Herrenstand – panský stav – stan panów. Trudności w tłumaczeniu i wprowadzaniu do obiegu naukowego pojęć historycznych o złożonym charakterze prawno-administracyjnym i społeczno-kulturowym

The "state of gentlemen," translated into Polish directly from its German and Czech counterparts, is a term not well known in Polish historical sciences. With the development of research on the social elites of Europe, it was impossible not only to understand, but also to skillfully explain many processes without clear knowledge of the Herrenstand.It is a concept that did not find matches in the Polish language for a long time, and the basic problem of its Polish audience was a complex one. In order to be able to use it freely, the scientific description on the one hand must include a detailed explanation of the aspects and legal framework in which it is situated, as well as the functioning of the concept in the world of state administration. On the other hand, we must carefully look at the parallel issues of the structure of the social state of gentlemen (wide division of degrees and aristocratic rank) and the his place in the culture of Central Europe.