Royal and noble ranks

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Traditional ranks among European royalty, peers, and nobility are 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 fairly comprehensive list that provides information on both general ranks and specific differences.

Contents

[edit] Ranks and titles

[edit] Sovereign:

See also Monarch

  • specific to one or a few realms
    • Pope ( also "Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church and Vicar of Christ"); the Pope is also the absolute ruler of the sovereign state The Vatican City
    • Tsar (or Czar) in Serbian, Bulgarian, Russian, and Croatian, derives from Caesar, i.e. Emperor; although in its origins the title was meant to claim the imperial dignity, in its Russian and Bulgarian usages, at least, it has in more recent times been seen as only equivalent to King
    • Maharajah, in India, Nepal, (et cetera) "Maha" a prefix meaning highest, and "Rajah" meaning king, hence "highest king", Emperor.
    • Shahanshah, Shah of Shahs, hence Emperor.
    • Khakhan, Khan of Khans, hence Emperor.
    • Caliph, ruling a caliphate is an Islamic title indicating the successor to Muhammad, who is both a religious and a secular leader
    • Rajah, In India, Nepal,(et cetera), title used for denoting the ruler of a kingdom.
    • Shah, in Iran (Persia), king, though often actually referring to the Shahanshah (Emperor).
    • Khan (Mongol, or Turkic) rules a khanate (mainly Asian, but also existed in Mongol/Turkic territory in Russia, Ukraine, and the Crimea)
    • Archduke, before 1806 the title of the ruler of the archduchy of Austria
    • Grand Duke, ruling[1] a grand duchy
    • Grand Prince, a title primarily used in the medieval Russian principalities as the title for the highest level
    • High King, used in Gaelic and Hellenic culture to designate one who ruled over lesser kings

[edit] Noble[2] and cadet:

Regarding the titles of duke and prince: in Germany, a sovereign duke outranked a sovereign prince, but a royal cadet prince outranked 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.

[edit] Aristocratic:

    • Baronet is a hereditary title ranking below Baron but above Knight
    • Nobile (aristocracy) is an Italian title of nobility ranking between that of a baron and a knight (equivalent of Baronet)
    • Dominus (title) Dominus was the Latin title of the feudal, superior and mesne, lords, and also an ecclesiastical and academical title (Equivalent of Lord)
    • Vidame, a minor French aristocrat
    • Fidalgo Hidalgo, a minor Portuguese and Spanish aristocrat (from filho d'algo = filho d'alguém = son of someone [important])
    • Seigneur or Knight of the Manor rules a smaller local fief
    • Knight is the basic rank of the aristocratic system
    • Jonkheer a title for prestigious Dutch families that never received a title, 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.
    • Esquire is a rank of gentry originally derived from Squire and indicating the status of an attendant to a knight or an apprentice knight; it ranked below Knight but above Gentleman[4]

In Germany, the actual rank of the holder of a title is, however, dependent on not only the title as such, but on for instance the degree of sovereignty and on the rank of the lord of the title-holder. But also such matters as the age of the princely dynasty play a role (Uradel, Briefadel, altfürstliche, neufürstliche, see: German nobility). Thus, any sovereign ruler would be 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 ranked higher than the regular nobility. Among the regular nobility, those whose titles derived from the Holy Roman Empire ranked higher than those whose titles were granted by one of the German princes after 1806, no matter what title was held.

In Austria, nobility titles may no longer be used since 1918.[5]

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.

In Switzerland, nobility titles are prohibited and are not recognized as part of the family name.

[edit] 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 to learn how to address holders of these titles properly.

English French Italian Spanish German Dutch Norwegian Swedish Czech Slovak Finnish[6] Polish[7] Russian Danish Greek Portuguese[8] Slovene Latin[9]
Emperor,
Empress		 Empereur,
Imperatrice		 Imperatore,
Imperatrice		 Emperador,
Emperatriz		 Kaiser,
Kaiserin		 Keizer,
Keizerin		 Keiser,
Keiserinne		 Kejsare,
Kejsarinna		 Císař,
Císařovna		 Cisár,
Cisárovná		 Keisari,
Keisarinna (or Keisaritar, obsolete)		 Cesarz,
Cesarzowa		 Imperator/Tsar,
Imperatritsa/Tsaritsa		 Kejser,
Kejserinde		 Aftokrator,
Aftokratira		 Imperador,
Imperatriz		 Cesar,
Cesarica		 Imperator/Caesar,
Imperatrix/Caesarina
King,
Queen		 Roi,
Reine		 Re,
Regina		 Rey,
Reina		 König,
Königin		 Koning,
Koningin		 Konge,
Dronning		 Kung,
Drottning		 Král,
Královna		 Kráľ,
Kráľovná		 Kuningas,
Kuningatar		 Król,
Królowa		 Koról,
Koroléva		 Konge
Dronning		 Vasilefs,
Vasilissa		 Rei,
Rainha		 Kralj,
Kraljica		 Rex,
Regina
Grand Duke/Grand Prince,
Grand Duchess/Grand Princess		 Grand Duc,
Grande Duchesse		 Granduca,
Granduchessa		 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 Grão-Duque,
Grã-Duquesa		 Veliki vojvoda,
Velika vojvodinja		 Magnus Dux/ Magnus Princeps,
magna ducissa, magna principissa
Archduke,
Archduchess		 Archiduc, Archiduchesse Arciduca,
Arciduchessa		 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 Arquiduque,
Arquiduquesa;		 Nadvojvoda,
Nadvojvodinja		 Archidux,
archiducissa
(Prince)-Elector,
Electress		 Prince-électeur,
Princesse-électrice		 Principe Elettore,
Principessa Elettrice		 Príncipe Elector,
Princesa Electora;		 Kurfürst,
Kurfürstin		 Keurvorst,
Keurvorstin		 Kurfyrste,
Kurfyrstinne		 Kurfurste
Kurfurstinna		 Kurfiřt
 - Vaaliruhtinas,
Vaaliruhtinatar		 Książę Elektor,
Księżna Elektorowa		 Kurfyurst,
Kurfyurstina		 Kurfyrste,
Kurfystinde		 Pringkips-Eklektor
Pringkipissa-Eklektorissa		 Príncipe-Eleitor,
Princesa-Eleitora;		 Volilni knez,
Volilna kneginja		 Princeps Elector
Prince[10],
Princess		 Prince[10],
Princesse		 Principe[10],
Principessa		 Príncipe[10],
Princesa		 Prinz/Fürst,
Prinzessin/Fürstin[11]		 Prins/Vorst,
Prinses/Vorstin		 Prins/Fyrste,
Prinsesse/fyrstinne		 Prins/Furste,
Prinsessa/Furstinna[12]		 Kníže,
Kněžna10		 Knieža,
Kňažná		 Prinssi/Ruhtinas,
Prinsessa/Ruhtinatar[12]		 Książę,
Księżna		 Kniaz/Gertsog,
Kniagina/Gertsoginya[13]		 Prins/Fyrste
Prinsesse/Fyrstinde		 Pringkips
Pringkipissa		 Príncipe,
Princesa		 Knez,
Kneginja		 Princeps,
principissa
Duke,
Duchess		 Duc,
Duchesse		 Duca,
Duchessa		 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		 Duque,
Duquesa		 Vojvoda,
Vojvodinja		 Dux,
ducissa
Marquess/Margrave,
Marchioness/Margravine		 Marquis,
Marquise		 Marchese,
Marchesa		 Marqués,
Marquesa		 Markgraf[14],
Markgräfin		 Markies/Markgraaf,
Markiezin/Markgravin		 Marki,
Markise		 Markis/markgreve,
markisinna/markgrevinna[12]		 Markýz/Markrabě[15] Markíz,
Markíza		 Markiisi/rajakreivi,
Markiisitar/rajakreivitär		 Markiz/Margrabia,
Markiza/Margrabina		 Markiz,
Markiza,
Boyar,
Boyarina[13]		 Markis,
Markise		 Markissios,
Markissia		 Marquês,
Marquesa		 Markiz,
Markiza		 Marchio,
marchionissa
Earl / Count,
Countess		 Comte,
Comtesse		 Conte,
Contessa		 Conde,
Condesa		 Graf,
Gräfin		 Graaf,
Gravin		 Jarl / Greve,
Grevinne		 Greve,
Grevinna		 Hrabě,
Hraběnka		 Gróf,
Grófka		 Kreivi/(brit:)jaarli,
Kreivitär[12]		 Hrabia,
Hrabina		 Graf,
Grafinya[13]		 Greve
Grevinde, Komtesse		 Komis,
Komissa		 Conde,
Condessa[16]		 Grof,
Grofica		 Comes,
comitissa
Viscount,
Viscountess		 Vicomte,
Vicomtesse		 Visconte,
Viscontessa		 Vizconde,
Vizcondesa		 Vizegraf,
Vizegräfin		 Burggraaf,
Burggravin		 Vikomte,
Visegrevinne		 Vicegreve,
vicegrevinna		 Vikomt Vikomt,
Vikontesa		 Varakreivi,
Varakreivitär		 Wicehrabia,
Wicehrabina		 Vikont,
Vikontessa		 Vicegreve,
Vicegrevinde/Vicekomtesse		 Ypokomis, Ypokomissa Visconde,
Viscondessa		 Vikont,
Vikontinja		 Vicecomes,
vicecomitissa
Baron,
Baroness		 Baron,
Baronne		 Barone,
Baronessa		 Barón,
Baronesa		 Freiherr/ Baron,
Freifrau/Freiherrin/ Baronin		 Baron,
Barones(se)		 Baron,
Baronesse		 Friherre,
Friherrinna		 Baron,
Baronka		 Barón,
Barónka		 Vapaaherra/Paroni,
Vapaaherratar/Paronitar[12]		 Wolny Pan,
Wolna Pani		 Baron,
Baronessa		 Baron,
Baronesse		 Varonos,
Varoni		 Barão,
Baronesa		 Baron,
Baronica		 Liber baro,
baronissa
Baron,
Baroness		 Baron,
Baronne		 Barone,
Baronessa		 Barón,
Baronesa		 Baron, Herr,
Baronin, Frau		 Baron,
Barones(se)		 Baron,
Baronesse		 Baron, Herre,
Baronessa, Fru		 Baron,
Baronka		 Barón,
Barónka		 Paroni, Herra,
Paronitar, Rouva/ Herratar[12]		 Baron,
Baronowa		 Baron,
Baronessa		 Baron,
Baronesse		 Varonos,
Varoni		 Barão,
Baronesa		 Baron,
Baronica		 Baro,
baronissa
Baronet[17]
Baronetess		 Baronnet Baronetto   Edler,
Edle		 Erfridder     Baronet   Baronetti, "Herra" (=fiefholder),
Herratar		 Baronet Baronet Baronet,
Baronetesse		 Baronetos, Baroneta Baronete,
Baronetesa;		 Baronet,
Baronetinja		  
Knight[18] Chevalier Cavaliere Caballero Ritter Ridder Ridder Riddare/ Frälseman,
Fru[12]		 Rytíř Rytier Aatelinen/Ritari[12]
style of wife: Rouva		 Rycerz/ Kawaler Rytsar Ridder Hippotis Cavaleiro Vitez Eques

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Loss of sovereignty or fief 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.
  2. ^ Although these ranks were most often only noble ones, most of these ranks were sometimes sovereign. This was especially the case for member states of the Holy Roman Empire.
  3. ^ Dukes who are not actually or formerly sovereign, such as all British, French, and Spanish dukes, or who are not sons of sovereigns, as titulary dukes in many other countries, should be considered nobles ranking above marquess.
  4. ^ The meaning of the title Esquire became (and is now) 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 just Gentleman.
  5. ^ Austrian law on noble titles
  6. ^ Finland granted nobility ranks of Ruhtinas, Kreivi, Vapaaherra and Aatelinen. The titles Suurherttua, Arkkiherttua, Vaaliruhtinas, Prinssi, Markiisi, Jaarli, Varakreivi, Paroni and Baronetti were not granted in Finland, though they are used of foreign titleholders. Keisari, Kuningas, Suuriruhtinas, Prinssi and Herttua have been official titles of members of the dynasties that ruled Finland, used officially as such though not granted as titles of nobility. Up to 19th century, there existed feudally-based privileges in landowning, being connected to nobility-related lordship, and fiefs were common in late medieval and early modern eras. The title Ritari was not commonly used except in context of knightly orders. The lowest, non-titled level of hereditary nobility was "Aatelinen" (i.e. "noble").
  7. ^ Due to the principle of nobles' equality, any aristocratic titles below that of prince were not allowed in Poland (with few exceptions). The titles in italics are simply Polish translations of western titles which were granted to some Polish nobles by foreign monarchs, especially after the partitions. Instead of heraditory titles, Polish nobility developed and used a set of titles based on one's office. See szlachta for more info on Polish nobility.
  8. ^ Portuguese titles in italic are not used in Portugal
  9. ^ Latin titles are for etymological comparisons. They do not accurately reflect their medieval counterparts.
  10. ^ a b c d Prince/principe can also be a title of the junior members of royal houses (Prinz in German, Prins in Swedish, Prinssi in Finnish). In the British system, Prince is not a rank of nobility but a title held exclusively by members of the Royal Family.
  11. ^ In the Central European system the title of Fürst, Kníže (e.g. Fürst von Liechtenstein) ranks below the title of a duke (e.g. Duke of Brunswick). The title of Vizegraf was not used in German-speaking countries. The titles of Ritter and Edler were not commonly used.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h No nobility titles were granted after 1906 when the unicameral legislatures (Eduskunta, Riksdag) were established, removing the constitutional status of the so-called First Estate, though noble ranks were granted in Finland until 1917. The lowest, non-titled level of hereditary nobility was "Aatelinen" (i.e. "noble") - Aatelinen was basically a rank, not a title.
  13. ^ a b c For domestic Russian nobility only the two titles Kniaz and Boyar were used before the 18th century when Graf was added.
  14. ^ In the German system by rank approximately equal to Landgraf and Pfalzgraf.
  15. ^ The title Markýz was not used in Bohemia and thus refer only to foreign nobility, while the title Markrabě (the same as German Markgraf) is connected only to few historical territories - former marches on the borders of the Holy Roman Empire, e.g. Moravia.
  16. ^ In Portugal, Barons and Viscounts belonging to the Grands of the Kingdom (Portuguese: Grandes do Reino), were called respectively Baron with Grandness (Portuguese: Barão com Grandeza) and Viscount with Grandness (Portuguese: Visconde com Grandeza) and were ranked equally with Counts.
  17. ^ Not counted as nobility in the British system.
  18. ^ Non-hereditary. Not counted as nobility in the British system. See also squire and esquire

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_and_noble_ranks"
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