Majestät

Majestät is a German honorific and form of address used traditionally for monarchs and, in some contexts, for heads of state. The term originates from the Latin *maiestas*, signifying greatness, dignity, or splendor, and entered the German language through medieval diplomatic and legal terminology. In historical usage, Majestät was applied to kings, queens, emperors, and princes, often preceded by the appropriate title (e.g., „Seine Majestät König Wilhelm“). The style conveyed both respect and the constitutional notion that sovereign authority derived from a higher, often divine, source.

During the Holy Roman Empire, the Emperor and certain high-ranking electors were addressed as Majestät, reflecting their quasi‑imperial status. In the German Empire (1871‑1918), the Kaiser and the Imperial family retained the honorific, while the title continued in the Weimar Republic only in ceremonial contexts. Today, the Federal Republic of Germany does not employ Majestät for the president; the appropriate address is „Herr Präsident“ or „Frau Präsidentin“. Nonetheless, the term remains part of the formal language of other German‑speaking monarchies, such as Austria and various principalities, and it is still used in diplomatic correspondence and legal texts when referring to foreign sovereigns.

Beyond its role as a form of address, Majestät appears in German literature, music, and heraldry, often symbolizing regal authority or the sublime. The word also survives in idiomatic expressions (e.g., „mit Majestät auftreten“) and in titles of works that explore themes of power and dignity. In contemporary usage, Majestät is largely historical and ceremonial, reflecting the evolution of German political structures from monarchical to republican forms.