar constitution
The Constitution of the German Reich , usually known as the Weimar Constitution was the constitution that governed Germany during the Weimar Republic...
, recognizing all Germans as equal before the laws of their country.
However nobility itself, as a class and as a hereditary attribute, were not explicitly abolished. Nor were hereditary titles abolished per se. Rather, henceforth they became part of each noble's surname, are inherited as are surnames, and remain protected under laws promulgated under the constitution, for that purpose.
Most, but not all, surnames of the German nobility were preceded by or contained the preposition von
Von
In German, von is a preposition which approximately means of or from.When it is used as a part of a German family name, it is usually a nobiliary particle, like the French, Spanish and Portuguese "de". At certain times and places, it has been illegal for anyone who was not a member of the nobility...
, meaning of, or sometimes zu, which is usually translated as of when used alone or as in or at. The two were occasionally combined into von und zu, meaning, approimately, of and at. In general, the "von" form indicates the place the family originated, while the "zu" form indicates that the family remains in possession of the estate from which the surname is drawn: Therefore von und zu" indicates a family which is both named for and continues to own their original feudal holding or residence. Other forms also exist as combinations with the definitive article: e.g. "von der" or von dem → "vom" ("of the"), zu der → "zur" or zu dem → "zum" ("of the", "in the", "at the"). An example is Count Kasimir von der Recke whose title, now being a surname, need not be translated and would appear as Kasimir Graf von der Recke.
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
had strict laws concerning the conduct, employment or marriage of individual nobles. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in Adelsverlust ("loss of the status of nobility"). Until about the early 19th century, for example, it was commonly forbidden for nobles to marry people "of low birth", i.e. commoners.
Various organizations perpetuate the historical legacy of the former nobility, documenting genealogy, as well as chronicling the history of noble families.
Divisions of nobility
- UradelUradelThe German and Scandinavian term Uradel refers to nobility who can trace back their noble ancestry at least to the year 1400 and probably originates from leadership positions during the Migration Period.-Divisions of German nobility:Uradel : Nobility that originates from leadership positions held...
("ancient nobility"): Nobility that dates back to at least the 16th century. This contrasts with:
- Briefadel ("patent nobility"): Nobility granted by letters patent. The first known such document is from September 30, 1360 for Wyker Frosch in Mainz.
- Hochadel ("high nobility"): Nobility that was sovereign or had a high degree of sovereignty, i.e. royalty. This contrasts with:
- Niederer Adel ("lower nobility"): Nobility that held legal privileges greater than those enjoyed by commoners.
Reigning titles
The titles of ElectorElector
Elector may refer to:* Prince-elector or elector, a member of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Holy Roman Emperors...
, Grand Duke
Grand Duke
The title grand duke is used in Western Europe and particularly in Germanic countries for provincial sovereigns. Grand duke is of a protocolary rank below a king but higher than a sovereign duke. Grand duke is also the usual and established translation of grand prince in languages which do not...
, Archduke
Archduke
The title of Archduke denotes a noble rank above Duke and below King, used only by princes of the Houses of Habsburg and Habsburg-Lorraine....
, Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
, Landgrave
Landgrave
Landgrave was a title used in the Holy Roman Empire and later on by its former territories. The title refers to a count who had feudal duty directly to the Holy Roman Emperor...
, Margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
, Count Palatine
Count palatine
Count palatine is a high noble title, used to render several comital styles, in some cases also shortened to Palatine, which can have other meanings as well.-Comes palatinus:...
, Prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
and Reichsgraf were borne by rulers who belonged to Germany's Hochadel. Other counts, as well as barons (Freiherr
Freiherr
The German titles Freiherr and Freifrau and Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding a person's given name or, after 1919, before the surname...
en), lords (Herren), knights (Ritter]] were borne by noble non-reigning families. The vast majority of the German nobility, however, inherited no titles, and were usually distinguishable only by the particule von in their surnames.
| Title (English) | Title (German) | Territory (English) | Territory (German) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emperor/Empress Holy Roman Emperor The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope... |
Kaiser Kaiser Kaiser is the German title meaning "Emperor", with Kaiserin being the female equivalent, "Empress". Like the Russian Czar it is directly derived from the Latin Emperors' title of Caesar, which in turn is derived from the personal name of a branch of the gens Julia, to which Gaius Julius Caesar,... (in) |
Empire Empire The term empire derives from the Latin imperium . Politically, an empire is a geographically extensive group of states and peoples united and ruled either by a monarch or an oligarchy.... |
Kaiserreich, Kaisertum |
| King/Queen King - Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:... |
König(in) | Kingdom Monarchy A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected... |
Königreich |
| Elector Prince-elector The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an... /Electress Electress An Electress was the consort of an Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, one of the Empire's greatest princes.The Golden Bull of 1356 established by Emperor Charles IV settled the number of Electors at seven... |
Kurfürst(in) | Electorate Prince-elector The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an... |
Kurfürstentum |
| Archduke/Archduchess Archduke The title of Archduke denotes a noble rank above Duke and below King, used only by princes of the Houses of Habsburg and Habsburg-Lorraine.... |
Erzherzog(in) | Archduchy | Erzherzogtum |
| Grand Duke Grand Duke The title grand duke is used in Western Europe and particularly in Germanic countries for provincial sovereigns. Grand duke is of a protocolary rank below a king but higher than a sovereign duke. Grand duke is also the usual and established translation of grand prince in languages which do not... /Grand Duchess |
Großherzog(in) | Grand Duchy Grand duchy A grand duchy, sometimes referred to as a grand dukedom, is a territory whose head of state is a monarch, either a grand duke or grand duchess.Today Luxembourg is the only remaining grand duchy... |
Großherzogtum |
| Duke/Duchess Duke A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy... |
Herzog Herzog (name) Herzog is a German hereditary title held by one who rules a territorial duchy, exercises feudal authority over an estate called a duchy, or possesses a right, by law or tradition, to be referred to by the ducal title. The word is usually translated by the English duke and the Latin Dux. Generally,... (in) |
Duchy Duchy A duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.Some duchies were sovereign in areas that would become unified realms only during the Modern era . In contrast, others were subordinate districts of those kingdoms that unified either partially or completely during the Medieval era... |
Herzogtum |
| Count(ess) Palatine Count palatine Count palatine is a high noble title, used to render several comital styles, in some cases also shortened to Palatine, which can have other meanings as well.-Comes palatinus:... |
Pfalzgraf/Pfalzgräfin | County Palatine County palatine A county palatine or palatinate is an area ruled by an hereditary nobleman possessing special authority and autonomy from the rest of a kingdom or empire. The name derives from the Latin adjective palatinus, "relating to the palace", from the noun palatium, "palace"... |
Pfalzgrafschaft |
| Margrave/Margravine Margrave A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active... |
Markgraf/Markgräfin | Margraviate, March Marches A march or mark refers to a border region similar to a frontier, such as the Welsh Marches, the borderland between England and Wales. During the Frankish Carolingian Dynasty, the word spread throughout Europe.... |
Markgrafschaft |
| Landgrave/Landgravine Landgrave Landgrave was a title used in the Holy Roman Empire and later on by its former territories. The title refers to a count who had feudal duty directly to the Holy Roman Emperor... |
Landgraf/Landgräfin | Landgraviate | Landgrafschaft |
| Prince(ss) Prince Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess... |
Fürst Fürst Fürst is a German title of nobility, usually translated into English as Prince.The term refers to the head of a principality and is distinguished from the son of a monarch, who is referred to as Prinz... (in) |
Principality Principality A principality is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of prince or princess, or by a monarch with another title within the generic use of the term prince.... |
Fürstentum |
| Count Count A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is... (ess) of the Empire |
Reichsgraf*/Reichsgräfin | County County A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain... |
Grafschaft |
| Burgrave/Burgravine Burgrave A burgrave is literally the count of a castle or fortified town. The English form is derived through the French from the German Burggraf and Dutch burg- or burch-graeve .* The title is originally equivalent to that of castellan or châtelain, meaning keeper of a castle and/or fortified town... |
Burggraf/Burggräfin | Burgraviate | Burggrafschaft |
| Altgrave/Altgravine | Altgraf/Altgräfin | Altgraviate | Altgrafschaft |
| Baron(ess) Baron Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"... |
Freiherr Freiherr The German titles Freiherr and Freifrau and Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding a person's given name or, after 1919, before the surname... /Freifrau/Freiin* |
(Allodial) Barony | Freiherrschaft |
| Lord Lord Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'... |
Herr Herr -People:* John Knowles Herr, American general officer* Lois Herr, American politician* Traugott Herr , German general-Other:* Herr, Indiana, United States* H.E.R.R., a Dutch band* Herr's Snacks, a Pennsylvania-based snack food and potato chip maker... |
Lordship | Herrschaft |
| Knight Knight A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior.... |
Reichsritter* |
- The prefix Reichs- indicates a title granted by a past Holy Roman EmperorHoly Roman EmperorThe Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
. These titles conferred higher precedence than that associated with other titles of the same nominal rank . - Freiin indicates an unmarried daughter of a baron.
Non-reigning titles
| Title (English) | Title (German) |
|---|---|
| Crown Prince(ss) Crown Prince A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess.... |
Kronprinz(essin) |
| Grand Duke/Grand Duchess | Großherzog(in) |
| Grand Prince(ss) Grand Prince The title grand prince or great prince ranked in honour below emperor and tsar and above a sovereign prince .Grand duke is the usual and established, though not literal, translation of these terms in English and Romance languages, which do not normally use separate words for a "prince" who reigns... |
Großfürst(in) |
| Archduke/Archduchess | Erzherzog(in) |
| Prince(ss) | Prinz(essin) |
| Duke/Duchess | Herzog(in) |
| Prince(ss) | Fürst(in) |
| Margrave/Margravine | Markgraf/Markgräfin |
| Landgrave/Landgravine | Landgraf/Landgräfin |
| Count(ess) Palatine | Pfalzgraf/Pfalzgräfin |
| Burgrave/Burgravine | Burggraf/Burggräfin |
| Altgrave/Altgravine | Altgraf/Altgräfin |
| Count(ess) of the Empire | Reichsgraf/Reichsgräfin |
| Baron(ess) of the Empire | Reichsfreiherr/Reichsfreifrau/Reichsfreiin |
| Count(ess) | Graf/Gräfin |
| Baron(ess) Baron Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"... |
Freiherr Freiherr The German titles Freiherr and Freifrau and Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding a person's given name or, after 1919, before the surname... /Freifrau/Freiin |
| Lord / Noble Lord | Herr /Edler Herr |
| Knight (grouped with untitled nobles) | Ritter Ritter Ritter is a designation used as a title of nobility in German-speaking areas. Traditionally it denotes the second lowest rank within the nobility, standing above "Edler" and below "Freiherr"... |
| Noble (Von Halffter) | Edler Edler Edler was until 1919 the lowest title of nobility in Austria-Hungary and Germany, just beneath a Ritter, but above nobles without title who used only the preposition von before their surname. It was mostly given to civil servants and military officers, as well as those upon whom the second rank of... /Edle |
| Young Lord (grouped with untitled nobles) | Junker Junker A Junker was a member of the landed nobility of Prussia and eastern Germany. These families were mostly part of the German Uradel and carried on the colonization and Christianization of the northeastern European territories during the medieval Ostsiedlung. The abbreviation of Junker is Jkr... |
The heirs to sovereigns or to headship of mediatised
German Mediatisation
The German Mediatisation was the series of mediatisations and secularisations that occurred in Germany between 1795 and 1814, during the latter part of the era of the French Revolution and then the Napoleonic Era....
families prefixed their title by Erb-, meaning Hereditary. For instance, the heir to a Grand Duke is titled Erbgroßherzog, meaning Hereditary Grand Duke. A sovereign duke's heir was Erbprinz (Hereditary Prince) and a prince's heir might be titled Erbprinz or Erbgraf (Hereditary Prince, Hereditary Count). The prefix distinguished the heir from similarly titled junior siblings.
See also
- Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman EmpireThe Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
- German MediatisationGerman MediatisationThe German Mediatisation was the series of mediatisations and secularisations that occurred in Germany between 1795 and 1814, during the latter part of the era of the French Revolution and then the Napoleonic Era....
- FeudalismFeudalismFeudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
- PatricianshipPatricianshipPatricianship, the quality of belonging to a patriciate, began in the ancient world, where cities such as Ancient Rome had a class of patrician families whose members were the only people allowed to exercise many political functions...
- MinisterialisMinisterialisMinisterialis ; a post-classical Latin word, used in English, meaning originally servitor, agent, in a broad range of senses...
- Imperial KnightImperial KnightThe Free Imperial Knights, or the Knights of the Empire was an organisation of free nobles of the Holy Roman Empire, whose direct overlord was the Emperor, remnants of the medieval free nobility and the ministeriales...
External links
- Archive for Feudalism in Saxony http://www.schlossarchiv.de
- Institute for German Aristocratic Research http://www.edelleute.de
- Castles and Palaces of Germany