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

Royal, noble and chivalric ranks

Emperor & Empress consort Empress & Emperor consort

Empress dowager or Empress mother

King & Queen consort or Princess consort Queen & King consort or Prince consort

Queen dowager or Queen mother Princess dowager or Princess mother

Grand Duke & Grand Duchess Grand Prince & Grand Princess

Viceroy & Vicereine

Archduke & Archduchess Infante & Infanta

Duke & Duchess Prince & Princess

Marquess & Marchioness Marquis & Marquise Margrave & Margravine

Count & Countess Earl & Countess

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Baron & Baroness Freiherr & Freifrau

Baronet & Baronetess Hereditary Knight, Ritter

Knight & Dame

Nobile, Edler von

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Freiherr (male) or Freifrau (female) (literally "free lord" or "free lady")^[1] is a designation used as a title of nobility in the German-speaking areas of the Holy Roman Empire, and in its various successor states, including Austria, Prussia, Bavaria, Württemberg, Hesse, etc. Traditionally it denotes the second lowest rank within the nobility, standing above Ritter (knight) and below Graf (count).

It corresponds to the rank of baron in British peerage; a Freiherr is sometimes courteously addressed as Baron (/baˈʀoːn/) in the German language too.

Freiherr in the feudal system[link]

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).

Freiherr vs. Baron[link]

The German-language title of Freiherr is called "Baron" in English: the status was practically the same, although the title was derived separately in both languages. ^[1] Even in German, a Freiherr is often styled and addressed as "Baron" in social circumstances, although this is not the official title.

In northern Germany, there was also an official but foreign rank of "Baron" (not "Freiherr"), mostly used for Baltic barons, created by the Tsar of Russia, but recognized in Germany.^[2] In Austria-Hungary and in the Baltic and Nordic countries, "Freiherr" officially came to be considered of legally 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 as such was simply Freiherr. After the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, a Reichsfreiherr 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 (although Prussia, as a kingdom prior to 1806, already exercised the prerogative of ennoblement). Some of the older baronial families began to use Reichsfreiherr in formal contexts to distinguish themselves from the new classes of barons created by monarchs of lesser stature than the former Holy Roman Emperors.

Use of the title prior to abolition of nobility[link]

As with most titles and designations within the nobility in the German-speaking areas of Europe, the rank was normally hereditary and would generally be used together with the nobiliary particle of von or zu (sometimes both as von und zu) before a family name.^[3][4]

The inheritance of titles of nobility in most German-speaking areas was not restricted by primogeniture as is the baronial title in Britain and most Latin monarchies (France, Portugal, Spain, much of Italy). Hence, the titles applied equally to all male-line descendants of the original grantee in perpetuity: All legitimate children of a Freiherr shared his title and rank, and could be referred to as Freiherr. 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".

In Prussia and some other countries in northern Europe, the title of Freiherr was -as long as the monarchy existed - usually used preceding a person's given name (e.g. Freiherr Hans von Schwarz). In Austria-Hungary and Bavaria, however, it would by contrast be inserted between the given and the family name (e.g. Hans Freiherr von Schwarz).

Use of the title since abolition of nobility[link]

After the First World War, the monarchies were abolished in most German-speaking areas of Europe, and the nobility lost recognition as a legal class in the newly created republics of Germany and Austria.

Situation in Austria[link]

The Republic of Austria declared the use of hereditary noble titles illegal in 1919, and violations can since be fined. Hans Freiherr von Schwarz, as an Austrian citizen, therefore lost his title of Freiherr von and would simply be called Hans Schwarz in his Austrian passport. By tradition, however, former noble titles are still widely in use in Austria today as many Austrians consider it a matter of courtesy to use them.

Situation in Germany[link]

The German republic, under Article 109 of the Weimar Constitution of 1919, legally transformed all hereditary noble titles into dependent parts of the legal surname. The former title thus became a part of the family name, and moved in front of the family name. Freiherr Hans von Schwarz, as a German citizen, therefore became Hans Freiherr von Schwarz. 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. 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). 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 not to be translated, unlike before 1919. The unofficial titles do, however, retain prestige in some circles of society.

Parallel titles[link]

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.^[5]

Swedish and Danish-Norwegian title[link]

In Swedish nobility 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.

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.^[6] The wife of a Danish or Norwegian Friherre is entitled Friherreinde, and the daughters are titled Baronesse.^[5] In fact, however, generally a Danish Friherre is referred to as "Baron".

Finnish title[link]

The Finnish noble shares most of its origins with Swedish nobility. 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. 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.

Notes[link]

References[link]

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

External links[link]

• Nobility FAQ