Herrenstand (Bohemia)

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The gentlemen's class was part of the Bohemian class order. Because of his constitutional status, he differed from the rest of the titled nobility in the Holy Roman Empire .

history

In the oldest Bohemian gentry order of March 18, 1500, it was stipulated that no one should be included in the gentry who could not prove the knighthood of his family over four generations and, moreover, not only the king, but also the old gentry families themselves had to be a possible one Agree to admission. At that time there were only 30 such old gentry families in Bohemia. The political changes after the Battle of White Mountain enabled the king to weaken the influence of the old families.

With the revised state order of May 10, 1627, a new pyramid of estates was created in Bohemia. At the top was the high clergy (the archbishop of Prague, the other bishops, etc.), followed by the gentry, which now included the barons and counts as well as the dukes and princes, then the knighthood with land ownership and finally the royal cities. For inclusion in the Lord state, however, the award of a Freiherren-, count's or Prince's title by the King of Bohemia and that was enough for now Inkolat to a corresponding foreign family. The previous masters' families had no say in the matter. If someone only belonged to the knightly class, he was initially admitted to the Bohemian baron class . It was not until three generations later that the old gentry or the title of Old Bohemian Baron was awarded . The families in which at least one line had already received the baron or count status were exempt from this waiting period. The special position of the Bohemian gentry ended with the dissolution of the estate constitution of 1849. However, its former members saw themselves as the protectors and guardians of the rights of the country of Bohemia until 1918 .

meaning

Nine of the thirteen highest state offices could only be occupied by members of the gentry. This included the office of the Oberstburggrave of Prague, the Oberstlandhofmeister or the Oberstlandmarschall. In addition, the person concerned belonged to the state parliament, was subject to privileged jurisdiction, enjoyed personal tax exemption and other things. This elite in the Kingdom of Bohemia received a constitutional position that was far above that of the comparable nobility in other countries.

literature