Landstände

When estates are referred to the political representatives of the estates in European societies of the Middle Ages and the early modern period compared to the respective sovereign.

Term

The composition of the estates was very different depending on the country and time. Furthermore, both the representatives of the older caste system in which the Estates was predominant, and the parliaments of the recent representative systems were called estates. Both in the caste system as well as in the newer systems representative of the estates designation parliament had become customary for the general congregation. The totality of the estates of a rule area was also called landscape.

In the older feudal system the estates originally consisted of the Assembly of Deputies of the privileged classes of a country, the nobility and the clergy, who had come together to form a solid body. Later next, representatives of cities were added. In some cases (eg in Tyrol, Wurtemberg or Mecklenburg ) also free farmers were eligible as Members of the peasantry to say. A peculiar exception was here the estates of the country Hadeln: These were formed almost exclusively of large farmers.

In the state legislatures the estates were divided into individual Kurien (division). So three mansions were usually distinguished: the prelates, the knights and the cities. However, the former estates represented initially only the rights of their own state and could in any case only indirectly at the same time are also considered representative of the entire population of their country. In the stalls orders of the sovereign ( chamber goods) could raise no new taxes and adopt new laws, in contrast to the absolutist rule systems outside of his own dominions without the consent of the estates. The estates had in individual relationships also share in the administration of justice and other public affairs. The limits of its powers, however, were not generally determined exactly.

In part, the name Land supernatants were retained for the constitutional assemblies of the recent representative systems that have taken the place of the privileged classes of the caste system in many countries during the 19th century.

History

Precursor

The emergence of the estates arose only in the 14th century. The term " estates " not yet appeared on in Middle High German and translated later probably from the French word états. Although found according to the records of the Roman historian Tacitus in antiquity co-determination at the more important public affairs instead. According to the old Germanic law were folk and court gatherings, called Thing, held in the open air. Even in the later Frankish Empire existed with the general assemblies of the nobility and the clergy, the so-called Placita a certain kind of representation of the people. Even with individual tribes, such as the Bavarians and Saxons, there were any such meetings. However, these meetings did not meet the fixed combinations of the estates as they were out in the 14th century. Even the court - days & Knight and the country Thingen the 12th and 13th century were indeed negotiating subjects of the general country welfare, but the meetings still lacked the character of the compound into an independent entity.

Emergence of the Estates

Since the 14th century formed with the development of sovereignty and with the tighter limit of the territorial holdings of the various dominions out the real estates of the long-established gentlemen, vassals and ministry officials. This began to can be obtained about their rights and liberties of the sovereign documentary representations and concluded alliances with each other to protect their own rights and freedoms.

For the merger to solid organizations existed for several reasons. Firstly, the rulers demanded now frequently taxes and the larger landowners who wanted to be passed by the sovereign definite promises about the future application of the tax. On the other hand were disputes over succession relations of the country's transition to a new master, and reunification of separated parts of the country rise to the formation of a solid union. From the privileges gained was formed gradually a sum of national liberties of the country stands out against the rulers.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the influence of the estates grew. The rulers were often dependent because of the narrowness of their own capital to support their estates, which they gained in importance. Therefore, the estates were in the 15th and 16th centuries, often even as real co-regent, and dealt with all the more important matters, even those who initially concern only to the royal family. From the original duty of vassals to assist their lord in certain cases with special services, the right to approve taxes of the estates developed. It followed the establishment of its own scenic cash, in the first of the approved tax has been paid to be converted from there only in the royal coffers. For the settlement of the estates often put an always meets bodies ( called Collegium, Committee, Commissioner, regulation, etc. ) and built prestigious buildings.

Decline of the estates

In the 17th century began the Thirty Years' War, the decline of the estates in most German states. This continued in the 18th century.

With the growing power of the country Principality (according to the ideas of absolutism ) and the development of a princely officials prior fell the power of the estates, which was almost meaningless in many territories, in other areas, but also in the 18th century still had a great influence on the country's administration. This was due in particular the complete transformation of warfare, which concentrated power in the hands of the rulers. In addition, the imperial legislation limited the independence of the estates.

In Württemberg their full effect was given to 1805. Kingdom of Saxony in the estates retained until the introduction of constitutional government in 1831 their supremacy. In Mecklenburg the estates were even able to maintain power until 1918. In Lower Saxony, " landscapes" with corporative constitution continue to exist to this day.

Unique Estates

• Estates land county Hessen
• Estates of the pin Fulda
• Estates of the Grand Duchy of Hesse
• Württemberg Estates

Stands houses

For the estates were built in the 19th and estates houses as separate buildings with meeting rooms and administrative offices until the first years of the 20th century.