Who is a duke? Meaning of the word

The highest title could only be worn by noblemen in Europe. In the Middle Ages, they were given second persons after the king. Answering a question about who such a duke is, it can be said that this is a man from a noble class. In his possession were castles, lands, people. In ancient times, this word called the commander of the German nationalities.

Definition translation

The mention of answers to the question of who a duke is, can be found in ancient annals. The word "Herzog" comes from the German language. It is associated with people of noble origin.

The word "duke" was used in other languages:

• Translated from German, the meaning of the word "duke" (herzog) is defined as "drive, lead, lead".
• In Latin, a similar word dux (duco-ved) is used.
• In French, the word "duke" is defined as "duc".
• The English version means "noble person, feudal lord" - "duke".
• In Italian, the duke is called the word "duca".

Semantic definitions

Let us give the semantic definitions given in the dictionaries. Consider who a duke is:

1. The ancient meaning of the word is described as the commander of the tribe.
2. Owner of land and people.
3. The second person after the king. The noble title of the persons chosen by the nobility.
4. Officials employed in the public service of the King. In their submission had graphs.
5. In England, dukes were people of blood relatives with princes, kings.
6. In the South African Union, the prime minister was Hertzog James in 1924-1939. He went down in history as a supporter of racism, also refused to speak out against Germany.
7. The owner of an estate - the duchy, inherited. This was legalized at the level of supreme power by Charles II Bald (877).

Early historical meaning

Who is a duke, was already mentioned in ancient times. The German people called their military leader this way. In long voyages people were for years, and some of them remained in the conquered territories. This resettlement gave the word the following meaning: the owner of land, which reports directly to the king. On the ground, the official had the highest authority.

Dukes had a distinctive look of clothing, wore a crown of unique shape and expressed a commitment to their homeland. The King's Lennik kept order in his province and, if necessary, again led a military campaign to crush the rebellion or repel an attack on the borders of his possessions. In the subordination was a group of trusted persons - graphs.

Dukes were obliged to transfer to the people the will of the king, to monitor the execution of his decrees and to engage in punitive operations against dissenters. Each province had its own regulations and additional laws issued directly by the owner of land.

European title

Charlemagne tried to remove the title to exclude the constant struggle for independence. The nobility was replaced by zendographers and margraves. However, the definition of the word "duke" retained its meaning in neighboring states.

The former dukes restored the meaning of the word and continued to defend their independence. They managed to regain their previous titles. So, within Germany alone there were more than five duchies at the beginning of the tenth century:

1. Saxon.
2. Lorraine.
3. Swabian.
4. Franconian.
5. The Bavarian.

The high title was appropriated only to the approximate ruler, in order to prevent the seizure of power by opponents of the ruling class. The meaning of the word "duke" has evolved over time. So began to be called the proteges of the central government, executing the will of the king. Later, the title was added "Great", it stressed the importance of man and the power of his estate.

In other countries

Consider what the word "duke" meant in the Middle Ages. After the abolition of the title of noble people began to resist the central authorities and establish their own order in estates. Later the rulers nevertheless succeeded in getting them to submit, but the internecine war persisted for a very long time.

As a result, the following duchies in the territories of European states were created:

• 1156 year - the Austrian.
• 1185 - Pomeranian, formerly known as the Slavs;
• In 1273 - the Carinthian ones were founded.
• 1339 - the Geldern appeared.
• In 1349 - the history of the Mecklenburg.
• 1364 - Luxembourgish.
• In 1356 - founded the Julian.
• 1378 - The Savoy.
• In 1423, the duchy of the Vettins' house was established.

From 1844, instead of the title of Duke, they began to use other titles. In Germany, the nobles were called Highness, in respect of non-tyrannical, the word "lordship" was used. In England, the phrase "his mercy" was used.

Similar force was known in other states:

1. Polish-Lithuanian state. To the ducal authorities belonged to the spiritual senators, nobles, secular estates, government officials, happy sirs.
2. Hungary. The vassals of the king included natives of princes, barons, counts. The higher ranks possessed the legitimate right to participate in the state activity, gathering for the decision of the important questions in the governmental chamber. This collection was called "the table of magnates" or "high table".

In England and in France

Ducal provinces remained for a long time, perfectly proving their independence with armed speeches. The kings tried to unite the surrounding noble estates by any means. Purchased the subordination of independent individuals by contracts, concessions, marital unions. Those who were unreceptive to the decrees of the supreme authority were eliminated by force.

Thus, in France were distinguished powerful duchies:

• Gascon and Gyenes.
• The Brittany, the Burgundy.
• Normandy, Aquitaine.

Later, during the reign of Napoleon I and his descendant Napoleon III, the word "duke" lost its original meaning. This was due to the fact that the rulers began to assign the title to any person who liked it. Even a new jester could suddenly become a duke.

In England, the title of Duke has appeared since the reign of King Edward III. Before that, there were barons and graphs. In order to distinguish his family, the ruler gave the title to children-sons:

1. The elder Prince of Wales was given the title of Duke of Cornwall. In England, this genus has survived to this day.
2. Duke of York.
3. Duke of Clarence.

The title was given to the most devoted representatives of the nobility. So the dukes appeared:

• Lancaster.
• Northumberland.
• Clarence.

Title in Russia

Beginning with Menshikov, the meaning of the word "duke" appeared in Russia. The Middle Ages were rich in nobility and foreigners from abroad as henchmen of power. Such a title was present even among the Russian kings - Holstein-Gottorp. He pointed to their western origin.

Famous relatives of the Romanovs were recorded in the history of the country:

• Leuchtenberg.
• Oldenburg.
• Württemberg.

Dukes had absolute power. But their title could be taken away by the state in connection with the seizure of lands, when the existing ruler was unable to protect his rights. Such events took place in the history of European states.

In Russia, the title was worn by representatives of the highest nobility, nobility. The title was passed by inheritance, at the level of the state, other definitions of officials and of the approximate tsar were used - the princes.

Is there a title from someone of his contemporaries?

Among contemporaries there are still dukes: Luxembourg Jean, turn to him, starting with the phrase "Royal Highness". The title of Duke of Cornwall is the Prince of Wales in England.

If we consider what the word "duke" means in our time, then we can draw similar semantic features of the definition:

• As before, under the title of duke is understood noble birth of man.
• Dukes inherited castles and other historical buildings.
• It is understood that people with such a title have a decent condition in the form of land estates and savings.

However, modern dukes have no former influence on political events in the country. The title only reminds others of the origin of the person and his house. In England to this day there are dukes. They enter the highest category of peers, which was located in the hierarchy of the nobility below the kings.