Posted by José on 12/10/2009, 17:25:03
83.132.178.26
At the Geneall site I was surprised for seeing all the 3 children of a czech baron (at least 2 of them living in Portugal) styled as Barons:
http://www.geneall.net/D/per_page.php?id=9983
I thought the term would just apply to the eldest son.
I got a reply saying that before titles were abolished in Germany and Austria, all the children of a Baron = Freiherr were Freiherren and Freiin, as well as all the children of a Herzog would be Herzogen and Herzoginen.
Plus the wife of a Baron/Freiherr would get the "courtsey title" of Freifrau to make the difference between the wife and the daughters.
I know there are the two terms Freiin and Freifrau, but is the latter considered a courtsey title ?
After all, a daughter of a Herzog who would marry a Freiherr would be downgrading but would not need a courtsey title as, by birth, she had a higher title than her husband.
And for all other titles Furstin, Prinzessin, Markgrafin, Herzogin, there is no difference between the wives and the daughters.
So, is Freifrau a mere courtsey title ?
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