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Herzog (pronounced[ˈhɛʁtsoːk]ⓘ; feminineHerzogin[ˈhɛʁtsoːɡɪn]ⓘ; masculine pluralHerzöge; feminine pluralHerzoginnen) is aGerman hereditary title held by one who rules a territorial duchy, exercisesfeudal authority over anestate called aduchy, or possesses a right by law or tradition to be referred to by the ducal title. The word is usually translated by the Englishduke and the Latindux. Generally, aHerzog ranks below aking and above aGraf ('count').[1] Whether the title is deemed higher or lower than titles translated into English asprince (Fürst) is dependent upon the language, country, and era in which the titles coexisted.
Herzog is not related toHerz (lit. 'heart'), but is derived from theMiddle High GermanHer- meaning 'army' and-zog meaning 'to move' or 'to pull' (related to the modern English verbtug), a military leader (compare to Slavicvoivode).Her andzog are roots of the modern German wordsHeer andziehen of the same meanings (also:in die Schlacht ziehen, 'to go into battle'). It may have originated from theProto-GermanicHarjatugô, a warrior who was elected to be a battle leader by their tribes. Thus,Herzog was a title borne byGermanic warriors who exercised military authority over a tribe by general acclaim among its members or warriors,[1] especially in thestem duchies.
During the medieval era, some of the most powerfulvassals whose territories lay within the boundaries of theHoly Roman Empire took or were granted the title ofHerzog by the Holy Roman Emperor. Several dynasties, such as theHabsburgs of Austria,Hohenzollerns of Prussia,Welfs of Hanover,Wettins of Saxony,Wittelsbachs of Bavaria, and theHouse of Württemberg, held theHerzogswürde ('dukedom') before becoming kings.
Although aHerzog ranked below aKurfürst ('prince-elector') within the Empire, he also belonged by hereditary right to theFürstenbank ('Chamber of Princes,'lit. 'princely seat') within theReichstag, exercisedLandeshoheit within hisimperial state, and enjoyedReichsunmittelbarkeit within the Empire. Therefore,Herzöge were regarded as members of thehoher Adel (lit. 'high nobility') whose families inter-married with sovereign dynasties outside as well as within the Empire. They ranked as royalty, distinct from nobles who were subject to a lessersuzerain than the Emperor.
Occasionally, the Emperor conferred the title ofHerzog on a nobleman who was not necessarily aPrince of the Holy Roman Empire and did not rule a duchy. Such a person ranked only as aTitularherzog ('duke-by-title') of the German non-reigning nobility.
Herzog is the root of many words of the same meaning in other Germanic languages, including Danish and Norwegianhertug, Dutch and Afrikaanshertog, Icelandichertogi, LuxembourgishHerzog, and Swedishhertig.
Herzog was borrowed into other European language families with the chief meaning of the word being 'duke,' for example, byBalto-Slavic languages such as Belarusianhiercah (герцаг), theEastern Herzegovinian dialectsherceg (херцег; e.g.Herzegovina), Bulgariankhertsog (херцог), Latvianhercogs, Lithuanianhercogas, and Russiangertsog (герцог); byFinno-Ugric languages such as Estonianhertsog, Finnishherttua, and Hungarianherceg; and byKartvelian languages such as Georgianherts’ogi (ჰერცოგი).
The semantic equivalent ofHerzog in Slavic languages isvoivode orвоевода, wherevoi- means 'army' and-vode means 'to lead' or 'to guide.' Both the Germanic and Slavic terms are used for place names within the Slavic-speaking world, as with thehistorical region ofHerzegovina in modernBosnia and Herzegovina and theautonomous province ofVojvodina inSerbia.
Herzog is not uncommon as a surname in German-speaking countries. The surname does not indicate an aristocratic origin, much like the family nameKing in English does not indicate royal ancestry. Among notable people with this surname, most are born of Swiss or German origin. A number are Israeli, such as current Israeli presidentIsaac Herzog.
