Traditional rank amongst Europeanimperiality,royalty,peers, andnobility is rooted inLate Antiquity and theMiddle Ages. Although they vary over time and amonggeographic regions (for example, one region's prince might be equal to another'sgrand duke), the following is a reasonably comprehensive list that provides information on both general ranks and specific differences.[vague] Distinction should be made between reigning (or formerly reigning) families and the nobility – the latter being a social class subject to and created by the former.
The wordmonarch is derived from theGreekμονάρχης,monárkhēs, "sole ruler" (fromμόνος,mónos, "single" or "sole", andἄρχων,árkhōn, "archon", "leader", "ruler", "chief", the word being the present participle of the verbἄρχειν,árkhein, "to rule", "to lead", this from the nounὰρχή,arkhē, "beginning", "authority", "principle") through theLatinized formmonarcha.
The wordsovereign is derived from theLatinsuper ("above").
Autocrat is derived from the Greekαὐτοκράτωρ:αὐτός ("self") andκρατείν ("to hold power"), and may be translated as "one who rules by himself.”
Many titles listed may also be used by lesser nobles – non-sovereigns – depending on the historical period and state. The sovereign titles listed below are grouped together into categories roughly according to their degree of dignity; these being: imperial (Emperor/Empress, etc.), royal (King/Queen, Grand Duke, etc.), others (sovereign Prince, sovereign Duke, etc.), and religious.
"Emperor" (inEnglish),Imperador (inPortuguese),Emperador (inSpanish),Imperatore (inItalian) andEmpereur (inFrench), from the LatinImperator, was originally a military title.[1] Soldiers would salute the leader of a victorious army as 'imperator'. In English, the feminine form isEmpress (the Latin isimperatrix). The realm of an emperor or empress is termed anEmpire. Other words meaning Emperor include:
Augustus, a Roman honorific title which means "venerable" or "majestic", used by Roman Emperors from the beginning of the Empire onwards. The feminine form isAugusta.
Caesar, the appellation ofRoman emperors derived from the RomandictatorJulius Caesar, whose great-nephew and adopted sonGaius Julius Caesar Augustus became the first emperor of Rome. Augustus' four successors were each made the adoptive son of his predecessor, and were therefore legally entitled to use "Caesar" as a constituent of their names; afterNero, however, the familial link of theJulio-Claudian dynasty was disrupted and use of the wordCaesar continued as a title only.
Kaiser, derived from Caesar, primarily used in Germanic countries. The feminine form in German isKaiserin.
Tsar / Tzar / Csar / Czar, derived as shortened variant of the Slavic pronunciation of Caesar (tsyasar), the feminine form isTsaritsa, primarily used in Bulgaria, and after that in Russia and other Slavic countries, although in EnglishTsarina was also sometimes used.
Keizer, the Dutch word for Caesar. The Dutch and Portuguese gave the rulers ofSonbai the title of "emperor" (keizer,imperador).[2]
Sapa Inca, TheSapa Inca (Hispanicized spelling) orSapa Inka (Quechua for "the only Inca"), also known asApu ("divinity"),Inka Qhapaq ("mighty Inca"), or simplySapa ("the only one"), was the ruler of theKingdom of Cusco and, later, the monarch of theTawantinsuyu (calledInca Empire by historians) and theNeo-Inca State.
Samrat, (Sanskrit: samrāt orसम्राट) is anancient Indian title meaning "king of all lands".[4] The feminine form isSamrājñī ("queen of all lands").
皇帝 is the title of emperors inEast Asia. An emperor is calledHuángdì in Chinese,Hwangje in Korean,Hoàng đế in Vietnamese, andKōtei in Japanese, but these are all just their respective pronunciations of the Chinese characters皇帝.
Da Huangdi (大皇帝), literally "great emperor", one of the titles for the Qing emperors[11]
Hwangje (황제; 皇帝), title used for emperors of theKorean Empire
Seonghwang (성황; 聖皇), literally "holy emperor", one of the titles for the rulers of theGoryeo.[12] It is a combination of 聖 (seong), meaning "holy", and 皇, an abbreviation of 皇帝 (hwangje).
Kōtei (皇帝), Japanese title primarily used for emperors of other nations (e.g. Rome, Russia, China, Germany).Tennō refers only to an emperor of Japan, whereaskōtei refers to an emperor of any country.
Tennō (天皇), meaning "heavenly emperor", title used for emperors of Japan. It is a combination of 天 (ten), meaning "heavenly", and 皇, an abbreviation of 皇帝 (kōtei).
Mikado (帝), the traditional title forTennō.[13] 帝 (mikado) is an abbreviation of 皇帝 (kōtei).
King of Kings, the style of monarchic title used in a number of empires
Maharajadhiraja,[14] meaning "great king of kings", used by the emperors of theGupta Empire.[16] In ancient India it was an imperial title, but it later became a royal title.
King, from the Germanic*kuningaz, roughly meaning "son of the people." (See:Germanic kingship)[a] The realm of a king is termed a kingdom (sovereign kings are ranked above vassal kings). The female equivalent of a king is aqueen regnant, and a consort isqueen consort, from the Germanic*kwoeniz, or*kwenon, "wife"; cognate ofGreek γυνή,gynē, "woman"; fromPIE*gʷḗn, "woman". Regardless of a ruler's sex, their realm is known as akingdom.
Rei (inPortuguese andCatalan),Rey (inSpanish),Re (inItalian),Roi (inFrench),Rege (inRomanian) - Derived from LatinRex, meaning "ruler". Rex is cognate with Raja,Rí, Reign, Regina, Arqa (Armenian Արքա), etc.
Bretwalda, title given to some of the rulers ofAnglo-Saxon kingdoms from the 5th century onwards who had achieved overlordship of some or all of the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
Arka or Arqa (Արքա) is a royal title (king) inGreat Armenia and various Kingdoms of Armenia. Another used name wasTagavor orThagawor, which also appeared later inCilician Armenia.
Melech, Hebrew word for king. The word for queen isMalka.
王 is the title of kings in East Asia. A king is calledWáng in Chinese,Wang in Korean,Vương in Vietnamese, andŌ in Japanese, but these are all just their respective pronunciations of the Chinese character王.
Daewang (대왕; 大王), Korean title meaning "great king"[18]
Taewang (태왕; 太王), literally "greatest king", a Korean title for the rulers of theGoguryeo
Seongwang (성왕; 聖王), meaning "holy king", used by theBalhae monarchs[19]
Sinseongjewang (신성제왕; 神聖帝王), literally "holy emperor-king", one of the titles for the rulers of theGoryeo[12]
Vương (王), Vietnamese, meaning "king". In ancient Vietnam it was a royal title, but later became a princely title.
Đại vương (大王), Vietnamese, meaning "great king/prince"[20]
Ō (王), Japanese, meaning "king", or "sovereign". Also the title for the rulers of theWakoku. In ancient Japan it was a royal title, but later became a princely title. The female title isJoō (女王).
Tsenpo, also known asIhase or "Divine Son", was the title of the monarchs ofTibet.
Chanyu, short forChengli Gutu Chanyu (撐犁孤塗單于) was a title used by supreme nomadic rulers of Inner Asia. Meaning "Son of Heaven, Ruler of the North", it was later superseded by the titleKhagan.
Rí,Gaelic title meaningking, of which there were several grades, the highest beingArd Rí (high king). Cognate with IndianRaja, LatinRex, and ancient GaulishRix.
Arasan (அரசன்), Vēndhar (வேந்தர்), Kō (கோ) are the various titles referring to the King in Tamil.
Raja, Sanskrit, laterHindustani, for "king". Cognate with LatinRex, IrishRí, ArmenianArqa, etc. The female equivalent isRani. The Filipino feminine equivalent isHara.
Racha / Rachini written inThai as ราชา or ราชินี. deriving from the sanskrit राज (rāja, “king”). King is ราชา (Racha), Queen is ราชินี (Rachini). Typically refer to the person, not necessary a title.
Khosi a king in Lesotho, Botswana and other Sotho speaking communities.
Kamonteng Ansi (กมรเตงอัญศรี) deriving from Old Khmer, used forSukhothai kings. Meaning: "Lord of Our Lives." Used for kingKamonteng AnsiInthrabodinthrathit, andPhrabat Kamonteng AnsiRammarat. In which, following the latter's reign, the title became defunct
Khun (ขุน) an archaicThai term referring to a leader.
Pho Khun (พ่อขุน) derivation ofKhun. Used during the Sukhothai kingdom era. An example isPho KhunBan Mueang
Khun Luang (ขุนหลวง) derivation ofKhun. Used during the Ayutthaya kingdom era. This title is not used with names, only to refer to the person only. For example, to refer to the King. One says Khun Luang, never Khun Luang Ekkathat. If one wishes to refer to a king, one must either say the regnant name:Somdet PhraBorommaracha III or a personal (formal) name:Somdet Phra ChaoEkkathat.
Chao (เจ้า) means Lord or Master.
Phra Chao (พระเจ้า) informal version ofSomdet Phra Chao. A derivation ofChao.
Somdet Phra Chao (สมเด็จพระเจ้า) a derivation ofChao.
Chao Fa (เจ้าฟ้า) a generally use title for chieftain, lord, and kings among the Tai people. This is also used for personal names of Thai Kings. A derivation ofChao. Though in modern Thailand, this might be refer to a prince or princess.
Sao Möm, a derivation ofChao used among Tai peoples in the Shan State.
Sao, a derivation ofChao used among Tai peoples in the Shan State.
Nai Luang (ในหลวง) informally referring to a king, the King of Thailand.
Phraya (พระยา) an archaic title referring to a Thai King. This was used during the Sukhothai era. Later on during theAyutthaya,Rattanakosin/Siam, andThailand era, this was used to refer to a duke instead of a king.
Great King, a royal title suggesting an elevated status among the host of kings.
High King, a king who holds a position ofseniority over a group of other kings, without the title of emperor.
Mepe, მეფე, Georgian word for king and queen regnant.
Eze, theIgbo word for the King or Ruler of a kingdom orcity-state. It is cognate with Obi and Igwe.
Oba, theYoruba word for King or Ruler of a kingdom or city-state. It is used across all the traditional Yoruba lands, as well as by the Edo, throughout Nigeria, Benin, and Togo.
Alaafin, or "Man of the Palace" in the Yoruba language, was the title of the ruler of the medievalOyo Empire in northwesternYorubaland. He is considered the supreme overlord of the empire and expected to keep tributaries safe from attack as well as mediate disputes between various kings (Obas) and their people within the Empire.
Kabaka, ruler ofBuganda, a realm within Uganda in East Africa.
Shah,Persian word for king, from Indo-European for "he who rules". Used in Persia, alongsideShahanshah. The feminine form isShahbanu
Boqor,Somali for King. However, in practice, it is theprimus inter pares or "King of Kings". The title is etymologically derived from one of the Afro-Asiatic Somali language terms for "belt", in recognition of the official's unifying role within the greater society. Furthermore, Boqor is linguistically related to the stylePaqar, which was employed by rulers in the early Nile Valley state ofMeroe.
Sultan, from Arabic and originally referring to one who had "power", more recently used as synonym for a king. The feminine equivalent is aSultana.
Omanhene orOhene, an Akan title meaningKing of the Nation, with Ohene simply meaningKing.Ohemaa, the maternal counterpart (his mother, sister, aunt (referred to as a 2nd mother), cousin (referred to as sister)), has equal power and selects which son she wants to lead the people. The Akan king rules on behalf of his mother who is the true power of the land. If the Ohemaa doesn't select any male relative to lead on her behalf, then she can take the role as King or Omanhene.
Mwenematapa, title of the rulers of theKingdom of Mutapa. It means "Prince of the Realm" in Shona. Also spelledMwene Mutapa or in Portuguese transliterationMonomotapa.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the official title of theMalaysian head of state, and means "He who is Made Supreme Lord" and is generally glossed in English as "king". The officeholder is elected from among the heads of the nine royal states.
Otumfuo, literally "the powerful one", anAkan title to mean a king. It is thought to originate with the Akan state ofAkwamu. It is still used amongst the Akwamu and now theAsante people.
Qhapaq, written asCapac in Spanish texts, the Inca word for "king"[25]
Grand Vizier was the title of the effective head of government (prime-minister) of many sovereign states in theMuslim world. The office of Grand Vizier was first held by officials in the laterAbbasid Caliphate. It was then held in theOttoman Empire, theMughal Empire, theSokoto Caliphate, theSafavid Empire andMorocco. In the Ottoman Empire, the Grand Vizier held the imperial seal and could convene all other viziers (ministers) to attend to affairs of the state; the viziers in conference were called "Kubbealtı viziers" in reference to their meeting place, the Kubbealtı ('under the dome') inTopkapı Palace. His offices were located at theSublime Porte. Today, thePrime Minister of Pakistan is referred to in Urdu as Wazir-e-azam, which translates literally to Grand Vizier
Khedive (/kəˈdiːv/, Ottoman Turkish: خدیو, romanized: hıdiv; Arabic: خديوي, romanized: khudaywī) was an honorific title of Persian origin used for the sultans and grand viziers of the Ottoman Empire, but most famously for theviceroy of Egypt from 1805 to 1914.
SovereignDuke, from the LatinDux, meaning "leader," a military rank in theLate Roman Empire. Variant forms includeDoge andDuce; it has also been modified intoArchduke (meaning "chief" Duke),Grand Duke (literally "large", or "big" Duke; see above under royal titles),Vice Duke ("deputy" Duke), etc. The female equivalent isDuchess.
Grand Duke is considered to be part of the reigning nobility ("Royalty", in GermanHochadel; their correct form of address is "Royal Highness").[26] The feminine form isGrand Duchess
Veliki Vojvoda, derived fromVoievod. The title of theBosnian Grand Duke (Serbo-Croatian:veliki vojvoda rusaga bosanskog,[27]Latin:Bosne supremus voivoda / Sicut supremus voivoda regni Bosniae) appeared at the beginning of the 14th century as different type of this title, unique for theBosnian medieval state.[28][29] It was a court title, bestowed by the monarch to the highest military commander, usually reserved for the most influential and most capable among the highest Bosnian nobility.[30][31][32][33] To interpret it as an office post rather than a court rank could be equally accurate, and although it was retained for life by a nobleman who gained it, it was not meant to be hereditary, at least not at first. However, in the last several decades of the Bosnian medieval state it became hereditary, which means it became more than just an office or a court rank.[34][35]
Didysis Kunigaikštis, derived from kunigaikštis which itself is a derivative of kunigas (King). It was the title used in theGrand Duchy of Lithuania, also translated as "Grand Prince".
Archduke, ruler of an archduchy; used exclusively by theHabsburg dynasty and its junior branch ofHabsburg-Lorraine which ruled theHoly Roman Empire (until 1806), theAustrian Empire (1804–1867), theSecond Mexican Empire (1863-1867) and theAustro-Hungarian Empire (1867–1918) for imperial family members of the dynasty, each retaining it as a subsidiary title when founding sovereigncadet branches by acquiring thrones under different titles (e.g.,Tuscany,Modena); it was also used for those ruling some Habsburg territories such as those that became the modern so-called "Benelux" nations (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg); The title was createdby forgery in 1358 by the Habsburgs themselves to establish a precedence of their princes over the other titleholders of high nobility of the era; therefore the rank was not recognized by the other ruling dynasties until 1453.[36] The feminine form isArchduchess.
Sovereign Prince, from the Latinprinceps, meaning "one who takes first [place]". The feminine form isSovereign Princess. Variant forms include the GermanFürst and RussianKnyaz (князь) and the feminine formKnyaginya (княгиня).[b]
Velikiy knyaz (великий князь), ruler of a grand principality; a title primarily used in the medieval Russian principalities and claimed by the most important ruling prince, e.g. the ruler of theGrand Principality of Vladimir;[37]
Elector Prince (Kurfürst in German), a rank for those who voted for theHoly Roman Emperor, usually sovereign of a state (e.g. the Margrave of Brandenburg, an elector, called theElector of Brandenburg)
Nizam, The word is derived from the Arabic language Nizām (نظام), meaning order, arrangement. Nizām-ul-mulk was a title first used inUrdu around 1600 to mean Governor of the realm or Deputy for the Whole Empire.
Despot, Greek for "lord, master", initially an appellation for the Byzantine emperor, later the senior court title, awarded to sons and close relatives of the emperor. In the 13th–15th centuries borne by autonomous and independent rulers in theBalkans. The feminine form isDespotess.
Voievod şi domn, title held by the sovereign princes ofWallachia andMoldavia.Voievod (from Slavic) means in this context supreme military commander whileDomn (from lat.dominus) means master, lord, autocrat. The "civilian" title ofdomn holds a kind of primacy. The office/authority is called "domnie" (roughly "lordship") rather than voievodship (as is the case of similar named but lesser Slavic titles). The prince is called upon as "doamne" ("mylord").
Tuanku, literally "My Master" (Tuan Ku), the title of the rulers of the nine Royal states ofMalaysia; all princes and princesses of the Royal Families also receive the appellationTunku (literally "My Lord" (Tun Ku) or speltTengku) orRaja.
Shogun, officiallySei-i Taishōgun (Commander-in Chief of the Expeditionary Force Against the Barbarians), the Japanese word forgeneralissimo, who acted as thede facto militarydictators of Japan of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868.
Emir, often renderedAmir in older English usage; from the Arabic "to command." The female form isEmira (Amirah). Emir is the root of the naval rank "Admiral". Is usually translated as prince in English.
In theOttoman Empire,Mir-i Miran was used as the Persian equivalent to the Turkish titleBeylerbey ("Bey of Beys"), alongside the Arabic equivalentAmir al-Umara ("Emir of Emirs").[40]
Bey, orBeg/Baig, Turkish for "Chieftain." The feminine form isBegum.
Sardar, also spelled asSirdar,Sardaar orSerdar, is a title of nobility (sir-,sar/sair- means "head or authority" and-dār means "holder" inSanskrit andAvestan). The feminine form isSardarni.
Chieftain, a Lineage or Clan chief. the feminine form isChieftainess.
Sheikh is often used as a title for Arab royal families. It commonly designates a tribal chief, royal family member or a Muslimscholar. The feminine form isShaykhah.
Tadodaho, derived from the name of the first "keeper of the council fire" of theIroquois Confederacy,Haudenosaunee, orFive Nations, refers to the individual with the highest authority in both their modern territory and their spiritual way of life.
Tánaiste (Irish pronunciation:[ˈt̪ˠaːn̪ˠəʃtʲə]) is the second in command of an Irish clan. Since 1937, this has been the title in both Irish and English for the deputy head of the Irish government, nominated by the serving Taoiseach to act in that role during the Taoiseach's temporary absence.
Tywysog (Welsh pronunciation:[təˈwəsɔɡ]), in modernWelsh, means "Prince" and is cognate with Taoiseach and Tòiseach. Derived from the proto-Celtic*towissākos "chieftain, leader".
Rí ruirech, "king of over-kings", orrí cóicid, a provincial King in Ireland.
Corono, leader of a large tribe in CelticGallaecia. In later Latin inscriptions, they would sometimes be referred to asPrinceps.[41]
Ratu, AFijian chiefly title that is also found in Javanese culture.
Aliʻi nui, was the supreme monarch of variousHawaiian islands. They are the supreme high chiefs (chief of chiefs). This title would later be used by rulers of the entire Hawaiian chain of islands.
Ajaw, In Maya meaning "lord", "ruler", "king" or "leader". Was the title of the ruler in the Classic Maya polity. A variant being the title of K'inich Ajaw or "Great Sun King" as it was used to refer to the founder of theCopán dynasty,K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo'. The female equivalent is aIx-ajaw.
Kaloomte', In Maya meaning "high king" or "emperor".[42]
Halach Uinik, In Maya meaning "real man", "person of fact" or "person of command". Was the title of the ruler in the Post-Classic Maya polity (Kuchkabal).
Pontifex maximus, formerly one of the titles of the Roman emperors
Catholicos is the Chief Bishop, Patriarch of theArmenian Orthodox Church. The earliest ecclesiastical use of the title Catholicos was by the Bishop of Armenia, head of the Armenian Orthodox Apostolic Church, in the 4th century.
Patriarch is the highest ecclesial title used in theEastern Christian tradition. Some patriarchs are also styled as popes.
Caliph means 'successor' (toMuhammad), both a religious and a secular leader. The ruler of thecaliphate was the secular head of the international Muslim community, as a nation. To claim the Caliphate was, theoretically, to claim stewardship over Muslims on earth, under thesovereignty ofAllah. (SeeAmir al-Mu'minin above). This did not necessarily mean that the Caliph was himself the supreme authority onIslamic law or theology; that still fell to theUlema. The role of the Caliph was to oversee and take responsibility for the Muslim community's political and governmental needs (both within and beyond the borders of his territorial realm), rather than to himself determine matters ofdoctrine.
Amir al-Mu'minin, or "Commander (Emir) of the Faithful," a title traditionally held by theCaliphs ofIslam to denote their suzerainty over all Muslims, even (theoretically) those beyond their territorial borders. Currently, theKing of Morocco and theSultan of Sokoto hold this title, although neither officially claims theCaliphate.
Imam, Imam (/ɪˈmɑːm/; Arabic: إمام imām; plural: أئمة aʼimmah) is an Islamic leadership position. ForSunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a worship leader of amosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic worship services, lead prayers, serve as community leaders, and provide religious guidance. Thus for Sunnis, anyone can study the basic Islamic sciences and become an Imam
Dalai Lama, the highest authority in Tibetan (or more specificallyGelug) Buddhism and a symbol of the unification ofTibet, said to belong to a line ofreincarnations of thebodhisattvaAvalokitesvara. Among other incarnate Tibetan lamas, the second highest Gelug prelate is thePanchen Lama. From the time of theFifth Dalai Lama until 1950, the Dalai Lamas effectively ruled Tibet. The chief of the rivalKagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism is theKarmapa.
Several ranks were widely used (for more than a thousand years in Europe alone) for both sovereign rulers and non-sovereigns. Additional knowledge about the territory and historic period is required to know whether the rank holder was a sovereign or non-sovereign. However, joint precedence among rank holders often greatly depended on whether a rank holder was sovereign, whether of the same rank or not. This situation was most widely exemplified by theHoly Roman Empire (HRE) in Europe. Several of the following ranks were commonly both sovereign and non-sovereign within the HRE. Outside of the HRE, the most common sovereign rank of these below was that of Prince. Within the HRE, those holding the following ranks who were also sovereigns had (enjoyed) what was known as animmediate relationship with the Emperor. Those holding non-sovereign ranks held only amediate relationship (meaning that the civil hierarchy upwards was mediated by one or more intermediaries between the rank holder and the Emperor).
Prince (Prinz in German), junior members of a royal, grand ducal, ruling ducal or princely, or mediatised family. The title ofFürst was usually reserved, from the 19th century, for rulers of principalities—the smallest sovereign entities (e.g., Liechtenstein, Lippe, Schwarzburg, Waldeck-and-Pyrmont)—and for heads of high-ranking, noble but non-ruling families (Bismarck, Clary und Aldringen, Dietrichstein, Henckel von Donnersmarck, Kinsky, Paar, Pless, Thun und Hohenstein, etc.). Cadets of these latter families were generally not allowed to usePrinz, being accorded only the style of count (Graf) or, occasionally, that ofFürst (Wrede,Urach) even though it was also a ruling title. Exceptional use ofPrinz was permitted for somemorganatic families (e.g.,Battenberg, Montenuovo) and a few others (Carolath-Beuthen, Biron von Kurland). Prince is also used as the highest, non-royal title of nobility in instances such as that ofPrince Bernadotte where Swedish royal princes lost those titles due to unapproved marriages. The feminine form isPrincess.
In particular,Crown Prince (Kronprinz in German) was reserved for theheir apparent of an emperor or king. The feminine form isCrown Princess.
Grand Prince (Velikiy knyaz), ruler of a grand principality; a title primarily used in the medieval Russian principalities and claimed by the most important ruling prince; It was also used by theRomanovs of theRussian Empire for members of the imperial family. The feminine form isGrand Princess.
Great Prince, a variation of Grand Prince, the feminine form isGreat Princess.
Dauphin, title of the heir apparent of the royal family ofFrance, as he was thede jure ruler of theDauphiné province in today's southeastern France (under the authority of the King)
Yuvaraja, is an Indian title for crown prince, literally "young king", the heir apparent to the throne of a kingdom. The feminine isYuvarani.
Buumi, first in line to the throne inSerer pre-colonial kingdoms. The second in line is called aThilas, whereas the third in line is known as aLoul.
Bai, Filipino feminine equivalent of a prince.
Ampuan, Maranao royal title which literally means "The One to whom one asks for apology"
Ginoo, Ancient Filipino equivalent to noble man or prince (now used in the form "Ginoóng" as the analogue to "mister").
Pillai, Ancient South Indian title meaning "child", Prince for junior children of Emperors[43]
Morza, aTatar title usually translated as "prince", it ranked below a Khan. The title was borrowed from Persian and Indian appellationMirza added to the names of certain nobles, which itself derived fromEmir.
Daakyehene, pronounced:Daa-chi-hi-ni, literally:future king. The feminine form isDaakyehemaa. An Akan prince.
Knyaz, a title found in most Slavic languages, denoting a ruling or noble rank. It is usually translated into English as "Prince", but the word is related to the EnglishKing and the GermanKönig. Also translated asHerzog (Duke).
Daimyo title of powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords of medieval and early modern Japan.
Duke (Herzog in German), ruler[a] of aduchy;[c] also for junior members of ducal and some grand ducal families The feminine form isDuchess.
Babu, Indian title, equivalent of Duke, feminine isBabuain
Landgrave (literally "Land Count"), a German title, ruler of a landgraviate (large / provincial territory).
Count, theoretically the ruler of acounty; known as anEarl in modern Britain; known as aGraf in German, known asConde in Spain and Mexico, known as aSerdar in Montenegro and Serbia. The female equivalent isCountess, which in Britain also refers to an earl's wife.
Župan, noble and administrative title used in several states in Central and Southeastern Europe between the 7th century and the 21st century.
Ispán, leader of a castle district (a fortress and the royal lands attached to it) in theKingdom of Hungary from the early 11th century.
Viscount (vice-count), theoretically the ruler of aviscounty, which did not develop into ahereditary title until much later.[44] The female equivalent isViscountess. In the case of French viscounts and viscountesses, it is customary to leave the titles untranslated asvicomte[vikɔ̃t] andvicomtesse[vikɔ̃tɛs].
Burgrave, orBurggraf ("count of a burg"). In the Low Countries, the ruler of a major city or deputy to a count, usually in charge of managing the court and administrative affairs.
Kiladar was a title for the governor of a fort or large town inearly modern India. Had the same functions as that of a European feudalCastellan
Sahib, title of Arabic origin meaning "companion." The feminine form isSahiba.
Baron, theoretically the ruler of abarony – some barons in some countries may have been "free barons" (liber baro) and as such, regarded (themselves) as higher barons. The female equivalent isBaroness.
Freiherr, a German word meaning literally "Free Master" or "Free Lord" (i.e. not subdued to feudal chores or drudgery), is the German equivalent of the English term "Baron", with the important difference that unlike the British Baron, he is not a "Peer of the Realm" (member of the high aristocracy).[45] The female equivalent isFreifrau.
Heer, a Dutch word meaning "lord", when used before and during theDutch Republic, refers to the feudal lords that ran the countryside on behalf of the counts. Untitled descendants, male and female, of this old nobility (Dutch:oude adel) use the title "Jonkheer/Jonkvrouw", and after the establishment of theKingdom of the Netherlands sometimes "Baron/Baroness", before the given and surname following the German practice for Freiherr. Also like the German practice, females inherit the title, but cannot pass it down.
Primor, aHungarian noble title, originally the highest rank ofSzékely nobility, usually compared tobaron (or less commonly,count).[46] Originally,primores couldde jure not be evicted from his fiefdom, even by the King of Hungary (although such instances did occur).[47]
Zamindar were considered to be equivalent to lords and barons; in some cases they were independent sovereign princes. The feminine form isZamindarni.
Jagirdar, also spelled asJageerdar (Devanagari: जागीर,Persian: جاگیر,ja- meaning "place",-gir meaning "keeping, holding"). Indian title for the ruler of ajagir (fief) The feminine form isJagirdarni.
Regents: A regent (from Latin regens: ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state pro tempore (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy, or the throne is vacant and the new monarch has not yet been determined. The rule of a regent or regents is called a regency. A regent or regency council may be formedad hoc or in accordance with a constitutional rule. Regent is sometimes a formal title granted to a monarch's most trustedadvisor or personal assistant. If the regent is holding their position due to their position in theline of succession, the compound termprince regent is often used; if the regent of a minor is their mother, she would be referred to as queen regent.
Minor nobility, landed gentry, and other aristocracy
The distinction between the ranks of the major nobility (listed above) and the minor nobility, listed here, was not always a sharp one in all nations. But the precedence of the ranks of a baronet or a knight is quite generally accepted for where this distinction exists for most nations. Here the rank of baronet (ranking above a knight) is taken as the highest rank among the ranks of the minor nobility or landed gentry that are listed below.
Baronet is a hereditary title ranking below baron but above knight; this title is granted only in the United Kingdom and is variously considered to be "the head of thenobiles minores" or "the lowest of thenobiles majores" of that country. The feminine form isBaronetess.
Dominus was the Latin title of the feudal, superior and mesne, lords, and also an ecclesiastical and academical title (equivalent ofLord)
Captal, archaic Gascon title equivalent to seigneur
Knight is the central rank of the Medieval aristocratic system in Europe (and having its equivalents elsewhere), usually ranking at or near the top of the minor nobility in most areas. However, before the 18th century in the Low Countries of the Holy Roman Empire, the knights (ridderen) were major nobility, ranking above theheren (equivalent to feudal barons and lords of the manor, depending on the size of the estate) and directly below the head of state.
Patrician is a dignity of minor nobility or landed gentry (most often being hereditary) usually ranking below Knight but above Esquire
Fidalgo orHidalgo is a minor Portuguese and Spanish aristocrat (respectively; fromfilho d'algo /hijo de algo, lit. "son of something")
Nobile is an Italian title of nobility for prestigious families that never received a title
Edler is a minor aristocrat in Germany and Austria during those countries' respective imperial periods.
Jonkheer is anhonorific for members of theDutch nobility who do not currently hold a title. An untitled noblewoman is styledJonkvrouw, though the wife of aJonkheer is aMevrouw or, sometimes,Freule, which could also be used by daughters of the same.
Junker is a German noble honorific, meaning "young nobleman" or otherwise "young lord".
Reis is an obscure aristocratic title from the coastlines of Lebanon and Syria that is roughly equivalent to a baron. The word itself can be translated as "Commodore", and is found only among a few of the former "Merchant Aristocrat" houses of the former Mount Lebanon Emirate. The only legitimate holders of this title are those that trace their lineage back to vassals ofFakhr al-Din II that arrived from Italy via the alliance with theMedici.
Scottish Baron is a hereditary noble dignity, outside theScots peerage, recognised byLord Lyon as a member of the Scotsnoblesse and ranking below aLord of Parliament but above a ScottishLaird[50][d] in the British system. However, Scottish Barons on the European continent are considered and treated equal to European barons.
Laird is a Scottish hereditary feudal dignity ranking below a Scottish Baron but above an Esquire
Esquire is a rank ofgentry originally derived fromSquire and indicating the status of an attendant to a knight, an apprentice knight, or amanorial lord;[51] it ranks below Knight (or in Scotland below Laird) but aboveGentleman.[e][f]
Gentleman is the basic rank oflanded gentry (ranking below Esquire), historically primarily associated with land; withinBritish Commonwealth nations it is also roughly equivalent to some minor nobility of some of the continental European nations[52] The feminine form isGentlewoman
Bibi, meansMiss in Urdu and is frequently used as a respectful title for women inSouth Asia when added to the given name.
Jizamurai, (samurai of the land) lower-ranking provincial samurai and petty nobility. The term was rather broad and could also refer to non-noble independentpeasantlandowners.
During the Middle Ages, in England, as in most of Europe, thefeudal system was the dominant social and economic system. Under the feudal system, the monarch would grant land to the monarch’s loyal subjects in exchange for the subject’s loyalty and military service when called by the monarch. Besides grants of land, these subjects were usually given titles that implied nobility and rank, such as duke, earl, baron, etc., which were passed down through the holder’smale line. Barons were the lowest rank of nobility and were granted small parcels of land. Earls were the next highest rank with larger land holdings. Dukes were the highest rank and held the largest holdings, known as duchies. The monarch was the ultimate authority and was able to grant and revoke titles.
In the 14th century, an English peerage began to emerge as a separate entity from the feudal system. The peers held titles granted by the monarch, but did not necessarily hold any land or have any feudal obligations. The peerage was divided into five ranks; from highest to lowest: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron.
The peerage system became more formalized over time. By the 18th century, peerages were no longer granted as a reward for military service, but instead were granted as a way to recognize social status and political influence.
Today, there are two types of peerages in England: hereditary and life peerages. Hereditary peerages are those that are passed down through the male line of the family. Life peerages, on the other hand, are granted to an individual for their lifetime only and do not pass down to their heirs.
Before 1958, life peerages were relatively rare, and were held to entitle the bearer to sit in theHouse of Lords. Since theLife Peerages Act 1958, nearly all new peerages are life baronies.
In addition to peerages, there are also a number of other titles in England, such as "knight" and "dame." These titles are granted by the monarch and are not hereditary.
The actual rank of a title-holder in German-speaking states depended not only on the nominal rank of the title, but also the degree ofsovereignty exercised, the rank of the title-holder'ssuzerain, and the length of time the family possessed its status within the nobility (Uradel, Briefadel, altfürstliche, neufürstliche, see:German nobility). Thus, any reigning sovereign ranks higher than anydeposed ormediatized sovereign (e.g., theFürst ofWaldeck, sovereign until 1918, was higher than theDuke of Arenberg, head of a mediatized family, althoughHerzog is nominally a higher title thanFürst). However, former holders of higher titles in extant monarchies retained their relative rank, i.e., a queen dowager of Belgium outranks the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein. Members of a formerly sovereign or mediatized house rank higher than the nobility. Among the nobility, those whose titles derive from theHoly Roman Empire rank higher than the holder of an equivalent title granted by one of the German monarchs after 1806.
The constitution of theWeimar Republic in 1919 ceased to accord privileges to members of dynastic and noble families. Their titles henceforth became legal parts of the family name, and traditional forms of address (e.g., "Hoheit" or "Durchlaucht") ceased to be accorded to them by governmental entities.[53] The last title was conferred on 12 November 1918 toKurt von Kleefeld.[54]
In Austria, nobility titles may no longer be used since 1918.[55]
^abLoss of sovereignty orfief does not necessarily lead to loss of title. The position in the ranking table is however accordingly adjusted. The occurrence of fiefs has changed from time to time, and from country to country. For instance, dukes in England rarely had a duchy to rule.
^A duke who is not actually or formerly sovereign, or a member of a reigning or formerly reigning dynasty, such as British, French, Portuguese, Spanish and most Italian dukes, is a non-dynastic noble ranking above a marquis.
^There are actually five dignities in theBaronage of Scotland that are types of a Scottish Baron; these are (in ascending order of rank):Baron,Lord,Earl,Marquis and Duke (the general name for the dignity listed above among the ranks of aristocratic gentry).
^The meaning of the title Esquire became (and remains) quite diffuse, and may indicate anything from no aristocratic status, to some official government civil appointment, or (more historically) the son of a knight or noble who had no other title above justGentleman.
^In the United States, where there is no nobility, the title esquire is sometimes arrogated (without any governmental authorization) by lawyers admitted to the state bar.
^Thapar, Romila (2004).Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300. University of California Press. p. 366.ISBN978-0-520-24225-8.The unobtrusive titles used by the early Chola kings were replaced with high-sounding ones, such aschakravartigal (emperor, the equivalent of the northernchakravartin).
^Sulejmanagić, Amer (30 November 2012)."Novac Hrvoja Vukčića Hrvatinića" [Coins minted by Duke Hrvoja Vukčića Hrvatinića].Numizmatičke Vijesti (in Serbo-Croatian).54 (65):54–85.ISSN0546-9422. Retrieved8 May 2020.
^Fine, John Van Antwerp (1994).The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. University of Michigan Press.
^Meyers Taschenlexikon Geschichte 1982, vol 2, p. 106.
^Esta institucion (Cabecería de Barangay), mucho más antigua que la sujecion de las islas al Gobierno, ha merecido siempre las mayores atencion. En un principio eran las cabecerías hereditarias, y constituian la verdadera hidalguía del país; mas del dia, si bien en algunas provincias todavía se tramiten por sucesion hereditaria, las hay tambien eleccion, particularmente en las provincias más inmediatas á Manila, en donde han perdido su prestigio y son una verdadera carga. En las provincias distantes todavía se hacen respetar, y allí es precisamente en donde la autoridad tiene ménos que hacer, y el órden se conserva sin necesidad de medidas coercitivas; porque todavía existe en ellas el gobierno patriarcal, por el gran respeto que la plebe conserva aún á lo que llaman aquíprincipalía. (Translation:This institution (Cabecera de Barangay), much older than the fastening of the islands to the Government, has always deserved the most attention. In the beginning, they were the hereditary heads, and they constituted the true chivalry of the country; but of the day, although in some provinces they are still transacted by hereditary succession, there are also elections, particularly in the provinces closest to Manila, where they have lost their prestige and are a real burden. In the distant provinces they are still enforced, and that is precisely where authority has less to do, and the order is preserved without the need for coercive measures; because the patriarchal government still exists in them, because of the great respect that the plebs still retain for what they call here principalía.FERRANDO.)FERRANDO, Fr Juan & FONSECA OSA, Fr Joaquin (1870–1872). Historia de los PP. Dominicos en las Islas Filipinas y en las Misiones del Japon, China, Tung-kin y Formosa (Vol. 1 of 6 vols) (in Spanish). Madrid: Imprenta y esteriotipia de M Rivadeneyra. OCLC 9362749.
^L'institution des chefs de barangay a été empruntée aux Indiens chez qui on la trouvée établie lors de la conquête des Philippines; ils formaient, à cette époque une espèce de noblesse héréditaire. L'hérédité leur a été conservée aujourd hui: quand une de ces places devient vacante, la nomination du successeur est faite par le surintendant des finances dans les pueblos qui environment la capitale, et, dans les provinces éloignées, par l'alcalde, sur la proposition du gobernadorcillo et la présentation des autres membres du barangay; il en est de même pour les nouvelles créations que nécessite de temps à autre l'augmentation de la population. Le cabeza, sa femme et l'aîné de ses enfants sont exempts du tributo. MALLAT de BASSILAU, Jean (1846). Les Philippines: Histoire, géographie, moeurs. Agriculture, industrie et commerce des Colonies espagnoles dans l'Océanie (2 vols) (in French). Paris: Arthus Bertrand Éd.ISBN978-1143901140. OCLC 23424678, p. 356.
^Upshur, Jiu-Hwa; Terry, Janice; Holoka, Jim; Goff, Richard; Cassar, George H. (2011).Cengage Advantage Books: World History. Vol. I. California: Wadsworth Publishing Co. Inc. p. 329.ISBN9781111345167.
^Meyers Taschenlexikon Geschichte 1982, vol 1, p. 22 & vol 2, p. 198.
^Szilágyi, László (1938).Székely Primor Családok. Budapest. p. 17.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Gerő, József (1938).A M. Kir. Belügyminiszter által igazolt nemesek 1867–1937. Budapest: Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kingdom of Hungary. pp. 5–30.
^"Esta institucion (Cabecería de Barangay), mucho más antigua que la sujecion de las islas al Gobierno, ha merecido siempre las mayores atencion. En un principio eran las cabecerías hereditarias, y constituian la verdadera hidalguía del país; mas del dia, si bien en algunas provincias todavía se tramiten por sucesion hereditaria, las hay tambien eleccion, particularmente en las provincias más inmediatas á Manila, en donde han perdido su prestigio y su una verdadera carga. En las provincias distantes todavía se hacen respetar, y allí es precisamente en donde la autoridad tiene ménos que hacer, y el órden se conserva sin necesidad de medidas coercitivas; porque todavía existe en ellas el gobierno patriarcal, por el gran respeto que la plebe conserva aún á lo que llaman aquí principalía." FERRANDO, Fr Juan & FONSECA OSA, Fr Joaquin (1870–1872).Historia de los PP. Dominicos en las Islas Filipinas y en las Misiones del Japon, China, Tung-kin y Formosa, (Vol. 1 of 6 vols, in Spanish). Madrid: Imprenta y esteriotipia de M Rivadeneyra, p. 61.
^Durante la dominación española, el cacique, jefe de un barangay, ejercía funciones judiciales y administrativas. A los tres años tenía el tratamiento de don y se reconocía capacidad para ser gobernadorcillo, con facultades para nombrarse un auxiliar llamado primogenito, siendo hereditario el cargo de jefe.Enciclopedia Universal Ilustrada Europeo-Americana. VII. Madrid: Espasa-Calpe, S.A. 1921, p. 624.
^Ruling of the Court of the Lord Lyon (26 February 1948, Vol. IV, page 26): "With regard to the words 'untitled nobility' employed in certain recent birthbrieves in relation to the (Minor) Baronage of Scotland, Finds and Declares that the (Minor) Barons of Scotland are, and have been both in this nobiliary Court and in the Court of Session recognised as a 'titled nobility' and that the estait of the Baronage (i.e.Barones Minores) are of the ancient Feudal Nobility of Scotland".
^Dodd, Charles R. (1843)A manual of dignities, privilege, and precedence: including lists of the great public functionaries, from the revolution to the present time, London: Whittaker & Co., pp.248,251[2]
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