What is "uradel"

Uradel (, German: "ancient nobility"; adjective uradelig or uradlig) is a genealogical term introduced in late 18th-century Germany to distinguish those families whose noble rank can be traced to the 14th century or earlier. The word stands opposed to Briefadel, a term used for titles of nobility created in the early modern or modern period by letters patent. Since the earliest known such letters were issued in the 14th century, those knightly families in northern European nobility whose noble rank predates these are designated uradel.

Uradel and Briefadel families are generally further divided into the categories adlig (untitled and titled nobility), freiherrlich ( baronial), gräflich ( comital), and fürstlich ( royal, princely and ducal) houses. The latter are also referred to as Hochadel (High Nobility).