German Titles of Nobility

(Female title in brackets)

Kaiser [Kaiserin] = Emperor

König [Königin] = King

Kronprinz [Kronprinzessin] = Crown Prince

Prinz [Prinzessin] von Preußen - Prince of Prussia

Erbgroßherzog [Erbgroßherzogin] = Hereditary Grand Duke

Herzog [Herzogin] = Duke

Kurfürst [Kurfürstin] = Elector (ranking with Herzog)

The following generally also rank equally with Herzog:

Landgraf [Landgräfin] = Landgrave

Markgraf [Markgräfin] = Margrave

Pfalzgraf [Pfalzgräfin]= Count Palatine

Fürst [Fürst] = Prince (Contrary to general Europe usage, this title ranks lower than the above ranks)

Gefürsteter Graf [Gräfin] = Princely Count (Obsolete)

Graf [Gräfin] = Count

Burggraf [Burggräfin] = Count

Freiherr [Freifrau] = Baron

Note: a Freiherr's daughter is styled: Freiherrin or Freiin  

Baron [Baronin] = Baron (a form peculiar to the Baltic regions)

Note: a Baron's daughter is styled: Baronesse = Baroness  

Edler Herr [Edle Herrin] = Baron (rarely used)

Herr [Herrin] = Lord

Ritter [Frau] = Knight

Edler [Edle] = Knight (a form peculiar to North and Central Germany)

For a fuller essay on German nobility, go to the article by Gilbert von Studnitz