Herzog (name)
Encyclopedia
Herzog is a German hereditary title
held by one who rules a territorial duchy, exercises feudal
authority over an estate called a duchy, or possesses a right, by law or tradition, to be referred to by the ducal title. The word is usually translated by the English duke
and the Latin Dux
. Generally, a duke ranks below a king
and above a count
. Whether the title is deemed higher or lower than titles translated into English as "prince" (Fürst
) has depended upon the language, country and era in which the titles co-existed.
('heart'), but is derived from German(ic) He(e)r ('army') and zog (ziehen) (English: 'to pull, drag', also in die Schlacht ziehen - "to go into battle"), a military leader. It may have originated from the Proto-Germanic title of Harjanaz, who were elected by their tribes to lead them into battle. Thus Herzog was a title borne by Germanic
warriors who exercised military authority over a tribe by general acclaim among its members or warriors, especially in the stem duchies
. During the medieval era, some of the most powerful vassal
s whose territories lay within the boundaries of the Holy Roman Empire
took or were granted the title of Herzog by the Emperor. Several dynasties, such as the Habsburgs of Austria, Hohenzollerns
of Prussia, Welfs of Hanover, Wettins of Saxony, Wittelsbachs of Bavaria and the House of Württemberg
, held the Herzogswürde (dukedom) before becoming kings.
Although a Herzog ranked below a Prince Elector within the Empire, he also belonged by hereditary right to the Fürstenbank (Chamber of Princes) within the Reichstag, exercised Landeshoheit
within his Imperial state
and enjoyed Reichsunmittelbarkeit within the Empire. Therefore Herzöge were regarded as members of the Hoher Adel (reigning nobility
) whose families inter-married with sovereign dynasties outside as well as within the Empire. They ranked as royalty, distinct from nobles who were subject to a lesser suzerain
than the Emperor.
Occasionally the Emperor (and, in the 18th and 19th centuries, other German kings) conferred the title of Herzog on a nobleman who was not necessarily a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire and did not rule a duchy: he ranked only as a Titularherzog (duke-by-title) in Germany's Niederer Adel (lower nobility), e.g. the Dukes of Ratibor and of Hohenberg.
), Bulgarian hertsog, Latvian hercogs, Lithuanian hercogas, Estonian hertsog, Finnish herttua, and Hungarian herceg, and Danish/Norwegian/Icelandic/Swedish: hertug/hertogi/hertig. Herzog
Herzog also translated into other languages as the equivalent of duke, e.g. Italian Duca, Danish hertug, Afrikaans hertog, Dutch hertog, Icelandic hertogi, Luxemburgish Herzog, Norwegian hertug, Swedish hertig, Spanish and Portuguese duque, Russian герцог.
Herzog is not uncommon as a surname in German-speaking countries. The surname does not indicate an aristocratic origin (as the family name "King" in English does not indicate a royal ancestrys).
German nobility
The German nobility was the elite hereditary ruling class or aristocratic class from ca. 500 B.C. to the Holy Roman Empire and what is now Germany.-Principles of German nobility:...
held by one who rules a territorial duchy, exercises feudal
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
authority over an estate called a duchy, or possesses a right, by law or tradition, to be referred to by the ducal title. The word is usually translated by the English duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
and the Latin Dux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
. Generally, a duke ranks below a king
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
and above a count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
. Whether the title is deemed higher or lower than titles translated into English as "prince" (Fürst
Fürst
Fürst is a German title of nobility, usually translated into English as Prince.The term refers to the head of a principality and is distinguished from the son of a monarch, who is referred to as Prinz...
) has depended upon the language, country and era in which the titles co-existed.
History
Herzog is not related to HerzHerz
Herz is a German surname meaning heart, and may refer to:* Adam Herz, American writer and producer* Adolf Herz, Austrian Engineer, inventor of Herz spark plug, photographer and first editor of Camera Magazine* Alice Herz, American pacifist...
('heart'), but is derived from German(ic) He(e)r ('army') and zog (ziehen) (English: 'to pull, drag', also in die Schlacht ziehen - "to go into battle"), a military leader. It may have originated from the Proto-Germanic title of Harjanaz, who were elected by their tribes to lead them into battle. Thus Herzog was a title borne by Germanic
Germanic peoples
The Germanic peoples are an Indo-European ethno-linguistic group of Northern European origin, identified by their use of the Indo-European Germanic languages which diversified out of Proto-Germanic during the Pre-Roman Iron Age.Originating about 1800 BCE from the Corded Ware Culture on the North...
warriors who exercised military authority over a tribe by general acclaim among its members or warriors, especially in the stem duchies
Stem duchy
Stem duchies were essentially the domains of the old German tribes of the area, associated with the Frankish Kingdom, especially the East, in the Early Middle Ages. These tribes were originally the Franks, the Saxons, the Alamanni, the Burgundians, the Thuringii, and the Rugii...
. During the medieval era, some of the most powerful vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
s whose territories lay within the boundaries of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
took or were granted the title of Herzog by the Emperor. Several dynasties, such as the Habsburgs of Austria, Hohenzollerns
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
of Prussia, Welfs of Hanover, Wettins of Saxony, Wittelsbachs of Bavaria and the House of Württemberg
House of Württemberg
The Württemberg family is a European royal family and a German dynasty from Württemberg. The House has its origins, according to recent research, probably in the vicinity of the Salian dynasty.-History:...
, held the Herzogswürde (dukedom) before becoming kings.
Although a Herzog ranked below a Prince Elector within the Empire, he also belonged by hereditary right to the Fürstenbank (Chamber of Princes) within the Reichstag, exercised Landeshoheit
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
within his Imperial state
Imperial State
An Imperial State or Imperial Estate was an entity in the Holy Roman Empire with a vote in the Imperial Diet assemblies. Several territories of the Empire were not represented, while some officials were non-voting members; neither qualified as Imperial States.Rulers of Imperial States were...
and enjoyed Reichsunmittelbarkeit within the Empire. Therefore Herzöge were regarded as members of the Hoher Adel (reigning nobility
German nobility
The German nobility was the elite hereditary ruling class or aristocratic class from ca. 500 B.C. to the Holy Roman Empire and what is now Germany.-Principles of German nobility:...
) whose families inter-married with sovereign dynasties outside as well as within the Empire. They ranked as royalty, distinct from nobles who were subject to a lesser suzerain
Suzerainty
Suzerainty occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a...
than the Emperor.
Occasionally the Emperor (and, in the 18th and 19th centuries, other German kings) conferred the title of Herzog on a nobleman who was not necessarily a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire and did not rule a duchy: he ranked only as a Titularherzog (duke-by-title) in Germany's Niederer Adel (lower nobility), e.g. the Dukes of Ratibor and of Hohenberg.
Current usage
Herzog was borrowed into many other languages with the chief meaning of the word being "Duke", such as Russian gertsog, Belarusian hertsag, Ukrainian hertsog, Serbia/Croatian/Bosnian herceg (e.g., HerzegovinaHerzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
), Bulgarian hertsog, Latvian hercogs, Lithuanian hercogas, Estonian hertsog, Finnish herttua, and Hungarian herceg, and Danish/Norwegian/Icelandic/Swedish: hertug/hertogi/hertig. Herzog
Herzog also translated into other languages as the equivalent of duke, e.g. Italian Duca, Danish hertug, Afrikaans hertog, Dutch hertog, Icelandic hertogi, Luxemburgish Herzog, Norwegian hertug, Swedish hertig, Spanish and Portuguese duque, Russian герцог.
Herzog is not uncommon as a surname in German-speaking countries. The surname does not indicate an aristocratic origin (as the family name "King" in English does not indicate a royal ancestrys).