!!!Adel

Aristocracy: privileged class endowed in the early Modern Era with the 
character of an estate ("Indigenat", "Inkolat"), aristocratic land 
ownership, and the privilege to be judges of their peers 
("Landschranne", "court of the land marshal"). In the 
post-revolutionary period (1848/1867), the right to bear titles of 
nobility and to use foundations reserved for the nobility was 
enshrined in law, and some families of high nobility had the right to 
hereditary membership in the Herrenhaus of the Austrian Reichstag. All 
of these privileges, including the use of titles of nobility, were 
abolished in 1919 (Penal Code No. 211, April 3, 1919).

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The aristocracy arose from service to the princes (mostly in war); in 
Austrian territories of the Middle Ages mostly from (free or non-free 
= ministerial) membership in the vassalry of the Babenbergs, Otakars, 
Sponheims, etc., then of the Habsburgs. Aristocracy could at first be 
imperial aristocracy (subordinate to the Roman emperor) or provincial 
aristocracy (subordinate to the provincial overlord); the latter group 
was mainly divided into gentlemen (Herren) and knights (Ritter) in 
Austrian territories. In addition, there was also a non-hereditary 
aristocracy, which was granted (by ennoblement) for outstanding 
accomplishments or services. In the Modern era, hereditary landowner 
aristocracy came about through the mutual recognition of aristocracy 
in various countries and the granting of titles of nobility by the 
Austrian (later Bohemian-Austrian) court chancellery. In Austrian 
nobility, "greater aristocracy" (prince and count lineage) and "lesser 
aristocracy" are differentiated; the latter is almost entirely a 
product of ennoblement in the 18%%sup th/%  and 19th centuries. Levels 
of aristocracy: 1) simple aristocracy (with or without the title 
"Edler von"), 2) knighthood, 3) baronage, 4) countship, 5) princedom

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Under  Absolutismus the estate aristocracy was transformed into a 
court nobility. Service to the princes remained the binding ideal 
behind the aristocracy. until the very end, an ideal which also 
determined the aristocracy's education and economic principles. The 
leading "100 families" perceived themselves as the "highest society" 
because of their vast land ownership, influence at court and 
significant role in politics and diplomacy.

!Further reading
Allgemeines Adels-Lexikon der Oesterreichischen 
Monarchie, 1784; P. Frank-Doefering (ed.), Adelslexikon des 
oesterreichischen Kaisertums 1804-1918, 1989.


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