Wohlgeboren (, "well-born") was a form of address for the lowest ranks of

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 ...

. The

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

version of this term is "''spectabilis''".

German usage

The actual address was ''(Euer) Wohlgeboren'', it is the proper form of address for a ''

Vogt An , sometimes simply advocate, (German, ), or (French, ), was a type of medieval office holder, particularly important in the Holy Roman Empire, who was delegated some of the powers and functions of a major feudal lord, or for an institutio ...

'' or ''Büttel''

Swedish usage

"Välborne" for

untitled Untitled may refer to: Artworks The following artworks are sorted by the name of their artist. B * ''Untitled (Pope)'', a panel painting by Francis Bacon * ''Untitled (2004)'', by Banksy * ''Untitled'' (1982 Basquiat devil painting), by Ameri ...

Swedish nobility The Swedish nobility (, or , ) has historically been a legally or socially privileged Social class, class in Sweden, and part of the so-called ''frälse'' (a derivation from Old Swedish meaning ''free neck''). The archaic term for nobility, ''fr ...

and "högvälborne" for counts and barons.

Higher form of address

The title should not be confused with the following, in order of increasing rank: :- ''(Euer)

Hochwohlgeboren Hochwohlgeboren (, "High Well-born"; ) is an honorific and manner of address for members of the nobility in some parts of Europe. German This form of address originally had connections with the ability of a '' Freiherr'' (Baron) to bequeath a ...

'' (lit. ''highly well-born''), the form of address for German

barons Barons may refer to: *Baron (plural), a rank of nobility *Barons (surname), a Latvian surname *Barons, Alberta, Canada * ''Barons'' (TV series), a 2022 Australian drama series * ''The Barons'', a 2009 Belgian film Sports * Birmingham Barons, a Min ...

(''Freiherren''),

nobles Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. T ...

(''Edle'') and

knights A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...

(''Ritter'') ; :- ''(Euer)

Hochgeboren Hochgeboren (, "high-born"; ) is a form of address for the titled members of the German nobility, German and Austrian nobility, ranking just below the German mediatisation, sovereign and mediatised dynasties. The actual address is ''"Euer" Hochgeb ...

'' (lit. ''high-born), the proper form of address for members of the titled

, ranking just below the sovereign and mediatised dynasties; :- ''

Erlaucht His/Her Illustrious Highness (abbreviation: H.Ill.H.) is the usual English-language translation of the German word , a style historically attributed to certain members of the European nobility. It is not a literal translation, as the German word ...

'' (''Illustrious Highness''), the correct address for those German immediate counts ('' Reichsgrafen'') who are heirs of mediatised families of the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...

; :- ''

Durchlaucht His/Her Serene Highness (abbreviation: HSH, second person address: Your Serene Highness) is a style used today by the reigning families of Liechtenstein, Monaco and Thailand. Until 1918, it was also associated with the princely titles of members o ...

'' (''Serene Highness''), the correct address for German

princes A prince is a Monarch, male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary title, hereditary, in some ...

(''Fürsten'') and

dukes Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobi ...

(''Herzog'').

References

{{Imperial, royal, and noble styles Styles (forms of address)