With the entry into force of the Weimar Constitution 100 years ago, the German nobility lost its privileges. Nevertheless, the speech in Germany today by the aristocracy and the nobles, thanks to the gossip press and lobby work.
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The nobility in Germany
The Emperor and his court
Who can hold the various titles and ranks of the German nobility is likely to be interested in medieval history: Emperor, king, Archduke, Grand Duke, elector, Duke, Landgrave, count Palatine, Margrave, Prince, Baron, knight, Junker… But it is part of the everything really in the past?
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The nobility in Germany
The abolition of the monarchy
The defeat of the German Empire to the end of the First world war and the subsequent unrest led to the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II (see image). It was on 9. In November 1918, a parliamentary democracy, proclaimed. The Prussian monarchy, and the 22 German Federal princes were thus abolished.
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The nobility in Germany
The present-day heirs
Not every aspect around the change of system was resolved. Until today, the heirs of the last German Emperor’s claim for damages. The house of Hohenzollern with his head of Georg Friedrich Ferdinand (see photo), the Prince of Prussia, great-great-grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II, asks for compensation for the land, of which his family was expropriated.
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The nobility in Germany
Title in the name
Titles of nobility, are still to be found in some family names: the names of the accessories “of” (which is “derived from” means) or “to show” (“resident”) before a German surname, on an inherited title. In Germany, the estimated 80,000 people are as a whole. Today, these titles have only a symbolic value.
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The nobility in Germany
The abolition of titles of nobility in Austria
The Emperor of Austria, Karl I., (see image), is not abdicated officially. Therefore, the laws for the abolition of the monarchy in the Republic of Austria were strict. During the Weimar Republic, German aristocrats allowed to retain their titles of nobility, were forbidden, these additions to the name in Austria of 1919. Some politicians even call for a similar law in Germany.
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The nobility in Germany
An additional thrust
Today in Germany there are no legal benefits if you belong to the nobility. Nevertheless, studies have shown that people with a title of nobility in surnames more chances to get a job interview. In addition, noble associations also offer often opportunities for Networking that can facilitate access to influential circles.
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The nobility in Germany
Part of a noble family
Some people attach the titles are still of great importance: Thus, it is possible to get a real title of nobility through marriage or Adoption. However, you have to expect in the case of an Adoption with a very high cost. Also, the family court must be convinced that it is not adopted only because of the title. Otherwise, the change of name can be rejected.
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The nobility in Germany
Purchased Titles Of Nobility
You can buy a German title of nobility from an extinct noble line. Companies that offer this title, compare this with the choice of an artist by the name of, what one has in Germany a legal claim. The purchased title, you can still add its ID unless you can prove that it is everywhere called “the Prince”.
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The nobility in Germany
This is a real title?
Who acquires a title by purchase, belongs nevertheless not to the sudden nobility. To do So, it can damage the credibility. As the title of Doris ‘ Fürstin von Sayn-Wittgenstein, a politician of the right-wing populist party AfD, it was investigated, it turned out that this nobility will be sold title, according to the “süddeutsche Zeitung” “for a long time by title dealers at high prices”.
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The nobility in Germany
A hint of sarcasm
Not everyone can be from titles of Nobility to impress. The expression “Lord of” or “wife of” – without the actual surname is sometimes used to make fun of arrogant people. Haughty ladies and gentlemen should maybe try to kiss a frog; it might remind you that you are only human and no title of nobility can change that ever.
-
The nobility in Germany
The Emperor and his court
Who can hold the various titles and ranks of the German nobility is likely to be interested in medieval history: Emperor, king, Archduke, Grand Duke, elector, Duke, Landgrave, count Palatine, Margrave, Prince, Baron, knight, Junker… But it is part of the everything really in the past?
-
The nobility in Germany
The abolition of the monarchy
The defeat of the German Empire to the end of the First world war and the subsequent unrest led to the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II (see image). It was on 9. In November 1918, a parliamentary democracy, proclaimed. The Prussian monarchy, and the 22 German Federal princes were thus abolished.
-
The nobility in Germany
The present-day heirs
Not every aspect around the change of system was resolved. Until today, the heirs of the last German Emperor’s claim for damages. The house of Hohenzollern with his head of Georg Friedrich Ferdinand (see photo), the Prince of Prussia, great-great-grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II, asks for compensation for the land, of which his family was expropriated.
-
The nobility in Germany
Title in the name
Titles of nobility, are still to be found in some family names: the names of the accessories “of” (which is “derived from” means) or “to show” (“resident”) before a German surname, on an inherited title. In Germany, the estimated 80,000 people are as a whole. Today, these titles have only a symbolic value.
-
The nobility in Germany
The abolition of titles of nobility in Austria
The Emperor of Austria, Karl I., (see image), is not abdicated officially. Therefore, the laws for the abolition of the monarchy in the Republic of Austria were strict. During the Weimar Republic, German aristocrats allowed to retain their titles of nobility, were forbidden, these additions to the name in Austria of 1919. Some politicians even call for a similar law in Germany.
-
The nobility in Germany
An additional thrust
Today in Germany there are no legal benefits if you belong to the nobility. Nevertheless, studies have shown that people with a title of nobility in surnames more chances to get a job interview. In addition, noble associations also offer often opportunities for Networking that can facilitate access to influential circles.
-
The nobility in Germany
Part of a noble family
Some people attach the titles are still of great importance: Thus, it is possible to get a real title of nobility through marriage or Adoption. However, you have to expect in the case of an Adoption with a very high cost. Also, the family court must be convinced that it is not adopted only because of the title. Otherwise, the change of name can be rejected.
-
The nobility in Germany
Purchased Titles Of Nobility
You can buy a German title of nobility from an extinct noble line. Companies that offer this title, compare this with the choice of an artist by the name of, what one has in Germany a legal claim. The purchased title, you can still add its ID unless you can prove that it is everywhere called “the Prince”.
-
The nobility in Germany
This is a real title?
Who acquires a title by purchase, belongs nevertheless not to the sudden nobility. To do So, it can damage the credibility. As the title of Doris ‘ Fürstin von Sayn-Wittgenstein, a politician of the right-wing populist party AfD, it was investigated, it turned out that this nobility will be sold title, according to the “süddeutsche Zeitung” “for a long time by title dealers at high prices”.
-
The nobility in Germany
A hint of sarcasm
Not everyone can be from titles of Nobility to impress. The expression “Lord of” or “wife of” – without the actual surname is sometimes used to make fun of arrogant people. Haughty ladies and gentlemen should maybe try to kiss a frog; it might remind you that you are only human and no title of nobility can change that ever.
On 6. In February 1919 the national Assembly in Weimar had come together to develop a democratic Constitution, a year and a half later, on 31. July, as the Constitution of the German Reich was adopted on 14. August 2019, came into force. The so-called Weimar Constitution introduced the separation of powers and assured the citizens fundamental rights, including the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the equality of man and woman, the right of women to vote, the separation of Church and state and the freedom of Religion and freedom of the press.
For the idea of popular sovereignty and parliamentary democracy, the stand differences were also abolished. According to the new Constitution declared the equality of all Germans before the law. There is also no title of nobility should be conferred. Until then, the nobility in Germany was a separate state, with titles and privileges. To branches of all the professional people had no access unless they were members of the gentry.
In the case of Ernst August, Prince of Hanover, the title only appears in the last name, and thus too late to be noble
Of a Prince, the other is not
The former nobles, and their descendants have since become civil people, however, the national Assembly gave them the right to retain your title as a part of your real name. A glance to England, shows the difference: There nobles, such as Prince Charles wear their titles before the first name. In the case of the German descendants of the noble family of the former title only appears in the last name, as in the case of Ernst August, Prince of Hanover. Charles is a Prince, Ernst August, is the only way.
Why the former nobility not want to let the old name, at the head of the former German house of Thurn and Taxis Prince explain, the 1983-born Albert von Thurn und Taxis, of which the monarch reads of salutation, according to the “Genealogical Handbook of the nobility,” quite full of sound: His Highness the 12. Prince of Thurn and Taxis, Prince of Buchau and Prince of Krotoszyn, Valle Duke of Wörth and Donaustauf, gefürsteter Graf zu Friedberg-Scheer, Graf-Sássina, also to Untermarchtal, Neresheim, etc., Erbgeneralpostmeister. Even the “etc.” is part of the title.
His Highness the 12. Prince of Thurn and Taxis, Prince of Buchau and Prince of Krotoszyn, Valle Duke of Wörth and Donaustauf, gefürsteter Graf zu Friedberg-Scheer, Graf-Sássina, also to Untermarchtal, Neresheim etc.
In 1990, one of the youngest billionaires in the world
Whether Albert is a real Prince or not, plays for the tabloids no role. For example, the relationship status of the 36-year-old unmarried “nobles” is a popular topic of gossip sheets. His fortune bears certainly played a not inconsiderable share of his father in 1990, died, landed Albert of Thurn and Taxis as one of the youngest billionaires in the world on the “Forbes”list. His family, among other things, the largest private forest owner in Germany.
Although titles of nobility in Germany, so no noble privileges, they are quite popular and are passed on through marriage, Adoption, or even the purchase. And while the young politicians of the SPD for the abolition of a formerly noble name additions, the Association of German noble associations (VdDA) with at least 80,000 members of the nobility law of 1918.
It’s fitting that the descendants of the former Prussian house of Hohenzollern, the great-great-grandson of the last German Emperor, Wilhelm II, Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia, of the Federation and the länder Cecilienhof or two other castle villas, as well as 1.2 million euros compensation demand the return of works of art, a right of residence in the Potsdam castle.
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