It is often assumed that medieval society consisted only of the nobility and the peasantry. However, about 30% of the German Kingdom was composed of a third group—the ministeriales.
You used the term "third group" rather than "middle class," and "class" is generally an imprecise and anachronistic term when used to describe medieval social structures, but nevertheless, for the sake of discussion—do you see any value in thinking of the ministeriales as fulfilling a role in the High Middle Ages comparable to that of the burgher/merchant class in the Late Middle Ages?
I try to avoid words like class altogether as they have such strong modern implications, but if the term is used strictly within the context of a hierarchically ordered group of people, then there is value to thinking of them as having formed a class by the late 12th century. Some of the more clever families managed to marry into the noble counts, thereby elevating themselves into the lower nobility. Others, remained non-noble, but continued to work as castellans, or other administrative positions. Over time, their families established themselves within the elite of the non-nobles, becoming the burghers and merchants of the 14th century. At the same time, there were families that were well known, non-nobles like the Fugger family in Augsburg who also became Burghers. In short, there were a few avenues by which to reach the class of Burghers and Merchants
You used the term "third group" rather than "middle class," and "class" is generally an imprecise and anachronistic term when used to describe medieval social structures, but nevertheless, for the sake of discussion—do you see any value in thinking of the ministeriales as fulfilling a role in the High Middle Ages comparable to that of the burgher/merchant class in the Late Middle Ages?
I try to avoid words like class altogether as they have such strong modern implications, but if the term is used strictly within the context of a hierarchically ordered group of people, then there is value to thinking of them as having formed a class by the late 12th century. Some of the more clever families managed to marry into the noble counts, thereby elevating themselves into the lower nobility. Others, remained non-noble, but continued to work as castellans, or other administrative positions. Over time, their families established themselves within the elite of the non-nobles, becoming the burghers and merchants of the 14th century. At the same time, there were families that were well known, non-nobles like the Fugger family in Augsburg who also became Burghers. In short, there were a few avenues by which to reach the class of Burghers and Merchants