Fürst

For "Fürst" as the uniquely German title of nobility that is best translated to "Prince", see below.

In the general sense, the word "Fürst" refers to a ruler, as in Machiavelli's The Prince. Thusly kings and dukes are covered by the term beside the Fürsten in the narrow sense. Before the 12th century also counts were included, as the word was used in Germany.

The word Fürst designates the head (the "first") of a ruling house, or the head of a branch of such a house. The "first" originates from ancient Germanic times, when the "first" was the leader in battle.

The child of a Fürst is, as a rule, called Prinz (male) or Prinzessin (female), although exceptionally there exists families where all or some members are Fürst/Fürstin (Wrede) or Herzog/Herzogin (Anhalt, Bavaria, Mecklenburg, Oldenburg, Saxony & Württemberg)[1].

There are cognates in the Slavonic and North Germanic languages, as for instance "furste" in Swedish.

Fürst as a title

The title Fürst is used for the head of a princely house of German origin. Unless he also holds a higher title, as duke or king, he will be known as Fürst von + the geographic origin of the dynasty, alternatively Fürst zu + the domain ruled. (Exceptions exist.)

The actual rank of the holder of a title is, however, dependent on not only the title as such, but on for instance the degree of sovereignty and on the rank of the lord of the title-holder. But also such matters as the age of the princely dynasty play a role (See: Uradel, Briefadel, altfürstliche, neufürstliche).

Kurfürst is a Elector of the Holy Roman Empire. Kur (earlier spelling Chur) is derived from kur/küren, to choose.

Großfürst is German for the Latin Magnus Princeps, which in English is translated to Grand duke, used for instance for the sons of a Tsar. Grand duke is otherwise translated to Großherzog in German, and Magnus Dux in Latin.

Example of bearers of the Fürst-title are the present-day rulers of the principalities Liechtenstein and Monaco. Also the hereditary rulers of the former principalities of Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania were titled "Fürst" until they gradually were granted the title of king.