Freiherr

Freiherr ([ˈfʀaɪ̯ˌhɛʁ]; male, abbreviated as Frhr.), Freifrau ([ˈfʀaɪ̯ˌfʀaʊ̯]; his wife, abbreviated as Frfr., literally "free lord" or "free lady") and Freiin ([ˈfʀaɪ̯ɪn]; his unmarried daughters and maiden aunts) are designations used as titles of nobility in the German-speaking areas of the Holy Roman Empire, and in its various successor states, including Austria, Prussia, Bavaria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, etc. Traditionally it denotes the second-lowest titled rank within the nobility, above Ritter (knight) and Edler (nobility without a specific title) and below Graf (count, earl) and Herzog (duke). The title superseded the earlier medieval form, Edelherr.

It corresponds to baron in rank.

The title Freiherr derives from the historical geo-political situation in which an owner held free (allodial) title to his land, unlike the ordinary baron, who was originally a knight (Ritter) in vassalage to a higher lord or sovereign, and unlike medieval German ministerials, who were bound to provide administrative services for a lord. A Freiherr sometimes exercised hereditary administrative and judicial prerogatives over those resident in his barony instead of the liege lord, who might be the duke (Herzog) or count (Graf).

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