German nobility The German nobility () and Royal family, royalty were status groups of the Estates of the realm, medieval society in Central Europe, which enjoyed certain Privilege (law), privileges relative to other people under the laws and customs in the Ger ...

, a PfandherrCampe 1809, S. 610: "Pfandherr. Der Herr, Inhaber eines Pfandes, auf welches er einem Andern Geld geliehen hat, oder welches ihm sonst für etwas Sicherheit leistet; der Pfandinhaber, Pfandhaber". (Pledge Lord) was a

creditor A creditor or lender is a party (e.g., person, organization, company, or government) that has a claim on the services of a second party. It is a person or institution to whom money is owed. The first party, in general, has provided some propert ...

, mostly of the lower nobility ('' Niederer Adel''), who lent money to a noble higher in the feudal hierarchy, and as security received the usage of a territory belonging to the

debtor A debtor or debitor is a legal entity (legal person) that owes a debt to another entity. The entity may be an individual, a firm, a government, a company or other legal person. The counterparty is called a creditor. When the counterpart of this ...

, which was then known as a ''Pfandherrschaft'' (pledge lordship). The use usually included all the rights and revenues of the owner, such as taxes, duties, forest exploitation, hunting and fishing rights, etc. The pledged territory remained the possession of the original owner and could be redeemed by termination of the pledge contract and refund of the borrowed money, usually with interest. Since the socially superior debtor feudal lord or prince was much more powerful, it also happened that, for lack of money, only part of the deposit was repaid or the debt was settled in installments.

References

{{Germany-stub Feudalism German nobility

See also

References