Glossary of German Noble and Royal Titles

When dealing with German royals and nobles, we often see their titles in German. A glossary of these titles is below. The Weimar Constitution of 1919 abolished noble and royal titles and the current constitution, the German Basic Law, states that titles are only valid as part of a surname.

For more information, see:
Wikipedia: German Nobility
Heraldica: The German Nobility

  • Altgraf/Altgräfin – Altgrave/Altgravine – used by the counts of Lower Salm to distinguish themselves from the Wild- and Rhinegraves of Upper Salm
  • Burggraf/Burggräfin – Burgrave/Burgravine – hereditary governor of a castle or town
  • Edler/Edle – Noble – lowest rank of nobility in Austria-Hungary and Germany
  • Erzherzog(in) – Archduke/Archduchess – used by the Habsburg rulers of the Archduchy of Austria and later by all members of that dynasty
  • Freiherr/Freifrau – Baron(ess) – literally “free lord,” third lowest rank within the nobility
  • Freiin – unmarried daughter of a baron
  • Fürst(in) – Prince(ss) *see note below
  • Graf/Gräfin – Count(ess) – equivalent to the British earl
  • Grossherzog(in) – Grand Duke/Grand Duchess – a lesser sovereign in Germanic countries, ranking below a king but higher than a sovereign duke
  • Herr / Edler Herr – Lord / Noble Lord -similar to Edler
  • Herzog(in) – Duke/Duchess – hereditary ruler of a territorial duchy
  • Kaiser(in) – Emperor/Empress – emperors of the German Empire, the Austrian Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire
  • König(in) – King/Queen
  • Kronprinz(essin) – Crown Prince(ss) – heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy
  • Kurfürst(in) – Prince-Elector/Electress – members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire
  • Landgraf/Landgräfin – Landgrave/Landgravine – ruled over an entire province or a large territory
  • Markgraf/Markgräfin – Margrave/Margravine – originally ruled over territory on the border of the Holy Roman Empire
  • Pfalzgraf/Pfalzgräfin – Count(ess) Palatine
  • Prinz(essin) – Prince(ss) *see note below
  • Reichsfreiherr/Reichsfreifrau – Baron(ess) of the Empire
  • Reichsgraf/Reichsgräfin – Count(ess) of the Empire
  • Ritter – Knight – second lowest rank within the nobility

*Fürst/Prince was used for a reigning sovereign ruler or monarch. The present-day rulers of the Principality of Liechtenstein bear the title of Fürst and the title is also used in German when referring to the ruling princes the Principality of Monaco. Non-reigning descendants of a Fürst are referred to in German as Prinz (prince) or Prinzessin (princess).