Kaiserlich

kaiserlich is a German adjective meaning imperial or relating to an emperor. It is used to describe things connected with the office of the emperor or with an empire, especially in historical contexts of the German-speaking world.

Etymology and scope: The term derives from the noun Kaiser (emperor), which itself comes from Latin Caesar; the suffix -lich forms adjectives meaning “pertaining to” or “characteristic of.” Kaiserlich has been widely used in periods when German-speaking polities were monarchies, including the Holy Roman Empire, the German Empire (1871–1918), and the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, where institutions sometimes bore compound names such as kaiserlich-königliche.

Usage and examples: In historical texts, phrases like kaiserliche Armee (imperial army), kaiserliche Marine (imperial navy), and kaiserliche Hofhaltung (imperial court) are common. In Austria-Hungary, many institutions used the designation "kaiserlich-königliche" to indicate the dual sovereignty of the Emperor of Austria and the King of Hungary. In modern German, the term is largely historical or stylistic and is rarely used in everyday language, with contemporary references typically preferring terms such as imperial or staatlich.

See also: Kaiserreich; Kaiser; kaiserlich-königliche; Holy Roman Empire; German Empire; Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.