The purpose of this segment of our genealogy study is to answer legitimate questions from friends (and adversaries) as well as to expand on already provided information elsewhere in the
"Odyssey" and our "Margraves' Manor" website.
a) A small but for our purposes workable look at Dukes, Margraves and Princes
Going down the list of enquiries received, the title of Margrave (lat. Marchio), in German "Markgraf," ranked somewhat with a Duke and was usually considered higher than Prince, in German "Fürst." All sovereigns of the rank of Margrave were eventually advanced to higher-title ranks, but the titles were sometimes also used instead of Crown Prince for their states, and are currently utilized for the Heads of the Royal Houses of Baden, Hesse and Saxony.
In Poland, the noble titles of Prince and Duke have melted into one, "Książę," still causing at least some confusion when it comes to translating the titles Prince and Duke out of relevant literature. Beyond that in Poland and other nations, as early as in the 18th century, the noble title Margrave (Markgraf) was also made equal with the title and rank of Duke / Prince (Książę).
Old German-Style Margravial Crown
Noteworthy is, the noble titles of Książę, Duke and Margrave are of a substantive nature, referring not just to dynastic membership but also to a specific historical and cultural territory, although the families' possessions of prerogatives or properties in that territory or domain may be long past.
Margravial Opera House and Stage
In addressing the frequent Książę, Prince and Duke misunderstandings and even controversies, the authors like to be especially clear.
To this, in itself limited generality, it must be unequivocally understood that the titles Prince or Princess were by and large designations for all non-ruling offspring befitting of higher sovereign and non-sovereign houses. In Central Europe one is unable to numerically assess all such members of present and past splendid dynasties. It is therefore maintained that the description of Prince or Princess is not a title of noble rank such as Baron, Count, Margrave or Duke, to mention just a few. Normally in Europe, the title Prince / Princess is the distinction legally borne by dynastic cadets. Appropriate for the future wife of such a Prince, she receives the title of Princess with marriage. Her inheritance of this title (and her deceased husband's worldly possessions) is dealt with in accordance to her late husband's last will and testament.
The Gulgowski-Doliwa Ducal Villa in Pomerania
As everywhere else, exceptions to the above explanations are the firstborn as hereditary Princes of Imperial and Royal Houses, identified as Crown Princes. Old France granted the title of Prince to the offspring of highest nobility, without distinction. However, it placed at the head of all the other Princes the Princes of the blood (Princes de Sang Royal).
Of course, for presumptive heirs to the Throne according to their importance, there are special titles such as Crown Prince, as mentioned above, and Prince Elector. Additionally, some Princes meet specific functions or requirements, therefore possessing special status. Examples are: Prince Consort and Prince Regent.
And last but not least, there are the somewhat "out of the ordinary" Princes of Liechtenstein, Monaco and Wales. From the Germanic point of view, these Princes are Fuersten and as such ranking far below Margraves in the established hierarchy of noble ranks. Still, in reality, they actually occupy a plateau more appropriate for Dukes. But this is an idiosyncrasy the world has gotten used to, not desiring it any other way.
The Gulgowski-Doliwa Ducal Palais in Glogow, Lower Silesia
Although the aforementioned stipulations form clear lines in our minds, we never wished having to deal with the discombobulation of these princely facts. Consequently and as supported by the facts of authoritative expert literature on this matter, we have resolved to identify our noble status as
The Ducal and Margravial House of Gulgowski-Doliwa
Furthermore, the most imminent reason for us to no longer refer to our noble house as princely / ducal resides in the fact that in the German-speaking realm of Europe the title Prince is translated as Fürst, which is, at best, a confusingly bad translation. True, a Fürst ranks in the noble hierarchy between a Duke and a Count. However, and this is most important for us, a Fürst ranks below District Counts, Palatinate Counts and Margraves, the latter being the highest-ranking of the three titles mentioned. (Your attention is invited to the following documentation provided.)
(Der Volksbrockhaus, 1967, Page 272)
TRANSLATION
DER VOLKS-BROCKHAUS
The Peoples' Lexicon 13th Newest Editon
including approximately 4,000 pictures, maps and texts
with 86 one-colored and multicolored displays and charts
as well as 127 overviews, chronologies and statistics
A-Z
(Brockhaus Company Coat-of-Arms)
F.A. Brockhaus, Wiesbaden 1967
Fürst (Prince): [Old High German: furisto, the first].
1) Among the Germanic tribes a people-elected a military leader and supreme judge of an autonomous region, later sovereign of a small nation (crowned head of state); in the German Empire (until 1806) the Corps of Princes occupied the highest status in the state right below the rank of king; among them the Ecclesial Princes (Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Imperial Abbots) and Worldly Princes (Dukes, Margraves, Palatinate Counts and District Counts).
2) Title of High Nobility (ranking between Duke and Count) awarded to an individual by a nation's crowned sovereign.
In German-speaking Central Europe, the Margrave "could be styled Royal Highness or simply Highness." (Your attention is invited to the following excerpt of the German Nobility Guide, Page 5.)
Margravial Style Explanation
All these explanatory remarks should not be misconstrued. By no means will we give up our ancestral claim to the Duchy of Glogow (Schlesien-Glogau), just because we have comfortably settled in the historical niche of our Margravial rank awarded to us by the Imperial Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam, for which we are and remain exceedingly grateful.
Furthermore, the Royal Portuguese College of Nobility, and its most prominent aristocratic members from Europe, Asia and Africa, recognizes in full the Imperial Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam and its incumbent Prince Regent.
"The Royal College of Nobility (RCNP), a non-profit institution of civil law, defender of the heritage and values of the monarchy, presents itself as an organization that embraces examination, recognition and registration of all favors and rights of nobility, including titles, coats-of-arms and other ennobling marks of honor, resulting from the execution of jus honorum, by the legitimate holders of this source of law." (Directly quoted from the RCNP website)
Our distinguished readers are encouraged to study the RCNP Margravial brevet issued by the aforementioned institution to H.H. The Marquise Heide Anna Maria Gulgowski-Notthoff-Doliwa, which lists at its very beginning the principal Senators of the RCNP, i.e. H.R.H. Prince Davit Bagrationi of Georgia; H.I.&R.H. Prince Andreas Salvador von Habsburg Loraine and Salm-Salm, Archduke of Austria, Prince of Tuscany, Prince of Hungary, Prince of Bohemia; H.I.H. Prince Ermias Sahle-Haile-Selassie of Ethiopia, etc.
Equally important, as a representation of many others, the following honorable individuals rank most imminently among the Council of Advisors, i.e. Ian Alexander Stiebar, Duke of Lux; Professor de la Moneda, Count de la Moneda and Professor de Sousa Lara, Count of Guedes.
The principal author of the Summary Extenuation portion of our Odyssey is in possession of similar documentation.
b) Multiple-source Internet confirmation and support (credible and not so credible) for our historical noble claims.
These Internet illustrations will representatively convey the myriad documentations all listing us as Dukes, Margraves, Princes and Counts of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation and the Imperial Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam.
c) Principle academic achievements and recognitions of the senior author of this study
All those inquisitive souls among our readers, who have voiced doubt about the senior author's academic qualifications may now resort to their magnifying glasses and verify the diplomas awarded by universities and academic honor societies on one of our library walls.
d) Professorships
The following documents offer a brief glimpse at the main author's professorial career
Two of the texts not mentioned under IV. Resources are pictorially represented below
It is hoped that our enlightened readership will enjoy the information
provided under the heading of V. Summary Extenuation
The Coat of Arms of H. H. Chev. Commodore Prof. Dr. Paul William Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa
can be seen
HERE
The Coat of Arms of H. H. Chev. Lt. Colonel Paul W. Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa II
can be seen
HERE
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Music: Guiseppe Verdi (1813-1901), Opera Aida, Triumphal March
