Re: Graf von....
Isabelle
<vons...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear All,
> if someone's ancestors were gaugrafs or grafs of their lands, the
> descendants (male line) could inherit their titles ?
> thanks.
> regards,
> von Syra
To answer your question, yes and no.
A Graf is the German equivalent to a Count or Earl (in Britain).
Generally, all male members of a noble family inherited the title
equally, and were so called from birth. This is the same practice as
used by the Hapsburgs, where all of the offspring were named "Archduke
or Archduchess of Austria", as well as the practice of the Russian
royal family in naming their offspring "Grand Duke or Grand Duchess of
Russia".
Only the eldest son ruled, however, unless there were no males to
inherit, in which case a daughter could succeed.
The problem is that since August 1919, titles of nobility in Germany
do not exist. Noble families were allowed to use their former title as
their surname, but any areas formerly under their control has long
since vanished. These titles no longer have claim to a territory,
city, province, or other lands. It is true, however, that some German
noble families still own their estates and castles, and whatever
wealth they had before 1919 and have amassed since.
As an example of the present style of German titles:
Moritz von Hessen-Kassel is the current holder of the hereditary title
of Prince and Landgraf of Hessen-Kassel. Officially his name is:
Moritz Friedrich Karl Emanuel Humbert Landgraf von Hessen-Kassel
(Landgraf von Hessen-Kassel is his surname)
In 1961 he inherited the claim to the title of Grand Duke of Hesse and
by Rhine, from his distant cousin Prince Louis.
Moritz's eldest son Donatus, is the Hereditary Prince of Hessen-
Kassel, and would therefore be Heinrich Donatus Philipp Umberto
Erbprinz von Hessen-Kassel, while his grandson (son of Donatus) is
Moritz Ludwig Georg Wolf Prinz von Hessen-Kassel.
All that will be required when Donatus inherits his father's title is
a simple name change.
The only way to "claim" a German hereditary title today is through
officially changing your surname to the title.