Herzog Adolf Figur Südansicht Figur Rathaus München

(; feminine ; masculine plural ; feminine plural ) 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 ranks below a king and above a ('count'). Whether the title is deemed higher or lower than titles translated into English as ''prince'' () is dependent upon the language, country, and era in which the titles coexisted.

History

is not related to (), but is derived from the Middle High German meaning 'army' and meaning 'to move' or 'to pull' (related to the modern English verb '' tug''), a military leader (compare to Slavic voivode). and are roots of the modern German words and of the same meanings (also: , 'to go into battle'). It may have originated from the Proto-Germanic '' Harjatugô'', a warrior who was elected to be a battle leader by their tribes. Thus, 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 by the Holy Roman 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 ('dukedom') before becoming kings.

Although a ranked below a ('prince-elector') within the Empire, he also belonged by hereditary right to the ('Chamber of Princes,' ) within the , exercised within his imperial state, and enjoyed within the Empire. Therefore, were regarded as members of the () 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 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 ('duke-by-title') of the German non-reigning nobility.

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

Current usage

is the root of many words of the same meaning in other Germanic languages, including Danish and Norwegian , Dutch and Afrikaans , Icelandic , Luxembourgish , and Swedish .

was borrowed into other European language families with the chief meaning of the word being 'duke,' for example, by Balto-Slavic languages such as Belarusian ''hiercah'' (), the Eastern Herzegovinian dialects ''herceg'' (; e.g. Herzegovina), Bulgarian ''khertsog'' (), Latvian , Lithuanian , and Russian ''gertsog'' (); by Finno-Ugric languages such as Estonian , Finnish , and Hungarian ; and by Kartvelian languages such as Georgian ''herts’ogi'' ().

The semantic equivalent of in Slavic languages is or , where means 'army' and means 'to lead' or 'to guide.' Both the Germanic and Slavic terms are used for place names within the Slavic-speaking world, as with the historical region of Herzegovina in modern Bosnia and Herzegovina and the autonomous province of Vojvodina in Serbia.

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 royal ancestry. Among notable people with this surname, most are born of Swiss or German origin. A number are Israeli.

See also

* Dukes in Italy, Germany and Austria
* Voivode
* König
* German nobility
* German honorifics
* Herzog (surname)

References

{{reflist

Dukes
*
German noble titles

de:Herzog
he:הרצוג (תואר)