[灌水考古] 德国贵族分类超短文
兔主席2004-03-12 01:55
March 12, 2004
Classification of the Germanic Nobility
The German nobility can be categorised into different divisions based upon different criteria. Firstly, according to their political power and privilege, German aristocrats can be grouped into two divisions, i.e. the lower nobility (niedriger Adel) and the higher nobility (hoher Adel). The higher nobility were made up of those families that had Reichsstandschaft, or seat in the Parliament of the Holy Roman Empire, these families were also Reichsunmittelbar, or as seigneurs control lands directly from the Empire. Some aristocrats of lower nobility did hold lands from the Roman Empire, but they had not seats in the Parliament. Moreover, higher nobility and lower nobility have their according ranks, or titles. But except those very high ranks such and such as Kaiser, Prinzen (princes), K鰊ig and K鰊igin (King and Queen), and Gro遠erzog (Grand Duke), it is difficult to distinguish lower nobilities from higher nobilities simply depends upon their titles. Both higher nobility and lower nobility may share titles such as Herzog (Duke), Graf (count), Burggraf (or Burgrave) and so forth.
Secondly, according to the history of their peerages, German aristocrats can be grouped into two categories: Uradel (or ancient nobility), and Briefadel (or newer nobility). Uradel are those nobilities with the longest history, noted as ‘time immemorial’. These families were already patricians since the first time they appeared in the early history records. Briefadel, on the other hand, are those nobles whose peerages were created after 16th century. Nobilities emigrated from foreign countries such as France, Poland and so forth and whose peerages were officially recognised, are included in Briefadel as well. Their surname can be distinguished as the ‘noble particle’, namely ‘von’, plus a genealogically foreign name. Thus von Cerbone, von Krobatin and von Potiorek might come from Italy, Russia and Poland respectively, and now belong to Briefadel. Furthermore, nobility of Uradel historically had some legal privileges over Briefadel, and as the most ancient aristocrats they have very strong class-consciousness. In real life, they would consider Briefadel nobles as arrivistes, even though these families may have already been ennobled for several centuries. In terms of ranks, The Uradel could either be the higher or lower nobility, whereas the Briefadel is always of the lower nobility.
(Note: Nobilities survived in modern Germany and Austria, albeit these aristocrats no longer have any legal privilege as their British counterparts. Titles/Ranks are now formally used as part of family names. Concepts such as Uradel and Briefadel are still existed within the patrician community)
Classification of the Germanic Nobility
The German nobility can be categorised into different divisions based upon different criteria. Firstly, according to their political power and privilege, German aristocrats can be grouped into two divisions, i.e. the lower nobility (niedriger Adel) and the higher nobility (hoher Adel). The higher nobility were made up of those families that had Reichsstandschaft, or seat in the Parliament of the Holy Roman Empire, these families were also Reichsunmittelbar, or as seigneurs control lands directly from the Empire. Some aristocrats of lower nobility did hold lands from the Roman Empire, but they had not seats in the Parliament. Moreover, higher nobility and lower nobility have their according ranks, or titles. But except those very high ranks such and such as Kaiser, Prinzen (princes), K鰊ig and K鰊igin (King and Queen), and Gro遠erzog (Grand Duke), it is difficult to distinguish lower nobilities from higher nobilities simply depends upon their titles. Both higher nobility and lower nobility may share titles such as Herzog (Duke), Graf (count), Burggraf (or Burgrave) and so forth.
Secondly, according to the history of their peerages, German aristocrats can be grouped into two categories: Uradel (or ancient nobility), and Briefadel (or newer nobility). Uradel are those nobilities with the longest history, noted as ‘time immemorial’. These families were already patricians since the first time they appeared in the early history records. Briefadel, on the other hand, are those nobles whose peerages were created after 16th century. Nobilities emigrated from foreign countries such as France, Poland and so forth and whose peerages were officially recognised, are included in Briefadel as well. Their surname can be distinguished as the ‘noble particle’, namely ‘von’, plus a genealogically foreign name. Thus von Cerbone, von Krobatin and von Potiorek might come from Italy, Russia and Poland respectively, and now belong to Briefadel. Furthermore, nobility of Uradel historically had some legal privileges over Briefadel, and as the most ancient aristocrats they have very strong class-consciousness. In real life, they would consider Briefadel nobles as arrivistes, even though these families may have already been ennobled for several centuries. In terms of ranks, The Uradel could either be the higher or lower nobility, whereas the Briefadel is always of the lower nobility.
(Note: Nobilities survived in modern Germany and Austria, albeit these aristocrats no longer have any legal privilege as their British counterparts. Titles/Ranks are now formally used as part of family names. Concepts such as Uradel and Briefadel are still existed within the patrician community)