German Nobility - Titles and Ranks - Non-reigning Titles

Non-reigning Titles

Titles for junior members of sovereign families and for non-sovereign families
Title (English) Title (German)
Crown Prince(ss) Kronprinz(essin)
Electoral Prince Kurprinz(essin)
Grand Duke/Grand Duchess Großherzog(in)
Grand Prince(ss) 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) Freiherr/Freifrau/Freiin
Lord / Noble Lord Herr /Edler Herr
Knight (grouped with untitled nobles) Ritter
Noble (Von Halffter) Edler/Edle
Young Lord (grouped with untitled nobles) Junker

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 or simply Erbprinz, meaning Hereditary Grand Duke. A sovereign duke's heir was Erbprinz (Hereditary Prince) and a prince's (Fürst) heir might be titled Erbprinz or Erbgraf (Hereditary Prince, Hereditary Count). The prefix distinguished the heir from similarly titled junior siblings. The heirs of emperors and kings were titled Kronprinz (crown prince), while the heirs of prince electors were titled Kurprinz (electoral prince).

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Famous quotes containing the word titles:

    I have known a German Prince with more titles than subjects, and a Spanish nobleman with more names than shirts.
    Oliver Goldsmith (1728–1774)