archduchy
Archduke's sovereign domain
An archduchy is a territory ruled by an archduke or archduchess—a rank above duke in certain European noble hierarchies.
The term appears almost exclusively in reference to Austria, which was an archduchy within the Holy Roman Empire: the Archduchy of Austria.
The title carried special prestige among Habsburg lands.
Central European alpine republic
- LorraineFrench frontier region
- provinceRegional administrative district
- domainArea of control
- bordersLines separating regions
boundaries · enclave · region · landmass · capital · seat · holdings · estates
Noble-ruled territory
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- realmGoverned territory or sphere
- dominionAuthority to rule
- crownSovereign's ornamental headpiece
throne · dynasty · reign · succession · regent · Habsburg · autonomy · rule
Rule by hereditary elite
- peerageSystem of noble ranks
- titlesNames of creative works
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- hereditaryPassed through generations
court · courtier · gentry · noble house · coat of arms · heraldry · bloodline · dynasty
Land-for-service social structure
- vassalageSubordination to a lord
- Holy Roman EmpireMedieval Germanic political entity
- fiefdomFeudal territory under lord
- manorialismMedieval estate labor system
knighthood · chivalry · crusades · guilds · burghers · monasticism · pilgrimage · castle
Austria
Central European alpine republic
borders · boundaries · enclave · region · landmass · capital · seat · holdings · estates · demesne
principality
Noble-ruled territory
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- realmGoverned territory or sphere
- dominionAuthority to rule
crown · throne · dynasty · reign · succession · regent · Habsburg · autonomy · rule · authority
aristocracy
Rule by hereditary elite
hereditary · court · courtier · gentry · noble house · coat of arms · heraldry · bloodline · dynasty · imperial family
feudalism
Land-for-service social structure
- vassalageSubordination to a lord
- Holy Roman EmpireMedieval Germanic political entity
- fiefdomFeudal territory under lord
manorialism · knighthood · chivalry · crusades · guilds · burghers · monasticism · pilgrimage · castle · fortification
archduchyrepublic
State with elected leaders
democracy · commonwealth · free city · federation · commune