herceg (title)

''Herzog'' (female ''Herzogin'') 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 ''Herzog'' ranks below a king and above a count. Pine, L.G. Titles: How the King became His Majesty. ''Titles in Western Europe.''Barnes & Noble, Inc. 1992, pp. 70-73. . 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 coexisted.

History

''Herzog'' is not related to ''Herz'' ('heart'), but is derived from German(ic) He(e)r (English: 'army') and zog (ziehen) (English: 'to move' or 'to pull', also: ''in die Schlacht ziehen'' – "to go into battle", related to the modern English verb '' to tug''), a military leader (compare to Slavic voivode). It may have originated from the Proto-Germanic title of '' Harjatugô'', 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 vassals 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 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. Such a person ranked only as a ''Titularherzog'' (duke-by-title) in Germany's non-reigning nobility.

File:T09 Herzog.svg, ''Herzogskrone'', the heraldic crown of a ''Herzog''
File:Ducal Hat.svg, ''Herzogshut'', the ducal hat of a ''Herzog''

Current usage

''Herzog'' was borrowed into other European languages, with the chief meaning of the word being "duke", such as Russian ''gertsog'' (''герцог''), Belarusian ''hertsag'', Croatian, Serbian and Bosnian ''herceg'' (''херцег''; e.g., Herzegovina), Bulgarian ''hertsog'', Latvian ''hercogs'', Lithuanian ''hercogas'', Estonian ''hertsog'', Finnish ''herttua'', Hungarian ''herceg'', Georgian ''herts’ogi'', Danish ''hertug'', Dutch and Afrikaans ''hertog'', Icelandic ''hertogi'', Luxemburgish ''Herzog'', Norwegian ''hertug'' and Swedish ''hertig''.

The Slavic semantic equivalent of ''Herzog'' (for example in Polish) is '' voivode'', or Russian ''воевода'', where ''voi-'' (army) and ''-vode'' (to lead, to guide). Some historical territories of the former Yugoslavia have both names of Herzegovina and Vojvodina.

''Herzog'' is not uncommon as a surname in German-speaking countries. The surname does not indicate an aristocratic origin (much like the family name "King" in English does not indicate a royal ancestry).

See also

* Dukes in Italy, Germany and Austria
* Voivode
* König

References

{{reflist

German noble titles

de:Herzog
he:הרצוג (תואר)