Royal and noble ranks
Encyclopedia
Traditional rank amongst Europe
an royalty
, peers
, and nobility
is rooted in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages
. Although they vary over time and between geographic regions (for example, one region's prince might be equal to another's grand duke), the following is a reasonably comprehensive list that provides information on both general ranks and specific differences.
Common Titles for European and Near Eastern Monarchs
Note that 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, high royal, royal, others (princely, ducal, more), and religious.
Imperial titles
High royal titles
Royal titles
Princely, ducal, and other sovereign titles
Religious titles
(HRE) in Europe. Almost all 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 an immediate relationship with the Emperor. Those holding non-sovereign ranks held only a mediate relationship (meaning that the civil hierarchy upwards was mediated by one or more intermediaries between the rank holder and the Emperor).
Titles
Regarding the titles of duke and prince: in Germany, a sovereign duke (Herzog) outranks a sovereign prince (Fürst), but a royal cadet prince (Prinz) outranks a cadet duke of a ducal or grand ducal family. In the German nobility as well, being created a duke was a higher honour than being created a prince. The issue of a duke were sometimes styled as dukes or as princes; princely issue were styled as princes. In particular, the heir apparent to a certain title would usually append the prefix Erb- (hereditary) to their respective title, e.g. Erbherzog, Erbprinz, Erbgraf, Erbherr etc., to distinguish from their junior siblings.
In Germany, the constitution of the Weimar Republic
in 1919 abolished nobility and all nobility titles. They are now merely part of the family name, and there is no more right to the traditional forms of address (e.g., "Hoheit" or "Durchlaucht"). The last title was conferred on 12 November 1918 to Kurt von Klefeld. The actual rank of the holder of a title in Germany was dependent on not only the title, but also on other factors such as the degree of sovereignty
and the rank of the lord of the title-holder. Such matters as the age of the princely dynasty
also play a role (Uradel, Briefadel, altfürstliche, neufürstliche, see: German nobility
). Thus, any sovereign ruler is higher than any formerly sovereign, i.e. mediatized, family of any rank (thus, the Fürst of Waldeck
, sovereign until 1918, was higher than the Duke of Arenberg, mediatized). Members of a formerly sovereign house rank higher than the regular nobility. Among the regular nobility, those whose titles derive from the Holy Roman Empire
rank higher than those whose titles were granted by one of the German princes after 1806, regardless of what title was held.
In Austria, nobility titles may no longer be used since 1918.
In Switzerland, nobility titles are prohibited and are not recognized as part of the family name.
See Royal and noble styles
to learn how to address holders of these titles properly.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an royalty
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
, peers
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
, and nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
is rooted in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Although they vary over time and between geographic regions (for example, one region's prince might be equal to another's grand duke), the following is a reasonably comprehensive list that provides information on both general ranks and specific differences.
Sovereign
- The word monarch is derived from the GreekGreek languageGreek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
μονάρχης (from μόνος, or mónos "one/singular," and , or archon "leader/ruler/chief" through the LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
: monarcha (mono: "one" + arch "chief"). - The word sovereign is derived from the vulgar LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
superanus "chief, principal," from the Latin super "over". - Autocrat is derived from the Greek : ("self") and ("rule"), and may be translated as "one who rules by himself".
Common Titles for European and Near Eastern Monarchs
Note that 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, high royal, royal, others (princely, ducal, more), and religious.
Imperial titles
- EmperorEmperorAn emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
, from the Latin ImperatorImperatorThe Latin word Imperator was originally a title roughly equivalent to commander under the Roman Republic. Later it became a part of the titulature of the Roman Emperors as part of their cognomen. The English word emperor derives from imperator via Old French Empreur...
, meaning "commander" or "one who commands." In English, the feminine form is Empress (the Latin is imperatrix). The realm of an emperor or empress is termed an Empire. Alternate words meaning Emperor, include:- CaesarCaesar (title)Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
, the appellation of RomanRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
emperors derived from the Roman dictatorDictatorA dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
Julius CaesarJulius CaesarGaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
, whose great-nephew and adopted son Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus became the first emperor of Rome. - TsarTsarTsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
, derived from Caesar, primarily used in Russian and Slavic countries. - KaiserKaiserKaiser is the German title meaning "Emperor", with Kaiserin being the female equivalent, "Empress". Like the Russian Czar it is directly derived from the Latin Emperors' title of Caesar, which in turn is derived from the personal name of a branch of the gens Julia, to which Gaius Julius Caesar,...
, derived from Caesar, primarily used in Germanic countries. - Perandor, derived from Caesar, used in Albania.
- BasileusBasileusBasileus is a Greek term and title that has signified various types of monarchs in history. It is perhaps best known in English as a title used by the Byzantine Emperors, but also has a longer history of use for persons of authority and sovereigns in ancient Greece, as well as for the kings of...
, from Mycenaean Greek meaning "chieftain", later used for the Roman emperors of the ByzantineByzantine EmpireThe Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
period.
- Caesar
- SamraatSamraatSamraat is an Ancient Indian title sometimes translated into modern English as "Emperor". The title of empress is Samrãjñī...
(Sanskrit: samrāṭ or सम्राज् samrāj) is an Ancient Indian title sometimes translated into modern English as "Emperor". The feminine form is Samrãjñī.
- King of KingsKing of KingsKing of Kings is a title that has been used by several monarchies and empires throughout history. The title originates in the Ancient Near East. It is broadly the equivalent of the later title Emperor....
mostly used to denote Jesus Christ or the Christian Roman emperors of the Late Empire and Byzantine periods.- Shahanshah, literally "King of Kings" a corruption of the Middle PersianMiddle PersianMiddle Persian , indigenously known as "Pârsig" sometimes referred to as Pahlavi or Pehlevi, is the Middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times became a prestige dialect and so came to be spoken in other regions as well. Middle Persian is classified as a...
šāhān šāh, meaning"King's King." Used in Persia, the Ottoman EmpireOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, and surrounding countries. - Mepe-Mepeta, Georgian for "King of Kings."
- KhaganKhaganKhagan or qagan , alternatively spelled kagan, khaghan, qaghan, or chagan, is a title of imperial rank in the Mongolian and Turkic languages equal to the status of emperor and someone who rules a khaganate...
, derived from Khan of Khans, meaning king of kings in the Mongol EmpireMongol EmpireThe Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
and successor states.
- Shahanshah, literally "King of Kings" a corruption of the Middle Persian
High royal titles
- High KingHigh kingA high king is a king who holds a position of seniority over a group of other kings, without the title of Emperor; compare King of Kings.Rulers who have been termed "high king" include:...
, A king who rules over lesser kings.- MahārājaMaharajaMahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
, SanskritSanskritSanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
for a "great king" or "high king". - PadishahPadishahPadishah, Padshah, Padeshah, Badishah or Badshah is a superlative royal title, composed of the Persian pād "master" and the widespread shāh "king", which was adopted by several monarchs claiming the highest rank, roughly equivalent to the ancient Persian notion of "The Great" or "Great King", and...
, Persian pād "master" and shāh "king" - AnaxAnax' is an ancient Greek word for " king, lord, leader". It is one of the two Greek titles traditionally translated as "king", the other being basileus....
, from Mycenaean wanax for "High King". Outranked Basileus in Mycenaean usage. - Nam-Lugal High kings of ancient SumerSumerSumer was a civilization and historical region in southern Mesopotamia, modern Iraq during the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age....
(Mesopotamia). - PharaohPharaohPharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
, used in Ancient EgyptAncient EgyptAncient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
to denote the High kings of the upper and lower kingdoms of the NileNileThe Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
river valley. - Ard Rí, Gaelic for high king, most notably used for high kings of IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and high kings of ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. - BretwaldaBretwaldaBretwalda is an Old English word, the first record of which comes from the late 9th century Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. It is given to some of the rulers of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms from the 5th century onwards who had achieved overlordship of some or all of the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms...
, high kings of Anglo-SaxonAnglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
- Mahārāja
- Yang di-Pertuan AgongYang di-Pertuan AgongThe Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
, in Malaysia, is the king's title, and means "He who is made supreme lord" Generally rendered a king, the position is elected among the nine kingdoms, so may properly be classed a high king.
Royal titles
- KingKing- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
, from the Germanic *kuningaz, roughly meaning "son of the people." (See: Germanic kingshipGermanic kingshipGermanic kingship refers to the customs and practices surrounding kings among the pagan Germanic tribes of the Migration period and the kingdoms of the Early Middle Ages ....
) The realm of a King is termed a Kingdom (sovereign kings are ranked above vassal kings)- RexKing of RomeThe King of Rome was the chief magistrate of the Roman Kingdom. According to legend, the first king of Rome was Romulus, who founded the city in 753 BC upon the Palatine Hill. Seven legendary kings are said to have ruled Rome until 509 BC, when the last king was overthrown. These kings ruled for...
Latin for "ruler." Cognate with Raja, Rí, Reign, Regina, etc. - RajaRajaRaja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
, Indian for "ruler.". Cognate with Latin Rex, Gaelic Rí, etc. - RíRíRí, or very commonly ríg , is an ancient Gaelic word meaning "King". It is used in historical texts referring to the Irish and Scottish kings and those of similar rank. While the modern Irish word is exactly the same, in modern Scottish it is Rìgh, apparently derived from the genitive. The word...
, GaelicGoidelic languagesThe Goidelic languages or Gaelic languages are one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic languages, the other consisting of the Brythonic languages. Goidelic languages historically formed a dialect continuum stretching from the south of Ireland through the Isle of Man to the north of Scotland...
title meaning king, of which there were several grades, the highest being Ard Rí (High king). Cognate with Indian Raja, Latin Rex, and ancient Gaulish rix. - KhanKhan (title)Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
, from the Turko-Mongol word for "lord," like Duke it was originally a military rank. A Khan's realm is called a Khanate. - ShahShahShāh is the title of the ruler of certain Southwest Asian and Central Asian countries, especially Persia , and derives from the Persian word shah, meaning "king".-History:...
, Persian word for king, form Indo-European for "he who rules" - SultanSultanSultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
, from Arabic for "has power." - MalikMalikMalik is an Arabic word meaning "king, chieftain".It has been adopted in various other, mainly Islamized or Arabized, Asian languages for their ruling princes and to render kings elsewhere. It is also sometimes used in derived meanings...
, Arabic for King. - LakanLakanLakan originally referred to a rank in the pre-Hispanic Filipino nobility in the island of Luzon, which means "paramount ruler." It has been suggested that this rank is equivalent to that of Rajah, and that different ethnic groups either used one term or the other, or used the two words...
, FillipinoFilipino languageThis move has drawn much criticism from other regional groups.In 1987, a new constitution introduced many provisions for the language.Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that:...
title (mostly for the Island of LuzonLuzonLuzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
) which, together with the term "DatuDatuDatu is the title for tribal chiefs, sovereign princes, and monarchs in the Visayas and Mindanao Regions of the Philippines. Together with Lakan , Apo in Central and Northern Luzon, Sultan and Rajah, they are titles used for native royalty, and are still currently used in the Philippines...
" of VisayasVisayasThe Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
and MindanaoMindanaoMindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, is used as an equivalent to Raja, and therefore, to King or sovereign Prince. - Tuanku, the title of the kings of the nine Royal states of Malaysia; all princes and princesses of the Royal Families also receive the appellation Tengku,
- Rex
- Queen, from the Germanic *kwoeniz, or *kwenon, meaning "wife." The female equivalent of a King, a Queen's realm is also a kingdom.
- RaniRajaRaja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
, Indian for Queen. See Raja, above. - Shahbanu, Persian for Queen. See Shah, above.
- Sultana, Arab for Queen. See Sultan, above.
- RatuRatuRatu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
, Indochinese term for Queen, derived from Raja
- Rani
Princely, ducal, and other sovereign titles
- PrincePrincePrince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
, from the Latin princeps, meaning "first citizen". The feminine form is Princess. Variant forms include the German FürstFürstFürst is a German title of nobility, usually translated into English as Prince.The term refers to the head of a principality and is distinguished from the son of a monarch, who is referred to as Prinz...
. - MorzaMorzaMorza is a Princely title in Tatar states, such as Khanate of Kazan, Khanate of Astrakhan and others, and in Russia....
A Tartar title usually translated as "prince," it ranked below a Khan. The title was borrowed from Persian and Indian appellation MirzaMirzaMirza , is of Persian origin, denoting the rank of a high nobleman or Prince. It is usually translated into English as a royal or imperial Prince of the Blood...
added to the names of certain nobles, which itself derived from Emir. - 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 the Balkans.
- DukeDukeA duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
, from the Latin DuxDuxDux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
, meaning "leader," a military rank in the late Roman EmpireDominateThe Dominate was the "despotic" latter phase of government in the ancient Roman Empire from the conclusion of the Third Century Crisis of 235–284 until the formal date of the collapse of the Western Empire in AD 476. It followed the period known as the Principate...
. Variant forms include Doge, and Duce; it has also been modified into Archduke (meaning "chief" Duke), Grand Duke (literally "large," or "big" Duke), Vice Duke ("deputy" Duke), etc. The female equivalent is Duchess - EmirEmirEmir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
, often rendered Amir in older English usage; from the Arabic "to command." The female form is Emira (Amirah). Emir is the root of the English military rank "Admiral." - BeyBeyBey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
, or Beg, Turkish for "Chieftain."
Religious titles
- PopePopeThe Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
(also "Supreme Pontiff of the Universal ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and VicarVicarIn the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Christ"); once wielding substantial secular power as the ruler of the Papal StatesPapal StatesThe Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
and holder of various fiefs, the Pope is also the absolute ruler of the sovereign state Vatican CityVatican CityVatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of... - CaliphCaliphThe Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
, was the ruler of the caliphateCaliphateThe term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
, an Islamic title indicating the successor to MuhammadMuhammadMuhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
. Originally both a religious and a secular leader in the mode of the medieval Popes.
Other sovereigns, royals, peerage, and nobility
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 the Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
(HRE) in Europe. Almost all 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 an immediate relationship with the Emperor. Those holding non-sovereign ranks held only a mediate relationship (meaning that the civil hierarchy upwards was mediated by one or more intermediaries between the rank holder and the Emperor).
Titles
- ArchdukeArchdukeThe title of Archduke denotes a noble rank above Duke and below King, used only by princes of the Houses of Habsburg and Habsburg-Lorraine....
, ruler of an archduchy; was generally only a sovereign rank when used by the rulers of AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
; it was also used by the HabsburgHabsburgThe House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
s of the Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman EmpireThe Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
, Austrian EmpireAustrian EmpireThe Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire for members of the imperial family; it was also used for those ruling some Habsburg territories such as those that became the modern BeNeLux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) nations - Grand PrinceGrand PrinceThe title grand prince or great prince ranked in honour below emperor and tsar and above a sovereign prince .Grand duke is the usual and established, though not literal, translation of these terms in English and Romance languages, which do not normally use separate words for a "prince" who reigns...
, ruler of a grand principality; a title primarily used in the medieval Russian principalities; it was also used by the RomanovRomanovThe House of Romanov was the second and last imperial dynasty to rule over Russia, reigning from 1613 until the February Revolution abolished the crown in 1917...
s of the Russian EmpireRussian EmpireThe Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
for members of the imperial family - DukeDukeA duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
, ruler of a duchyDuchyA duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.Some duchies were sovereign in areas that would become unified realms only during the Modern era . In contrast, others were subordinate districts of those kingdoms that unified either partially or completely during the Medieval era...
, also for junior members of ducal and some grand ducal families - PrincePrincePrince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
, Prinz in German; junior members of a royal, ducal or princely family (the title of FürstFürstFürst is a German title of nobility, usually translated into English as Prince.The term refers to the head of a principality and is distinguished from the son of a monarch, who is referred to as Prinz...
for heads of princely families and sometimes all members, e.g. Wrede)- In particular Crown PrinceCrown PrinceA crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
, Kronprinz in German, was reserved for the heir apparent of an emperor or king
- In particular Crown Prince
- Dauphin, title of the crown prince of the royal family of FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- Infante, title of the cadet members of the royal families of PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... - ElectorPrince-electorThe Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...
, Kurfürst in German, a rank for those who voted for the Holy Roman EmperorHoly Roman EmperorThe Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
, usually sovereign of a state (e.g. the Margrave of Brandenburg, an elector, called the Elector of Brandenburg) - MarquessMarquessA marquess or marquis is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The term is also used to translate equivalent oriental styles, as in imperial China, Japan, and Vietnam...
, MargraveMargraveA margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
, or MarquisMarquisMarquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
was the ruler¹ of a marquessateMarchesA march or mark refers to a border region similar to a frontier, such as the Welsh Marches, the borderland between England and Wales. During the Frankish Carolingian Dynasty, the word spread throughout Europe....
, margraviateMarchesA march or mark refers to a border region similar to a frontier, such as the Welsh Marches, the borderland between England and Wales. During the Frankish Carolingian Dynasty, the word spread throughout Europe....
, or marchMarchesA march or mark refers to a border region similar to a frontier, such as the Welsh Marches, the borderland between England and Wales. During the Frankish Carolingian Dynasty, the word spread throughout Europe.... - LandgraveLandgraveLandgrave was a title used in the Holy Roman Empire and later on by its former territories. The title refers to a count who had feudal duty directly to the Holy Roman Emperor...
, a German title, ruler of a landgraviate - CountCountA count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
, theoretically the ruler of a countyCountyA county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
; known as an EarlEarlAn earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
in modern BritainUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... - ViscountViscountA viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
(vice-count), theoretically the ruler of a viscounty or viscountcy - FreiherrFreiherrThe German titles Freiherr and Freifrau and Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding a person's given name or, after 1919, before the surname...
, holder of an allodialAllodial titleAllodial title constitutes ownership of real property that is independent of any superior landlord, but it should not be confused with anarchy as the owner of allodial land is not independent of his sovereign...
barony – these are "higher" level of barons - BaronBaronBaron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
, theoretically the ruler of a barony – some barons in some countries may have been "free barons" (liber baro) and as such, regarded (themselves) as higher barons
Regarding the titles of duke and prince: in Germany, a sovereign duke (Herzog) outranks a sovereign prince (Fürst), but a royal cadet prince (Prinz) outranks a cadet duke of a ducal or grand ducal family. In the German nobility as well, being created a duke was a higher honour than being created a prince. The issue of a duke were sometimes styled as dukes or as princes; princely issue were styled as princes. In particular, the heir apparent to a certain title would usually append the prefix Erb- (hereditary) to their respective title, e.g. Erbherzog, Erbprinz, Erbgraf, Erbherr etc., to distinguish from their junior siblings.
Aristocracy and gentry
Titles- BaronetBaronetA baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
is an hereditary title ranking below Baron but above Knight; this title is granted only in the British Isles - DominusDominus (title)Dominus is the Latin word for master or owner. As a title of sovereignty the term under the Roman Republic had all the associations of the Greek Tyrannos; refused during the early principate, it finally became an official title of the Roman Emperors under Diocletian...
was the Latin title of the feudal, superior and mesne, lords, and also an ecclesiastical and academical title (equivalent of LordLordLord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
) - VidameVidameVidame, a French corruption of the official Latin term vicedominus , was a feudal title in France...
, a minor French aristocrat - SeigneurLordLord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
or Knight of the Manor rules a smaller local fief - KnightKnightA knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
is the basic rank of the aristocratic system - Patrician is an Italian title of nobility ranking between that of a knight and an esquire; it was only granted in the Italian aristocratic city republics
- FidalgoFidalgoFidalgo , from Galician and Portuguese filho de algo—sometimes translated into English as "son of somebody" or "son of some "—is a traditional title used in Portugal to refer to a member of the titled or untitled nobility...
or HidalgoHidalgo (Spanish nobility)A hidalgo or fidalgo is a member of the Spanish and Portuguese nobility. In popular usage it has come to mean the non-titled nobility. Hidalgos were exempt from paying taxes, but did not necessarily own real property...
is a minor Portuguese and Spanish aristocrat (respectively; from filho d'algo = filho d'alguém = son of someone [noble]) - Nobile (aristocracy)Nobile (aristocracy)Nobile or Nob. is an Italian title of nobility ranking between that of baron and knight. As with the other titles of nobility, such as baron or count, nobile is also used immediately before the family name, usually in the abbreviated form: Nob.The word “nobile” is derived from the Latin “nobilis”,...
is an Italian title of nobility for prestigious families that never received a title - PrincipalíaPrincipaliaThe Principalía or noble class was the ruling and, usually, the educated upper class in the towns of colonial Philippines, composed of the Gobernadorcillo , and the Cabezas de Barangay who governed the districts. The distinction or status of being part of the Principalía is a heriditary right...
the aristocratic class of Filipino nobles, through whom the Spanish Monarchs ruled the Philippines during the colonial period (c. 1600's to 1898). - JonkheerJonkheerJonkheer is a Dutch honorific of nobility.-Honorific of nobility:"Jonkheer" or "Jonkvrouw" is literally translated as "young lord" or "young lady". In medieval times such a person was a young and unmarried son or daughter of a high ranking knight or nobleman...
is a title for prestigious Dutch families that never received a title, so instead a new title was invented; Though these titles have no claim to a territory, city, or province in the Netherlands, they are basically claiming a good family name; A woman who holds this title is called a Jonkvrouw, though the wife of a Jonkheer is a Mevrouw or sometimes Freule, which could also be used by daughters of the same - EsquireEsquireEsquire is a term of West European origin . Depending on the country, the term has different meanings...
is a rank of gentryGentryGentry denotes "well-born and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past....
originally derived from SquireSquireThe English word squire is a shortened version of the word Esquire, from the Old French , itself derived from the Late Latin , in medieval or Old English a scutifer. The Classical Latin equivalent was , "arms bearer"...
and indicating the status of an attendant to a knight or an apprentice knight; it ranked below Knight but above GentlemanGentlemanThe term gentleman , in its original and strict signification, denoted a well-educated man of good family and distinction, analogous to the Latin generosus... - GentlemanGentlemanThe term gentleman , in its original and strict signification, denoted a well-educated man of good family and distinction, analogous to the Latin generosus...
is the basic rank of gentryGentryGentry denotes "well-born and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past....
, historically primarily associated with land or manoral lords; within British Commonwealth nations it is also roughly equivalent to some lower nobility of some continental European nations
In Germany, the constitution of the Weimar Republic
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
in 1919 abolished nobility and all nobility titles. They are now merely part of the family name, and there is no more right to the traditional forms of address (e.g., "Hoheit" or "Durchlaucht"). The last title was conferred on 12 November 1918 to Kurt von Klefeld. The actual rank of the holder of a title in Germany was dependent on not only the title, but also on other factors such as the degree of sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
and the rank of the lord of the title-holder. Such matters as the age of the princely dynasty
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
also play a role (Uradel, Briefadel, altfürstliche, neufürstliche, see: German nobility
German nobility
The German nobility was the elite hereditary ruling class or aristocratic class from ca. 500 B.C. to the Holy Roman Empire and what is now Germany.-Principles of German nobility:...
). Thus, any sovereign ruler is higher than any formerly sovereign, i.e. mediatized, family of any rank (thus, the Fürst of Waldeck
Waldeck
-Places:* Waldeck Castle, a medieval fortress/castle in Germany* Waldeck, Hesse, a town in Hesse* Waldeck or Waldeck-Pyrmont, a principality in the German Empire and German Confederation, and a state in the Weimar Republic, named after the above castle and town* Waldeck, Bavaria, a village in the...
, sovereign until 1918, was higher than the Duke of Arenberg, mediatized). Members of a formerly sovereign house rank higher than the regular nobility. Among the regular nobility, those whose titles derive from the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
rank higher than those whose titles were granted by one of the German princes after 1806, regardless of what title was held.
In Austria, nobility titles may no longer be used since 1918.
In Switzerland, nobility titles are prohibited and are not recognized as part of the family name.
General chart of "translations" between languages
Below is a comparative table of corresponding royal and noble titles in various European countries. Quite often, a Latin 3rd declension noun formed a distinctive feminine title by adding -issa to its base, but usually the 3rd declension noun was used for both male and female nobles, except for Imperator and Rex. 3rd declension nouns are italicized in this chart.See Royal and noble styles
Royal and noble styles
Styles represent the fashion by which monarchs and noblemen are properly addressed. Throughout history, many different styles were used, with little standardization...
to learn how to address holders of these titles properly.
| English English language English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria... |
French French language French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts... |
Italian Italian language Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia... |
Portuguese Portuguese language Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095... |
Spanish Spanish language Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the... |
German German language German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union.... |
Dutch Dutch language Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second... |
Norwegian Norwegian language Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language... |
Swedish Swedish language Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish... |
Czech Czech language Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century... |
Slovak Slovak language Slovak , is an Indo-European language that belongs to the West Slavic languages .Slovak is the official language of Slovakia, where it is spoken by 5 million people... |
Finnish | Polish | Russian | Danish | Greek | Slovene | Welsh | Latin | Turkish Turkish language Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,... |
Maltese Maltese language Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic... |
Hungarian Hungarian language Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe.... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emperor Emperor An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right... , Empress |
Empereur, Impératrice |
Imperatore, Imperatrice |
Imperador, Imperatriz |
Emperador, Emperatriz |
Kaiser Kaiser Kaiser is the German title meaning "Emperor", with Kaiserin being the female equivalent, "Empress". Like the Russian Czar it is directly derived from the Latin Emperors' title of Caesar, which in turn is derived from the personal name of a branch of the gens Julia, to which Gaius Julius Caesar,... , Kaiserin |
Keizer, Keizerin |
Keiser, Keiserinne |
Kejsare, Kejsarinna |
Císař, Císařovna |
Cisár, Cisárovná |
Keisari, Keisarinna (or Keisaritar, obsolete) |
Cesarz, Cesarzowa |
Imperator Imperator The Latin word Imperator was originally a title roughly equivalent to commander under the Roman Republic. Later it became a part of the titulature of the Roman Emperors as part of their cognomen. The English word emperor derives from imperator via Old French Empreur... /Tsar Tsar Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism... , Imperatritsa/Tsaritsa Tsaritsa Tsaritsa , formerly spelled czaritsa , is the title of a female autocratic ruler of Bulgaria or Russia, or the title of a tsar's wife.... |
Kejser, Kejserinde |
Aftokrator, Aftokratira |
Cesar, Cesarica |
Ymerawdwr, Ymerodres |
Imperator Imperator The Latin word Imperator was originally a title roughly equivalent to commander under the Roman Republic. Later it became a part of the titulature of the Roman Emperors as part of their cognomen. The English word emperor derives from imperator via Old French Empreur... /Caesar Caesar (title) Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator... , Imperatrix/Caesarina |
İmparator, İmparatoriçe |
Imperatur, Imperatriċi |
Császár, császárnő |
| King, Queen |
Roi, Reine |
Re, Regina |
Rei, Rainha |
Rey, Reina |
König, Königin |
Koning, Koningin |
Konge, Dronning |
Kung, Drottning |
Král, Královna |
Kráľ, Kráľovná |
Kuningas, Kuningatar |
Król, Królowa |
Koról/Tsar, Koroléva/Tsaritsa |
Konge Dronning |
Vasilefs Basileus Basileus is a Greek term and title that has signified various types of monarchs in history. It is perhaps best known in English as a title used by the Byzantine Emperors, but also has a longer history of use for persons of authority and sovereigns in ancient Greece, as well as for the kings of... , Vasilissa |
Kralj, Kraljica |
Brenin, Brenhines |
Rex King - Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:... , Regina |
Kral, Kraliçe |
Re, Reġina |
Király, királynő |
| Viceroy Viceroy A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty... , Vicereine |
Viceroi, Vicereine |
Viceré, Viregina |
Vice-rei, Vice-rainha |
Virrey, Virreina |
Vizekönig, Vizekönigin |
Onderkoning, Onderkoningin |
Visekonge, Visedronning |
Visekung, Visedrottning |
Wicekról, Wicekrólowa |
Vitse-koról, Vitse-koroléva |
Vizekonge, Vizedronning |
Prorex, Proregina |
Alkirály, alkirálynő |
||||||||
| Grand Duke Grand Duke The title grand duke is used in Western Europe and particularly in Germanic countries for provincial sovereigns. Grand duke is of a protocolary rank below a king but higher than a sovereign duke. Grand duke is also the usual and established translation of grand prince in languages which do not... /Grand Prince Grand Prince The title grand prince or great prince ranked in honour below emperor and tsar and above a sovereign prince .Grand duke is the usual and established, though not literal, translation of these terms in English and Romance languages, which do not normally use separate words for a "prince" who reigns... , Grand Duchess/Grand Princess |
Grand Duc, Grande Duchesse |
Granduca, Granduchessa |
Grão-Duque, Grã-Duquesa |
Gran Duque, Gran Duquesa |
Großherzog/Großfürst, Großherzogin/Großfürstin |
Groothertog, Groothertogin |
Storhertug, Storhertuginne |
Storfurste, Storfurstinna |
Velkovévoda, Velkovévodkyně |
Veľkovojvoda, Veľkovojvodkyňa |
Suuriruhtinas, Suuriruhtinatar |
Wielki Książę, Wielka Księżna |
Velikiy Knyaz, Velikaya Kniagina |
Storhertug, Storhertuginde |
Megas Doux, Megali Doukissa | Veliki vojvoda, Velika vojvodinja |
Archddug, Archdduges |
Magnus Dux/ Magnus Princeps, magna ducissa, magna principissa |
Grandük, Grandüşes |
Gran Duka, Gran Dukessa |
Nagyherceg, fejedelem, vajda nagyhercegnő, fejedelemasszony, - |
| Archduke Archduke The title of Archduke denotes a noble rank above Duke and below King, used only by princes of the Houses of Habsburg and Habsburg-Lorraine.... , Archduchess |
Archiduc, Archiduchesse | Arciduca, Arciduchessa |
Arquiduque, Arquiduquesa; |
Archiduque, Archiduquesa |
Erzherzog, Erzherzogin |
Aartshertog, Aartshertogin |
Erkehertug, Erkehertuginne |
Ärkehertig, ärkehertiginna |
Arcivévoda, Arcivévodkyně |
Arcivojvoda, Arcivojvodkyňa |
Arkkiherttua, Arkkiherttuatar |
Arcyksiążę Arcyksiężna |
Ertsgertsog, Ertsgertsoginya |
Ærke Hertug, Ærke Hertuginde |
Archidoux, Archidoukissa | Nadvojvoda, Nadvojvodinja |
Archddug, Archdduges |
Archidux, archiducissa |
Arşidük, Arşidüşes |
Arċiduka, Arċidukessa |
Főherceg, főhercegnő |
| (Prince)-Elector Prince-elector The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an... , Electress |
Prince-électeur, Princesse-électrice |
Principe Elettore, Principessa Elettrice |
Príncipe-Eleitor, Princesa-Eleitora; |
Príncipe Elector, Princesa Electora; |
Kurfürst, Kurfürstin |
Keurvorst, Keurvorstin |
Kurfyrste, Kurfyrstinne |
Kurfurste Kurfurstinna |
Kurfiřt |
Kurfirst/Knieža voliteľ/Knieža volič |
Vaaliruhtinas, Vaaliruhtinatar |
Książę Elektor, Księżna Elektorowa |
Kurfyurst, Kurfyurstina |
Kurfyrste, Kurfystinde |
Pringkips-Eklektor Pringkipissa-Eklektorissa |
Volilni knez, Volilna kneginja |
Princeps Elector | Veliaht Prens, Veliaht Prenses |
Prinċep Elettur, Prinċipessa Elettriċi |
Választófejedelem, (választófejedelemnő) |
|
| Prince Prince Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess... , Princess |
Prince, Princesse |
Principe, Principessa |
Príncipe, Princesa |
Príncipe, Princesa |
Prinz/Fürst Fürst Fürst is a German title of nobility, usually translated into English as Prince.The term refers to the head of a principality and is distinguished from the son of a monarch, who is referred to as Prinz... , Prinzessin/Fürstin |
Prins/Vorst, Prinses/Vorstin |
Prins/Fyrste, Prinsesse/Fyrstinne |
Prins/Furste, Prinsessa/Furstinna |
Kníže, Kněžna10 |
Knieža, Kňažná |
Prinssi/Ruhtinas, Prinsessa/Ruhtinatar |
Książę, Księżna |
Kniaz/Gertsog, Kniagina/Gertsoginya |
Prins/Fyrste Prinsesse/Fyrstinde |
Pringkips Pringkipissa |
Knez, Kneginja |
Tywysog, Tywysoges |
Princeps Princeps Princeps is a Latin word meaning "first in time or order; the first, chief, the most eminent, distinguished, or noble; the first man, first person."... , principissa |
Prens, Prenses |
Prinċep, Prinċipessa |
Királyi herceg, királyi hercegnő |
| Duke Duke A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy... , Duchess |
Duc, Duchesse |
Duca, Duchessa |
Duque, Duquesa |
Duque, Duquesa |
Herzog, Herzogin |
Hertog, Hertogin |
Hertug, Hertuginne |
Hertig, hertiginna |
Vévoda, Vévodkyně |
Vojovda, Vojvodkyňa |
Herttua, Herttuatar |
Diuk (Książę), (Księżna) |
Hertug Hertuginde |
Doukas/archon Doux/archontissa |
Vojvoda, Vojvodinja |
Dug, Duges |
Dux Dux Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms .... , ducissa |
Dük, Düşes |
Duka, Dukessa |
Herceg, hercegnő |
|
| Marquess Marquess A marquess or marquis is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The term is also used to translate equivalent oriental styles, as in imperial China, Japan, and Vietnam... /Margrave, Marchioness/Margravine |
Marquis, Marquise |
Marchese, Marchesa |
Marquês, Marquesa |
Marqués, Marquesa |
Markgraf, Markgräfin |
Markies/Markgraaf, Markiezin/Markgravin |
Marki, Markise |
Markis/markgreve, markisinna/markgrevinna |
Markýz/Markrabě | Markíz, Markíza |
Markiisi/rajakreivi, Markiisitar/rajakreivitär |
Markiz/Margrabia, Markiza/Margrabina |
Markiz, Markiza, Boyar Boyar A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century.... , Boyarina |
Markis, Markise |
Markissios, Markissia |
Markiz, Markiza |
Marcwis/Ardalydd, Ardalyddes |
Marchio, marchionissa |
Marki, Markiz |
Markiż, Markiża |
Márki, őrgróf márkinő, őrgrófnő |
| Earl Earl An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke... / Count Count A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is... , Countess |
Comte, Comtesse |
Conte, Contessa |
Conde, Condessa |
Conde, Condesa |
Graf Graf Graf is a historical German noble title equal in rank to a count or a British earl... , Gräfin |
Graaf, Gravin |
Jarl Earl An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke... / Greve, Grevinne |
Greve, Grevinna |
Hrabě, Hraběnka |
Gróf, Grófka |
Kreivi/(brit:)jaarli, Kreivitär |
Hrabia, Hrabina |
Graf, Grafinya |
Greve Grevinde, Komtesse |
Komis, Komissa |
Grof, Grofica |
Iarll/Cownt, Iarlles/Cowntes |
Comes Comes Comes , plural comites , is the Latin word for companion, either individually or as a member of a collective known as comitatus, especially the suite of a magnate, in some cases large and/or formal enough to have a specific name, such as a cohors amicorum. The word comes derives from com- "with" +... , comitissa |
Kont, Kontes |
Konti, Kontessa |
Gróf grófnő |
| Viscount Viscount A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:... , Viscountess |
Vicomte, Vicomtesse |
Visconte, Viscontessa |
Visconde, Viscondessa |
Vizconde, Vizcondesa |
Vizegraf, Vizegräfin |
Burggraaf, Burggravin |
Vikomte/Visegreve, Visegrevinne |
Vicomte, Vicomtessa |
Vikomt | Vikomt, Vikontesa |
Varakreivi, Varakreivitär |
Wicehrabia, Wicehrabina |
Vikont, Vikontessa |
Vicegreve, Vicegrevinde/Vicekomtesse |
Ypokomis, Ypokomissa | Vikont, Vikontinja |
Iarll, Iarlles |
Vicecomes, vicecomitissa |
Vikont, Vikontes |
Viskonti, Viskontessa |
Várgróf, vikomt Várgrófnő (vikomtnő) |
| Baron Baron Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"... , Baroness |
Baron, Baronne |
Barone, Baronessa |
Barão, Baronesa |
Barón, Baronesa |
Baron, Herr, Baronin, Frau |
Baron, Barones(se) |
Baron, Baronesse |
Baron, Herre, Baronessa, Fru |
Baron, Baronka |
Barón, Barónka |
Paroni, Herra, Paronitar, Rouva/ Herratar |
Baron, Baronowa |
Baron, Baronessa |
Baron, Baronesse |
Varonos, Varoni |
Baron, Baronica |
Barwn, Barwnes |
Baro, baronissa |
Baron, Barones |
Baruni, Barunessa |
Báró, bárónő |
| Baronet Baronet A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown... Baronetess |
Baronnet | Baronetto | Baronete, Baronetesa; |
Baronet | Erfridder Ridder (title) Ridder is a noble title in the Netherlands and Belgium. The collective term for its holders in a certain locality is the Ridderschap . In the Netherlands and Belgium no female equivalent exists... |
Baronet | Baronetti, "Herra Herra Not to be confused with Hera, the Greek Goddess.Herra means "Lord" in Finnish, and is now generally used in Finnish as an honorific for all men, the equivalent to the English titles "Mister" and "Sir" and also to "gentleman". In the Finnish Defence Forces, a superior is addressed with herra... " (=fiefholder), Herratar |
Baronet | Baronet | Baronet, Baronetesse |
Baronetos, Baroneta | Baronet, Baronetinja |
Barwnig, Barwniges |
Baronet, Baronetes |
Barunett | Baronet, baronetnő |
|||||
| Knight Knight A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior.... / Dame Dame (title) The title of Dame is the female equivalent of the honour of knighthood in the British honours system . It is also the equivalent form address to 'Sir' for a knight... |
Chevalier | Cavaliere | Cavaleiro | Caballero | Ritter | Ridder | Ridder | Riddare/ Frälseman, Fru |
Rytíř | Rytier | Aatelinen/Ritari style of wife: Rouva |
Rycerz/ Kawaler | Rytsar | Ridder | Hippotis | Vitez | Marchog | Eques | Şövalye | Kavallier | Lovag (vitéz) |
| Esquire Esquire Esquire is a term of West European origin . Depending on the country, the term has different meanings... , Gentleman Gentleman The term gentleman , in its original and strict signification, denoted a well-educated man of good family and distinction, analogous to the Latin generosus... |
Ecuyer | Nobile,Nobiluomo | Fidalgo | Escudero, Hidalgo | Junker (Prussia), Edler Edler Edler was until 1919 the lowest title of nobility in Austria-Hungary and Germany, just beneath a Ritter, but above nobles without title who used only the preposition von before their surname. It was mostly given to civil servants and military officers, as well as those upon whom the second rank of... (Austria), Junkerin, Edle |
Jonkheer | Oproda | Nobilis Homo (N.H.) | Bey, Efendi | Nemes, nemesasszony |
Aristocratic titles in medieval Korea
In the Kingdom of Korea, similarly to the Chinese Empire, there were 7 aristocratic titles:- Gun (i.e. Crown PrinceCrown PrinceA crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
), - Kung (hereditary prince or DukeDukeA duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
), - Champan (MarquessMarquessA marquess or marquis is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The term is also used to translate equivalent oriental styles, as in imperial China, Japan, and Vietnam...
), - Poguk (CountCountA count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
or EarlEarlAn earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
), - Pansoh (ViscountViscountA viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
), - Chamise (BaronBaronBaron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
), - Chusa (cca. BaronetBaronetA baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
).
See also
- Forms of address in the United KingdomForms of Address in the United KingdomForms of address used in the United Kingdom are given below.Several terms have been abbreviated in the table below. The forms used in the table are given first, followed by alternative acceptable abbreviations in parentheses.-Abbreviations:*His/Her Majesty: HM...
- Table of Ranks in the Russian EmpireRussian EmpireThe Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
- German comital titlesGrafGraf is a historical German noble title equal in rank to a count or a British earl...
- NobilityNobilityNobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
- PeeragePeerageThe Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
- Royal and noble stylesRoyal and noble stylesStyles represent the fashion by which monarchs and noblemen are properly addressed. Throughout history, many different styles were used, with little standardization...
- Nobiliary particle
- False titles of nobilityFalse titles of nobilityFalse titles of nobility are supposed titles of nobility that have been fabricated and are not recognised by any government and were not so recognised in the past, even in countries in which titles of nobility once existed or still exist. They have received an increasing amount of press attention,...