This article is about the noble honorific. For the informal term for the noble class in modern Prussian history, see Junker (Prussia). For other uses, see Junker (disambiguation).
In Brandenburg, the Junker was originally one of the members of the higher Edelfrei (immediate) nobility without or before the accolade. It evolved to a general denotation of a young or lesser noble, sometimes politically insignificant, understood as "country squire".[2]
As part of the nobility, many Junker families only had prepositions such as von or zu before their family names without further ranks. The abbreviation of the title was Jkr., most often placed before the given name and titles, for example: Jkr. Heinrich von Hohenberg. The female equivalent Junkfrau (Jkfr.) was used only sporadically. In some cases, the honorificJkr. was also used for Freiherren (barons) and Grafen (counts).[4]
Usage
Junker (and its cognates) was traditionally used as a noble honorific throughout the German-speaking parts of Europe. The title today survives in its traditional meaning in the Netherlands and Belgium in the Dutch form Jonkheer.
The term was also used in several countries in the title Kammerjunker, the German and Scandinavian equivalent of the French valet de chambre, a position usually given to young noble men in the service of a princely rank person at the court. A Kammerjunker was ranked below a chamberlain, but above a chamber page. It has also been used in military roles in the German and Scandinavian realm, such as Fahnenjunker and its Scandinavian equivalents (for instance: fanjunkare).
In Denmark, the term Junker connotes a young lord, originally the son of a medieval duke or count, but also a term for a member of the privileged landowner class. Before 1375 the honorific was also suitable for Danish royal sons. It was also used in the title Kammerjunker within the royal household.
In modern Prussian history, the term became popularly used as a loosely defined synecdoche for the landed nobility (particularly of so-called East Elbia) who controlled almost all of the land and government, or by extension, the Prussian estate owners regardless of noble status. With the formation of the German Empire in 1871, the Junkers dominated the central German government and the Prussian military. A leading representative was Prince Otto von Bismarck.[5] "The Junkers" of Prussia were often contrasted with the elites of the western and southern states in Germany, such as the city-republic of Hamburg (which had no nobility) or Catholic states like Bavaria, in which the "Junker class" of Prussia was often viewed with contempt.[6] After World War II, the junker class, which had formed much of the officer corps of the Wehrmacht and whose prominent member President and former General Paul von Hindenburg had appointed Hitler chancellor in 1933, was often blamed for Prussian militarism, the rise of the Nazis and World War II. As a consequence, a land reform in the Soviet Occupation Zone which had the goal of collectivization along Soviet lines was justified in propaganda as a strike against the Junker class with the slogan "Junkerland in Bauernhand" (junker lands in peasant hands).
junker, this, article, about, noble, honorific, informal, term, noble, class, modern, prussian, history, prussia, other, uses, disambiguation, danish, german, dutch, jonkheer, english, yunker, norwegian, swedish, georgian, იუნკერი, iunkeri, noble, honorific, d. This article is about the noble honorific For the informal term for the noble class in modern Prussian history see Junker Prussia For other uses see Junker disambiguation Junker Danish Junker German Junker Dutch Jonkheer English Yunker Norwegian Junker Swedish Junker Georgian იუნკერი Iunkeri is a noble honorific derived from Middle High German Juncherre meaning young nobleman 1 or otherwise young lord derivation of jung and Herr The term is traditionally used throughout the German speaking Dutch speaking and Scandinavian speaking parts of Europe It was also used in the Russian Empire due to Baltic German influence up until the Russian Revolution The term is currently still in use by the Georgian Defense Forces for student officers of the National Defence Academy The renaissance humanist Nikolaus Meyer zum Pfeil of the Swiss Meyer zum Pfeil family held the honorific Junker Contents 1 Honorific title 2 Usage 3 Modern popular usage in Prussia 4 Modern usage in Russia 5 See also 6 ReferencesHonorific title EditIn Brandenburg the Junker was originally one of the members of the higher Edelfrei immediate nobility without or before the accolade It evolved to a general denotation of a young or lesser noble sometimes politically insignificant understood as country squire 2 Martin Luther disguised himself as Junker Jorg at the Wartburg he would later mock King Henry VIII of England as Juncker Heintz 3 As part of the nobility many Junker families only had prepositions such as von or zu before their family names without further ranks The abbreviation of the title wasJkr most often placed before the given name and titles for example Jkr Heinrich von Hohenberg The female equivalent Junkfrau Jkfr was used only sporadically In some cases the honorific Jkr was also used for Freiherren barons and Grafen counts 4 Usage EditJunker and its cognates was traditionally used as a noble honorific throughout the German speaking parts of Europe The title today survives in its traditional meaning in the Netherlands and Belgium in the Dutch form Jonkheer The term was also used in several countries in the title Kammerjunker the German and Scandinavian equivalent of the French valet de chambre a position usually given to young noble men in the service of a princely rank person at the court A Kammerjunker was ranked below a chamberlain but above a chamber page It has also been used in military roles in the German and Scandinavian realm such as Fahnenjunker and its Scandinavian equivalents for instance fanjunkare In Denmark the term Junker connotes a young lord originally the son of a medieval duke or count but also a term for a member of the privileged landowner class Before 1375 the honorific was also suitable for Danish royal sons It was also used in the title Kammerjunker within the royal household Modern popular usage in Prussia EditMain article Junker Prussia In modern Prussian history the term became popularly used as a loosely defined synecdoche for the landed nobility particularly of so called East Elbia who controlled almost all of the land and government or by extension the Prussian estate owners regardless of noble status With the formation of the German Empire in 1871 the Junkers dominated the central German government and the Prussian military A leading representative was Prince Otto von Bismarck 5 The Junkers of Prussia were often contrasted with the elites of the western and southern states in Germany such as the city republic of Hamburg which had no nobility or Catholic states like Bavaria in which the Junker class of Prussia was often viewed with contempt 6 After World War II the junker class which had formed much of the officer corps of the Wehrmacht and whose prominent member President and former General Paul von Hindenburg had appointed Hitler chancellor in 1933 was often blamed for Prussian militarism the rise of the Nazis and World War II As a consequence a land reform in the Soviet Occupation Zone which had the goal of collectivization along Soviet lines was justified in propaganda as a strike against the Junker class with the slogan Junkerland in Bauernhand junker lands in peasant hands Modern usage in Russia EditMain article Junker Russia See also EditDutch nobility German nobility Jonkheer YonkersReferences Edit Duden Meaning of Junker in German 1 William W Hagen Ordinary Prussians Brandenburg Junkers and Villagers 1500 1840 2002 Henry VIII September 1540 26 30 Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII Volume 16 1540 1541 1898 p 51 URL http www british history ac uk report aspx compid 76214 Date accessed 10 June 2012 Rosenberg 1943 Francis Ludwig Carsten A history of the Prussian Junkers 1989 Percy Ernst Schramm Gewinn und Verlust Christians Hamburg 1969 p 108 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Junker amp oldid 1134431585, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
