Lesson plan
Uradel
( , German: "ancient nobility"; adjective or ) is a genealogical term introduced in late 18th-century Germany to distinguish those families whose noble rank can be traced to the 14th century or earlier. The word stands opposed to Briefadel, a term used for titles of nobility created in the early modern period or modern history by letters patent. Since the earliest known such letters were issued in the 14th century, those knightly families in northern European nobility whose noble rank predates these are designated . and families may belong to any noble rank, including adlig (untitled nobility), freiherrlich (baronial), gräflich (comital), fürstlich (princely), and herzoglich (ducal). The term Hochadel (High Nobility) refers specifically to the sovereign and mediatised princely and ducal houses of the Holy Roman Empire, rather than to all families bearing princely or ducal titles.
Article summary
( , German: "ancient nobility"; adjective or ) is a genealogical term introduced in late 18th-century Germany to distinguish those families whose noble rank can be traced to the 14th century or earlier. The word stands opposed to Briefadel, a term used for titles of nobility created in the early modern period or modern history by letters patent. Since the earliest known such letters were issued in the 14th century, those knightly families in northern European nobility whose noble rank predates these are designated . and families may belong to any noble rank, including adlig (untitled nobility), freiherrlich (baronial), gräflich (comital), fürstlich (princely), and herzoglich (ducal). The term Hochadel (High Nobility) refers specifically to the sovereign and mediatised princely and ducal houses of the Holy Roman Empire, rather than to all families bearing princely or ducal titles.
Key claims
No claims recorded.
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
No sources recorded.
Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.