A seminal work of Germanic philology and legal history, examining the nature and origins of the concept of hereditary nobility among the early Germanic tribes. Includes analysis of linguistic and textual sources, archaeological evidence, and comparative legal systems. Presented in the original German with extensive notes and supplementary materials. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.