fürst

Fürst is a German title meaning "prince." Historically, in medieval and early modern German-speaking lands, a Fürst was the ruler of a principality and thus a sovereign or semi-sovereign within the framework of the Holy Roman Empire. The title denoted rulers of Fürstentümer (principalities) and was part of a broader hierarchy that also included Herzöge (dukes) and Grafen (counts). The plural form is Fürsten and the feminine form Fürstin. Although it is commonly translated as "prince" in English, a Fürst typically exercised sovereign authority within his territory, while a Príncipe or Princen princely title referred more to a royal prince or an heir in a royal house.

With the dissolution of many imperial and noble structures in the 19th and 20th centuries, most Fürsten lost independent sovereignty, and noble privileges were largely abolished in German-speaking states. Today, the title survives primarily in ceremonial or dynastic contexts and, in some cases, as part of a family surname.

In contemporary usage, Fürst is most prominently associated with Liechtenstein, where the head of state is styled Fürst. The current reigning prince is Fürst Hans-Adam II, with his son Alois serving as regent and Hereditary Prince. The term also appears as a surname and is encountered in historical or genealogical references to noble families.