Defunct
76-463: The Schlieffen family (or Schliefen ) is the name of an old German noble family from Pomerania . The family, branches of which still exist today, originates in Kolberg . The family is first mentioned in records in 1365 with Henning Sleff , who died around 1376, a citizen of Kolberg. He is also the originator of the familial line. Petrus Schleve also belonged to the family, who appears around 1200 as
152-671: A Burgmann (or castellan ). Another member, Gerhard, appears in 1248 as a witness. Furthermore, one Petrus Schleve was a city councillor in 1303 and 1321 in Kolberg. The family divided early into two branches. The founders were Hans and Nicolas, the sons of Hans Schleve the Elder. Hans Schlief the Younger was the father of the senior, Dresow branch, as well as the Dresow offshoots and the Sulechowo branch. Nicolas
228-489: A gentlewoman in the royal households of both Mary I and Elizabeth I , and Sofonisba Anguissola , who was court painter to Philip II of Spain and art tutor with the rank of lady-in-waiting to his third wife Elisabeth of Valois , a keen amateur artist. During the Renaissance , the regularly required artistic roles in music and painting typically began to be given their own offices and titles, as Court painter , Master of
304-661: A Prussian colonel. The house of the counts was continued in two lines by the descendants of the two younger sons. Graf Wilhelm von Schlieffen (1829–1902) came from the first line, and was the son of Graf Wilhelm Heinrich von Schlieffen (died 1836), a Prussian Major, from his marriage with Sophia von Jagow. He became the fee tail lord at Schlieffenberg, Niglewe, Tolzin, Rahden and Sierhagen in Mecklenburg, as well as Windhausen and Sensenstei in Hesse. In 1858 he married Amelie Gräfin von der Groeben. His uncle Karl Graf von Schlieffen (born 1792)
380-563: A Prussian judge. Out of his three sons from his marriage with Dorothea Elisabeth von Fuchs, the eldest one, Heinrich Wilhelm Graf von Schlieffen (born 1756) became a Prussian Lieutenant-General of artillery and Knight of the Order of the Red Eagle , 1st Class. He died in 1842 without children. The second son, Johann Ernst Ludwig (born 1759) died on 5 December 1819 as a Prussian captain, and the youngest, Karl Friedrich Graf von Schlieffen (1763–1840), became
456-489: A Prussian royal valet de chambre . In 1860 he married Ludmilla Gräfin von Renart (born 1830), the widowed Countess of Brühl . His sisters, countesses Elisabeth (born 1825) and Maria (born 1830), both became honorary canonesses of the Stift zum heiligen Grab . Countess Anastasia (born 1827) married Ludwig Graf von Pappenheim in 1854. Her sister Louise (born 1838) married Maximilian Graf von Pappenheim in 1860. A significant member of
532-503: A family is about to die out or when a daughter inherits the family estate and marries a commoner, the Adelsrechtsausschuss can grant a dispensation from Salic law, allowing for a one-time transfer of a noble surname contrary to nobiliary law, to a person considered non-noble. The following criteria are most important in such cases: The Adelsrechtsausschuss does not recognize ennoblements made by heads of formerly ruling houses, but
608-449: A major dowry. Most, but not all, surnames of the German nobility were preceded by or contained the preposition von (meaning "of") or zu (meaning "at") as a nobiliary particle . The two were occasionally combined into von und zu (meaning "of and at"). In general, the von form indicates the family's place of origin, while the zu form indicates the family's continued possession of
684-403: A man after an Adelsverlust were commoners and did not inherit the father's former nobility. Various organisations perpetuate the historical legacy of the former nobility, documenting genealogy, chronicling the history of noble families and sometimes declining to acknowledge persons who acquired noble surnames in ways impossible before 1919. Many German states, however, required a marriage to
760-590: A mixture of nobles hoping to rise in their career, and those—often of humble origin—whose specialized abilities the monarch wanted to use or reward. The title of valet enabled access to the monarch or other employer; the "chambre" originally referred to rooms such as the throne room , or the Privy chamber where the ruler conducted his more private meetings, but services extended to the bedroom as well. Sometimes, as in Spain and England, different bodies of valets were responsible for
836-400: A new upper class of wealthy common people had emerged following industrialization, marriages with commoners were becoming more widespread. However, with few exceptions, this did not apply to higher nobility, who largely continued to marry among themselves. Upwardly mobile German families typically followed marriage strategies involving men of lower rank marrying women of higher status who brought
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#1732845618418912-428: A noble father, and these persons are not allowed to join a nobility association. Persons who bear a noble or noble-sounding surname without belonging to the historical nobility according to Salic law are classified as Nichtadelige Namensträger , 'non-noble name-carriers'. The inflation of fake nobility is one of the major concerns of the Adelsrechtsausschuss, and it is up to the commission to determine whether
988-502: A nobleman. Nobility was inherited equally by all legitimate descendants in the male line . German titles of nobility were usually inherited by all male-line descendants, although some descended by male primogeniture , especially in 19th and 20th century Prussia (e.g., Otto von Bismarck , born a baronial Junker (not a title), was granted the title of count ( Graf ) extending to all his male-line descendants, and later that of prince ( Fürst ) in primogeniture). Upon promulgation of
1064-528: A person should be considered noble or non-noble. For instance, the German-American businessman Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt was born as Hans Robert Lichtenberg in Germany. He was married with Zsa Zsa Gabor and was adopted by Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt in 1980, allegedly arranged by the title dealer Hans Hermann Weyer , hence he is one of the 'non-noble name-carriers'. In special cases, for example when
1140-577: A sentence, and then they are usually skipped, unless this creates confusion. In this, the German language practice differs from Dutch in the Netherlands, where the particle van is usually capitalised when mentioned without preceding given names or initials, or from Dutch in Belgium, where the name particle Van is always capitalised. Although nobility as a class is no longer recognised in Germany and enjoys no legal privileges, institutions exist that carry on
1216-426: A specific title as heir to one of Germany's former thrones (e.g., Erbprinz ("hereditary prince"))—along with any heir to a title of nobility inherited via primogeniture, and their wives—were permitted to incorporate those titles into elements of the personal surname. However, these titles became extinct upon their deaths, not being heritable. With the demise of all persons styled "crown prince" before 1918,
1292-600: A valet de chambre's rank, he had to pay 1,200 livres. But the title required only 3 months' work a year, looking after the royal furniture and tapestries, for a salary of 300 livres, with the opportunity to take commission on a number of lucrative contracts. Poquelin senior ran his successful shop in Paris when not on royal duty. Molière retained the office of valet until his death. The court duties of many valets, specialized or otherwise, followed regular cycles, rotating every quarter between four holders. Alexandre Bontemps , head of
1368-605: A war on two fronts. He died a Prussian field marshal on 4 January 1913 in Berlin. The three brothers Wilhelm von Schlieffen, a Prussian colonel, Ludwig von Schlieffen at Czierwienz at Neitzkow in Stolp, and Karl von Schlieffen, Prussian colonel were raised to the Prussian rank of counts on 1 March 1812 in Berlin by royal decree. In Kolberg cathedral, the Schlieffenkrone is a reminder of
1444-546: A woman of elevated social status in order for a nobleman to pass on his titles and privileges to his children. In this respect, the General State Laws for the Prussian States of 1794 spoke of marriage (and children) "to the right hand". This excluded marriages with women of the lower social classes, but did not mean a woman had to come from nobility herself. Especially towards the end of the 19th century and beyond, when
1520-534: Is no monarch who can ennoble anymore. However, dispensations are granted only in the most exceptional cases, as they infringe on the rights of a theoretical future monarch. When a person is granted a dispensation by the Adelsrechtsausschuss, he becomes the progenitor of a new noble family, which consists of all of his legitimate male-line descendants in accordance with nobiliary law. They are considered equal to nobles in all regards, and allowed to join nobility associations. A family whose nobility dates back to at least
1596-579: The Conservative Party . In August 1919, at the beginning of the Weimar Republic (1918–1933), Germany's new constitution officially abolished royalty and nobility, and the respective legal privileges and immunities appertaining to an individual, a family or any heirs. Today, German nobility is no longer conferred by the Federal Republic of Germany (1949–present), and constitutionally
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#17328456184181672-515: The Hochadel , the heads of their families being entitled to be addressed as Erlaucht ("Illustrious Highness"), rather than simply as Hochgeboren ("High-born"). There were also some German noble families, especially in Austria, Prussia and Bavaria, whose heads bore the titles of Fürst (prince) or Herzog (duke); however, never having exercised a degree of sovereignty, they were accounted members of
1748-482: The Hochadel, were considered part of the lower nobility or Niederer Adel . Most were untitled, only making use of the particle von in their surnames. Higher-ranking noble families of the Niederer Adel bore such hereditary titles as Edler (lord), Ritter (knight), Freiherr (or baron) and Graf . Although most German counts belonged officially to the lower nobility, those who were mediatised belonged to
1824-593: The King's Men , presumably including Shakespeare , were "waiting and attending" upon the Spanish ambassador at Somerset House , "on his Majesty's service", no doubt in connection with the Somerset House Conference , then negotiating a treaty with Spain — but no plays were performed. Over the previous Christmas, the whole company had been housed at Hampton Court Palace , several miles outside London, for three weeks, in
1900-468: The Weimar Constitution on 11 August 1919, all Germans were declared equal before the law. an exceptional practice regarding surnames borne by former members of the nobility: whereas the gender differentiation in German surnames , widespread until the 18th century and colloquially retained in some dialects, was abolished in Germany with the introduction of officially registered invariable surnames by
1976-717: The medieval society in Central Europe , which enjoyed certain privileges relative to other people under the laws and customs in the German-speaking area , until the beginning of the 20th century. Historically, German entities that recognized or conferred nobility included the Holy Roman Empire (962–1806), the German Confederation (1814–1866), and the German Empire (1871–1918). Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in
2052-448: The 14th century may be called Uradel , or Alter Adel ("ancient nobility", or "old nobility"). This contrasts with Briefadel ("patent nobility"): nobility granted by letters patent . The first known such document is from September 30, 1360, for Wyker Frosch in Mainz. The term Uradel was not without controversy, and the concept was seen by some as an arbitrary distinction invented by
2128-687: The Bedchamber . At the increasingly formalized ceremony of the Levée the clothes of the monarch would be passed by the valet to the Gentleman, who would pass it to, or place it on, the monarch himself. Especially in France, several other members of the royal family had their own households, with their own corps of valets. During the Baroque age the role of valet largely ceased to be a career step for noble courtiers aiming for
2204-568: The Empire's formerly quasi-sovereign families whose domains had been mediatised within the German Confederation by 1815, yet preserved the legal right to continue royal intermarriage with still-reigning dynasties ( Ebenbürtigkeit ). These quasi-sovereign families comprised mostly princely and comital families, but included a few dukes also of Belgian and Dutch origin ( Arenberg , Croÿ , Looz-Corswarem). Information on these families constituted
2280-524: The German Empire had a policy of expanding his political base by ennobling nouveau riche industrialists and businessmen who had no noble ancestors. The nobility flourished during the dramatic industrialization and urbanization of Germany after 1850. Landowners modernized their estates, and oriented their business to an international market. Many younger sons were positioned in the rapidly growing national and regional civil service bureaucracies, as well as in
2356-578: The German Empire was similar to nobility in the Austrian Empire ; both developed during the Holy Roman Empire and both ended in 1919 when they were abolished, and legal status and privileges were revoked. In April 1919, Austrian nobility was abolished under the First Austrian Republic (1919–1934) and, contrary to Germany, the subsequent use and legal recognition of hereditary titles and aristocratic particles and use as part of surnames
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2432-586: The German Empire. In addition, the ruling families of Hohenzollern-Hechingen and Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen were accorded the dynastic rights of a cadet branch of the Royal House of Prussia after yielding sovereignty to their royal kinsmen. The exiled heirs to Hanover and Nassau eventually regained sovereignty by being allowed to inherit, respectively, the crowns of Brunswick (1914) and Luxembourg (1890). Nobility that held legal privileges until 1918 greater than those enjoyed by commoners, but less than those enjoyed by
2508-469: The German nobility, however, inherited no titles, and were usually distinguishable only by the nobiliary particle von in their surnames. Valet de chambre Valet de chambre ( French pronunciation: [valɛ də ʃɑ̃bʁ] ), or varlet de chambre , was a court appointment introduced in the late Middle Ages , common from the 14th century onwards. Royal households had many persons appointed at any time. While some valets simply waited on
2584-836: The King's Music and so forth, and the valets mostly reverted to looking after the personal, and often the political, needs of their patron. In fact Jan van Eyck, one of the many artists and musicians with the rank of valet in the Burgundian court, was already described as a painter as well as a valet. In England the artists of the Tudor court , as well as the musicians, had other dedicated offices to fill, so that artistic valets or Grooms were mainly literary or dramatic. But these included whole companies of actors, who in practice seem to have gone their own way outside their performances, except for being drafted in to help on specially busy occasions. In August 1604
2660-439: The King's first application on his behalf was rejected, and some probable falsification of his family background and career, Velázquez managed in 1659 to obtain entry to the chivalric Order of Santiago , the pinnacle of his courtly ambitions. When Jean Poquelin arranged for his 18-year-old son, better known as the dramatist Molière , to follow in his footsteps as one of the eight "Tapissiers ordinaires de la chambre du Roi", with
2736-980: The Kingdom of Prussia. Hochadel ("upper nobility", or "high nobility") were those noble houses which ruled sovereign states within the Holy Roman Empire and, later, in the German Confederation and the German Empire . They were royalty ; the heads of these families were entitled to be addressed by some form of "Majesty" or "Highness". These were the families of kings (Bavaria, Hanover, Prussia, Saxony, and Württemberg ), grand dukes (Baden, Hesse and by Rhine, Luxembourg, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Oldenburg and Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach), reigning dukes (Anhalt, Brunswick, Schleswig-Holstein, Nassau, Saxe-Altenburg, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Saxe-Meiningen), and reigning princes (Hohenzollern-Hechingen, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Liechtenstein, Lippe, Reuss, Schaumburg-Lippe, Schwarzburg, and Waldeck-Pyrmont). The Hochadel also included
2812-818: The Polish noble indygenat and additions to their coat of arms, at the Imperial Diet in Petrikau. Martin Ernst von Schlieffen (born 1732) became Minister of State, commander of an infantry regiment, governor of Wesel, Knight of the Order of the Black Eagle , and Commander of the Order of the Golden Lion . He died on 15 September 1825 as a Prussian lieutenant general. Johann Leo von Schlieffen (born 1649), son of Georg Heinrich von Schlieffen (1684–1751) and Anna von Brunswick, died in 1777 as
2888-576: The Privy Chamber" and of the "Stool" were more important posts because they involved closer access and were usually held by the well-born, often knights. The "Groom-Porter"'s job was to "regulate all matters to do with gaming" at court, providing the cards, and settling disputes. Other countries used other terms: in Italian usually cameriere , in German-speaking courts Kammerjunker or Hofjunker were
2964-560: The Prussian chamberlain Friedrich Graf von und zu Egloffstein. Two of her brothers entered Prussian military service. Her father's brother Karl Graf von Schlieffen (born 1798), a Prussian lieutenant colonel, died in 1845 as a royal aide-de-camp. From his 1823 marriage to Catharina Gräfin von Schuwalow (1801–1858) he had four daughters and one son. The latter, Georg Graf von Schlieffen (born 1832), lord at Oberwitz in Upper Silesia, who became
3040-772: The Soltikow family, the owner of the estate of Sandow in Pyritz in Pomerania. From the marriage they had four daughters and three sons. From the second comital line came Friedrich Magnus Graf von Schlieffen (born 1796), son of Graf Karl Friedrich von Schlieffen (died 1840), lord of the Herrschaft Großkrausche in Bunzlau and a Prussian major. From his 1828 marriage to Auguste von Schönberg (born 1808), he had three daughters and four sons. A daughter, countess Louise (born 1829), in 1856 married
3116-605: The artist a place in the court management structure, under such officials as the Lord Chamberlain in England, or the Grand Master of France , usually via an intermediate court officer. In turn the valets were able to give orders to the huissiers or ushers, footmen, pages, and other ordinary servants. There were some female equivalents, such as the portrait miniaturist Levina Teerlinc (daughter of Simon Bening ), who served as
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3192-440: The artist were a position of understood status in the court hierarchy, with a salary, livery clothes to wear (in the early period at least), the right to meals at the palace, often in a special mess-room, and benefits such as exclusion from local guild regulations, and, if all went well, a lifetime pension. The valet would frequently be housed, at least when working in the palace, but often permanently. Lump-sums might be paid to
3268-404: The associations of the formerly ruling and mediatized houses of Germany send representatives to the commission. This so-called (Nichtbeanstandung) , 'Non-Objection' results in the factual ennoblement of the recipient (even though the term is not applied), making Germany one of the few republics where it is still possible for non-nobles to join the ranks of the nobility even though there
3344-439: The bedroom and the daytime rooms. Often, the moment the ruler went outdoors a whole new division of staff took over. From the late 14th century onwards the term is found in connection with an artist, author, architect , or musician 's position within a noble or royal circle, with painters increasingly receiving the title as the social prestige of artists became increasingly distinct from that of craftsmen . The benefits for
3420-427: The course of which they gave seven performances. Some courtier artists took their courtly careers very seriously. Geoffrey Chaucer held a number of roles as a diplomat and what we would now call a civil servant. Diego Velázquez was appointed "King's painter" in 1623, at the age of 24, and held this position until his death at the age of 61. In addition, he progressed through the hierarchy of courtiers as "usher in
3496-520: The descendants of German noble families do not enjoy legal privileges. Hereditary titles are permitted as part of the surname (e.g., the aristocratic particles von and zu ), and these surnames can then be inherited by a person's children. Later developments distinguished the Austrian nobility , which came to be associated with the Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary . The nobility system of
3572-483: The dynasty's origin might have been called of A-Town [{and at} A-Town] furthermore, while a new, junior branch could then have adopted the style of, say, of A-town [and] at B-ville , sometimes even dropping [and] at , simply hyphenating the names of the two places. Other forms also exist as combinations with the definite article: e.g. " von der " or von dem → " vom " ("of the"), zu der → " zur " or zu dem → " zum " ("of the", "in the", "at the"). Particularly between
3648-402: The estate from which the surname is drawn. Therefore, von und zu indicates a family which is both named for and continues to own their original feudal holding or residence. However, the zu particle can also hint to the split of a dynasty, as providing information on the adopted new home of one split-off branch: For instance, a senior branch owning and maybe even still residing at the place of
3724-698: The family in modern times was Alfred Graf von Schlieffen (born 1833). He joined the Prussian army in 1854 and fought in the Austro-Prussian War and the Franco-Prussian War . In 1884 he became a department head in the German General Staff , 1888 Quartermaster-General and Deputy Chief of the General Staff. In 1905 he composed the Schlieffen Plan, which was to enable the German Empire to prevent
3800-404: The family's influence and importance in the city, being a wooden chandelier from 1523. As in many other Hanseatic cities, such as Lübeck , the family first rose up within the bourgeoisie in the city, and then through investments and money-lending in manors and villages became part of the landed nobility. The Schlieffenkrone was saved in 1945 on the initiative of pastor Pastor Paul Hinz, because it
3876-536: The former royal families of Prussia and Bavaria were allowed use of Prinz/Prinzessin ; or Herzog/Herzogin. In the cases of the former kings/queens of Saxony and Württemberg, the ducal title borne by non-ruling cadets of their dynasties before 1919, or Herzog/Herzogin for the six deposed grand dukes (i.e., the former rulers of Baden , Hesse , Mecklenburg-Schwerin , Mecklenburg-Strelitz , Oldenburg , and Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach ) and their consorts were retained. Any dynasty who did not reign prior to 1918 but had held
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#17328456184183952-539: The highest offices, although the Premier Valets of the Kings of France, now a role usually passing from father to son, were themselves ennobled and wealthy. Livery clothes and the right to meals were converted into extra cash payments by several courts. Constant, valet de chambre to Napoleon I , was one of many who published their memoirs, from the 18th century on. Especially in German lands, honorary titles as kammerer and
4028-635: The late 18th and early 20th century when an increasing number of unlanded commoners were ennobled, the " von " was typically simply put in front of a person's surname. When a person by the common occupational surname of " Meyer " received nobility, they would thus simply become " von Meyer ". When sorting noble—as well as non-noble—names in alphabetic sequence, any prepositions or (former) title are ignored. Name elements which have developed from honorary functions, such as Schenk (short for Mundschenk , i.e., " cup-bearer "), are also overlooked. Nobiliary particles are not capitalised unless they begin
4104-399: The late 19th century, former noble titles transformed into parts of the surname in 1919 continue to appear in female and male forms. Altogether abolished were titles of sovereigns, such as emperor/empress, king/queen, grand duke/grand duchess, etc. However, former titles shared and inherited by all members of the family were retained but incorporated into the surname. For instance, members of
4180-420: The laws. Whereas the title previously prefixed the given and surname (e.g., Graf Kasimir von der Recke ), the legal usage moves the former title to the surname (i.e., Kasimir Graf von der Recke ). However, the pre-1919 style sometimes continues in colloquial usage. In Austria, by contrast, not only were the privileges of the nobility abolished, but their titles and nobiliary particles as well. German nobility
4256-793: The legal tradition of pre-1919 nobiliary law, which in Germany today is subsumed under Sonderprivatrecht , 'special private law'. The Deutscher Adelsrechtsausschuss , 'German Commission on Nobiliary Law' can decide matters such as lineage, legitimacy, and a person's right to bear a name of nobility, in accordance with codified nobiliary law as it existed prior to 1919. The Commission's rulings are generally non-binding for individuals and establish no rights or privileges that German authorities or courts would have to consider or observe. However, they are binding for all German nobility associations recognized by CILANE ( Commission d'information et de liaison des associations nobles d'Europe ). In 1919, nobiliary particles and titles became part of
4332-523: The legitimate, male-line descendants of the ennobled person. Families that had been considered noble as early as pre-1400s Germany (i.e., the Uradel or "ancient nobility") were usually eventually recognised by a sovereign, confirming their entitlement to whatever legal privileges nobles enjoyed in that sovereign's realm. Noble rank was usually granted to men by letters patent (see Briefadel ), whereas women were members of nobility by descent or by marriage to
4408-472: The lower nobility (e.g., Bismarck , Blücher , Putbus , Hanau , Henckel von Donnersmarck , Pless , Wrede ). The titles of elector , grand duke , archduke , duke , landgrave , margrave , count palatine , prince and Reichsgraf were borne by rulers who belonged to Germany's Hochadel . Other counts, as well as barons ( Freiherren/Barons ) , lords ( Herren ), Landed knights ( Ritter ) were borne by noble, non-reigning families. The vast majority of
4484-472: The officer corps of the military. They acquired not only the technical skills but the necessary education in high prestige German universities that facilitated their success. Many became political leaders of new reform organizations such as agrarian leagues, and pressure groups. The Roman Catholic nobility played a major role in forming the new Centre Party in resistance to Bismarck's anti-Catholic Kulturkampf , while Protestant nobles were similarly active in
4560-404: The patron, or looked after his clothes and other personal needs, itself potentially a powerful and lucrative position, others had more specialized functions. At the most prestigious level it could be akin to a monarch or ruler's personal secretary, as was the case of Anne de Montmorency at the court of Francis I of France . For noblemen pursuing a career as courtiers , like Étienne de Vesc , it
4636-512: The royal chamber" in 1627 (equivalent to valet de chambre), "Assistant in the Wardrobe" (1636) and "Assistant in the Privy Chamber" ( ayuda de cámera ) in 1643. These appointments put him in the "select group" of some 350 top royal servants, out of about 1,700 in total, and probably used up much of his time. In fact Velázquez perhaps saw more of the King than any other servants, as Philip spent long hours in his studio watching him paint. Finally, after
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#17328456184184712-482: The second section of Justus Perthes ’ entries on reigning, princely, and ducal families in the Almanach de Gotha . During the unification of Germany, mainly from 1866 to 1871, the states of Hanover, Hesse-Kassel, Hohenzollern-Hechingen, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (in 1850), Schleswig-Holstein and Nassau were absorbed into Prussia. The former ruling houses of these states were still considered Hochadel under laws adopted by
4788-405: The services of the valet de chambre -artist or musician, sometimes exclusively, but often not. The degree to which valets with special skills were expected to perform the normal serving tasks of valets no doubt varied greatly, and remains obscure from at least the earlier records. Probably many were expected to be on hand for service on major occasions, but otherwise not often. The appointment gave
4864-495: The status of nobility"). Until the late 19th century, for example, it was usually forbidden for nobles, theoretically on pain of Adelsverlust , to marry persons "of low birth". Moreover, nobles employed in menial labour and lowly trades or wage labour could lose their nobility, as could nobles convicted of capital crimes . Adelsverlust only concerned the individual who had violated nobility codes of conduct. Their kin, spouse, and living children were not affected, but children born to
4940-505: The surname. Therefore, they can be transmitted according to civil law, for example from wife to husband, to illegitimate children and by way of adoption. The only difference to normal surnames is that noble surnames are deflected according to gender. Some impoverished nobles offered adoptions for money in the 20th century, and the adoptees adopts extensively themselves, creating a "flood" of fake nobility. A noble or noble-sounding surname does not convey nobility to those not born legitimately of
5016-422: The term Kronprinz no longer exists as a legal surname element. Traditional titles exclusively used for unmarried noblewomen, such as Baronesse , Freiin and Freifräulein , were also transformed into parts of the legal surname, subject to change at marriage or upon request. All other former titles and nobiliary particles are now inherited as part of the surname, and remain protected as private names under
5092-521: The thirty-six functional ordinary valets de chambre of Louis XIV of France , was a powerful and feared figure, in charge of the troops guarding the royal palaces, and an elaborate network of spies on courtiers. Major courts had a higher layer of courtier attendants, always from the upper nobility , whose French version was the Gentleman of the bedchamber (four, rotating annually), and in England Lord of
5168-607: The usual titles, though it was Kammerer in the Austrian Habsburg court, and Kammerherr in Bavaria . In Russia Stolnik was broadly equivalent, until Peter the Great introduced new titles in 1722, after which the Камер-юнкер or kammerjunker came 11th out of 14 in the Table of Ranks . "Valet de chambre" also became used outside courts to refer to normal manservants. The patron retained
5244-695: The valet, especially to provide a dowry for a daughter; sons were often able to join the court as well. In the English Royal Household the French term was used, whilst French was the language of the court, for example for Geoffrey Chaucer in the 1370s; but subsequently titles such as Groom of the Chamber , Groom of the Stool , and Groom of the Robes were used for people with different responsibilities. The "Grooms of
5320-423: Was a common early step on the ladder to higher offices. For some this brought entry into the lucrative court business of asking for favours on behalf of clients, and passing messages to the monarch or lord heading the court. Valets might supply specialized services of various kinds to the patron, as artists, musicians, poets, scholars, librarians, doctors or apothecaries and curators of collections. Valets comprised
5396-453: Was alive. Hans von Schlieffen the Younger left his post as councillor to King Christopher III of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and on 11 July 1444 received a Danish grant of arms at Kalmar , after he had taken the office of mayor of Kolberg. Limbrecht (or Lambertus) of the Soldekow branch, abbot of the monastery of Oliva near Danzig, and his brothers Wickbold, George and Jacob received from King Sigismund II Augustus of Poland on 19 July 1555
5472-472: Was banned. Today, Austrian nobility is no longer conferred by the Republic of Austria (1945–present), and the public or official use of noble titles as title or part of the surname, is a minor offence under Austrian law for Austrian citizens. In Germany, nobility and titles pertaining to it were recognised or bestowed upon individuals by emperors, kings and lesser ruling royalty, and were then inherited by
5548-471: Was fee tail lord at Schwandt (now part of Rosenow ), Marienhof and Vossfeld (also now part of Rosenow) in Mecklenburg and a Prussian lieutenant general. From his marriage to Clementine von Wedell (1801–1836) he had three daughters and four sons. His brother Leo (born 1802) became a Prussian Major and a lifetime member of the Prussian House of Lords . In 1837 he married Virginie von Schlieffen (born 1817) from
5624-617: Was not simply distinguished by noble ranks and titles, but was also seen as a distinctive ethos. Title 9, §1 of the General State Laws for the Prussian States declared that the nobility's responsibility "as the first social class in the state" was "the defence of the country, as well as the supporting of the exterior dignity and the interior constitution thereof" . Most German states had strict laws concerning proper conduct, employment, or marriage of nobles. Violating these laws could result in temporary or permanent Adelsverlust ("loss of
5700-548: Was the ancestor of the younger branch, and the Danzig branch. The Dresow offshoot died out in 1686 with the death of Anton Wilhelm von Schlieffen. The Danzig branch died out in the early 18th century. The elder Dresow branch had in 1784 only one male descendant, Johann Friedrich Wilhelm von Schlieffen (b. 1753), a Prussian lieutenant. From the Soldekow branch, at the end of the 18th century only Johann Adolf Heinrich von Schlieffen (b. 1769)
5776-603: Was walled up in time. The Dom Schlieffenów (Schlieffen house) in Kolberg is an originally Brick Gothic town house of the Schlieffen family from the 15th century. It was renovated in 1540 in the style of the Early Renaissance. Since the Second World War, the building holds the museum for city history. German nobility Defunct The German nobility ( deutscher Adel ) and royalty were status groups of
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