''Briefadel'' (in German; ) or ''brevadel'' (in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish) are persons and families who have been ennobled by

letters patent Letters patent (plurale tantum, plural form for singular and plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, President (government title), president or other head of state, generally granti ...

. The oldest known such letters patent were issued in the middle of the 14th century, during the

Late Middle Ages The late Middle Ages or late medieval period was the Periodization, period of History of Europe, European history lasting from 1300 to 1500 AD. The late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern period ( ...

. ''Briefadel'' can be contrasted with ''

Uradel (, German: "ancient nobility"; adjective or ) is a genealogical term introduced in late 18th-century Germany to distinguish those families whose noble rank can be traced to the 14th century or earlier. The word stands opposed to '' Briefadel'' ...

'', whose nobility predates issuance of letters patent. The term dates to the early nineteenth century.

References

{{reflist Danish noble titles German noble titles Norwegian nobility Swedish nobility Austrian noble titles

See also

References