Freiherr

Typical Freiherr coronet with seven pearls, as used on a coat of arms.

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Baron & Baroness Freiherr & Freifrau

Baronet & Baronetess Hereditary Knight, Ritter

Knight & Dame

Nobile, Edler von

The German titles Freiherr (Baron) and Freifrau (Baroness) and Freiin (unmarried daughter of a Freiherr) were titles of nobility, used preceding a person's given name or, in Germany after 1919, as a not-to-be-translated dependent part of the surname before the legal name of the family. They are titles of lower noble rank in the former Holy Roman Empire, and in its various German successor states, including Prussia, Bavaria, Württemberg, Hesse, etc.

In Austria-Hungary and elsewhere, such as in the Baltic and Nordic countries, Freiherr (literally "free lord") came to be considered of equal rank to the title of Baron. The original distinction from other barons was that a Freiherr's landed property was allodial instead of a fief. Barons who received their title from the Holy Roman Emperor are sometimes known as Barons of the Holy Roman Empire, Reichsfreiherren, in order to distinguish them from other barons, although the title per se is simply Freiherr.

German title and part of modern surnames

A German Freiherr is called "Baron" in English: the status was practically the same, although the title was derived separately in the English and German languages. Even in German, a Freiherr is often styled and addressed as "Baron", although this is not the official title.

The title Freiherr derives from the fact that the holder held free (allodial) title to his land, unlike ordinary barons, who were originally knights (Ritter) in vassalage to a higher lord or sovereign, and unlike medieval German ministerials who were bound to provide administrative services for a lord. A Freiherr sometimes exercised hereditary administrative and judicial prerogatives over those resident in his barony instead of the liege lord, who might be the duke (Herzog) or count (Graf).

All legitimate children of a Freiherr share his title and rank, and can be referred to as Baron; inheritance of the title is not restricted by primogeniture as is the baronial title in Britain and most Latin monarchies (France, Portugal, Spain, much of Italy). The wife of a Freiherr is titled Freifrau (literally "free lady"), and the daughter of a Freiherr is called Freiin (short for Freiherrin). Both titles are translated in English as "Baroness". Female forms of titles have been legally accepted as a variation in the surname after 1919 by a still valid decision of the German former High Court (Reichsgericht).

After the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, a Reichsfreiherr (Baron of the Empire) no longer belonged to the noble hierarchy of that dissolved realm. By a decision of the Congress of Vienna in 1815, their titles were nonetheless officially recognized. After 1806 the now independent German monarchies, such as Bavaria, Württemberg and Lippe could create their own nobility, including Freiherren (Prussia, as a kingdom prior to 1806, already exercised the prerogative of ennoblement). Some of the older baronial families (e.g. Reichsfreiherr von und zu Guttenberg -- see Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg), von Waldenfels or vom und zum Stein) began to use Reichsfreiherr (Imperial Baron) in formal contexts to distinguish themselves from the new classes of barons created by monarchs of lesser stature than the former Holy Roman Emperors.

Nobility, although not abolished, lost recognition as a legal class in Germany in 1919 under the (Weimar Constitution, article 109), and again in 1949 in the Bonn (Grundgesetz). Since 1919 former hereditary noble titles legally simply transformed into dependent parts of the legal surname (with the former title thus now following the given name, e.g. Georg Freiherr von Platz). As dependent parts of the surnames (nichtselbständige Namensbestandteile) they are ignored in alphabetical sorting of names, as is an eventual nobiliary particle, such as von, and might or might not be used by those bearing them. The distinguishing main surname is the name following the Freiherr, Freifrau or Freiin and the eventual nobiliary particle. Today, having lost their title status these terms are rather not to be translated, unlike before 1919. The unofficial titles do, however, retain prestige in some circles of society.

Austrian title

The nobility was abolished in Austria in 1919, and the use of hereditary titles was declared illegal and can be fined. If "Wernher Freiherr von Braun" had been Austrian, for example, he would have been called simply "Wernher Braun" on his Austrian passport. By tradition, however, former titles are still widely in use in Austria.

Parallel titles

Similar titles have been seen in all parts of Europe that have historically been dominated by Germany – the Baltic States, Austria–Hungary, Sweden, Finland and to some extent in Denmark-Norway.

Danish-Norwegian title

In Denmark and Norway the title of Friherre was of equal rank to that of Baron, which gradually replaced it. It was instituted on 25 May 1671 with Christian V's 'Friherre' privileges. Today only a few Danish noble families use the title of Friherre and most of them are based in Sweden, where that version of the title is still more commonly used. The wife of a Danish or Norwegian Friherre is entitled Friherreinde, and the daughters are titled Baronesse. In fact, however, generally a Danish Friherre is referred to as "Baron".

Finnish title

Each head of a Finnish noble family was, since the Middle Ages, entitled to a vote in any provincial Diet of Finland when held, as in the Realm's Herrainpäivät, later Aatelissääty of the Riksdag of the Estates. In the beginning, they were all without honorific titulature, and known just as "lords". In 1561, the Swedish king Eric XIV conferred the hereditary titles of count and "vapaaherra" on some, but not all of these nobles. The rest preserved their hereditary seats and votes in the Aatelissääty, and were still called lords. This prerogative was confirmed in the constitutional arrangements of 1625.

In subsequent centuries, while Finland remained an autonomous grand duchy, many families were raised in rank as counts, vapaaherras, or as untitled nobles. Families which were noble "from time immemorial" (i.e., no record exists of the family from a time when it was not deemed noble) were, in 1625, designated as "original nobility". While heads of the lowest, untitled noble families continued to enjoy the privilege of participation in the Aatelissääty, their Cadets did not. All family members of "vapaaherra" (baronial) families were entitled to that same title, which in practice, came to mean that they were addressed as Paroni or Paronitar.

All nobles originally held their landed properties in allodial manner, rälssi (exemption from land taxes) being the distinguishing feature of the Finnish nobility as a class. Theoretically, all created vapaaherra families were given a barony (with some rights of taxation and jurisprudence), but such fiefs were only granted in the 16th and 17th centuries. Thereafter the "barony" was titular, usually in chief of some already-owned property, and sometimes that property was established as a fideicommiss. Their property tax exemption continued into the 20th century, being, however, diminished substantially by reforms of the 19th century. Nobility creations continued until the declaration of independency 1917, the end of the grand ducal monarchy.

Independent Finland was decided to be a constitutional monarchy and the German emperor's cousin, Prince of Hessen, Friedrich Karl was chosen the first king as Väinö I. Before his coronation, imperial Germany dissolved after losing the world war. Friedrich Karl decided to abandon the throne. Simultaneously the kingdom of Finland was cancelled and the republic was established. Granting nobility title was abandoned and the current nobility had no state privileges. Monarchists and republicans were arguing about the granting of titles and as a compromise a lifetime honorary title of "neuvos" (councillor) was established. There are numerous professional councillor titles and new ones have been founded. The neuvos (like vuorineuvos) title is usually used in formal connections.

Swedish title

As in Finland, with whom the position of Swedish nobility shares most of its origins, each head of a noble house was, since the Middle Ages, entitled to a vote in any provincial diet when held, as in the Realm's Herredag, later Riddarhuset. From 1561, King Eric XIV began granting some of them the titles count and "friherre" (baron). The family members of a "friherre" were entitled to the same title, which in speech eventually became Baron or Baronessa.

References

• "Freiherr -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia", Britannica Online Encyclopedia, 2008, webpage: EB-Freiherr.

External links

(incomplete)

• Nobility FAQ