Emperor & Empress
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King & Queen
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Viceroy & Vicereine
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Archduke & Archduchess | |
Infante & Infanta
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Grand Duke & Grand Duchess Grand Prince & Grand Princess |
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Duke & Duchess | |
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Marquess & Marchioness Marquis & Marquise |
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Margrave & Margravine
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Earl & Countess |
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Viscount & Viscountess
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Freiherr & Freifrau
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Baronet & Baronetess |
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Hereditary Knight, Ritter
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Knight & Dame |
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Nobile, Edler von |
Traditional rank amongst European 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.
Contents |
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
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 Empire (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).
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.[6]
In Switzerland, nobility titles are prohibited and are not recognized as part of the family name.
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 | Portuguese | Spanish | German | Dutch | Norwegian | Swedish | Czech | Slovak | Finnish[7] | Polish[8] | Russian | Danish | Greek | Slovene | Welsh | Latin[9] | Turkish | Maltese | Hungarian |
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Emperor, Empress |
Empereur, Impératrice |
Imperatore, Imperatrice |
Imperador, Imperatriz |
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 |
Cesar, Cesarica |
Ymerawdwr, Ymerodres |
Imperator/Caesar, 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, Vasilissa |
Kralj, Kraljica |
Brenin, Brenhines |
Rex, Regina |
Kral, Kraliçe |
Re, Reġina |
Király, királynő |
Viceroy, 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 |
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Grand Duke/Grand Prince, 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, 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, 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) |
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Prince,[10] Princess |
Prince,[10] Princesse |
Principe,[10] Principessa |
Príncipe, Princesa |
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 |
Knez, Kneginja |
Tywysog, Tywysoges |
Princeps, principissa |
Prens, Prenses |
Prinċep, Prinċipessa |
Királyi herceg, királyi hercegnő |
Duke, 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, ducissa |
Dük, Düşes |
Duka, Dukessa |
Herceg, hercegnő |
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Marquess/Margrave, Marchioness/Margravine |
Marquis, Marquise |
Marchese, Marchesa |
Marquês, Marquesa |
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 |
Markiz, Markiza |
Marcwis/Ardalydd, Ardalyddes |
Marchio, marchionissa |
Marki, Markiz |
Markiż, Markiża |
Márki, őrgróf márkinő, őrgrófnő |
Earl / Count, Countess |
Comte, Comtesse |
Conte, Contessa |
Conde, Condessa[16] |
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 |
Grof, Grofica |
Iarll/Cownt, Iarlles/Cowntes |
Comes, comitissa |
Kont, Kontes |
Konti, Kontessa |
Gróf grófnő |
Viscount, 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, 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[12] |
Baron, Baronowa |
Baron, Baronessa |
Baron, Baronesse |
Varonos, Varoni |
Baron, Baronica |
Barwn, Barwnes |
Baro, baronissa |
Baron, Barones |
Baruni, Barunessa |
Báró, bárónő |
Baronet[17] Baronetess |
Baronnet | Baronetto | Baronete, Baronetesa; |
Baronet | Erfridder | Baronet | Baronetti, "Herra" (=fiefholder), Herratar |
Baronet | Baronet | Baronet, Baronetesse |
Baronetos, Baroneta | Baronet, Baronetinja |
Barwnig, Barwniges |
Baronet, Baronetes |
Barunett | Baronet, baronetnő |
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Knight[18] / Dame | Chevalier | Cavaliere | Cavaleiro | Caballero | Ritter | Ridder | Ridder | Riddare/ Frälseman, Fru[12] |
Rytíř | Rytier | Aatelinen/Ritari[12] style of wife: Rouva |
Rycerz/ Kawaler | Rytsar | Ridder | Hippotis | Vitez | Marchog | Eques | Şövalye | Kavallier | Lovag (vitéz[19]) |
Esquire, Gentleman | Ecuyer | Nobile,Nobiluomo | Fidalgo | Escudero, Hidalgo | Junker (Prussia), Edler (Austria), Junkerin, Edle |
Jonkheer | Oproda | Nobilis Homo (N.H.) | Bey, Efendi | Nemes, nemesasszony |
In the Kingdom of Korea, similarly to the Chinese Empire, there were 7 aristocratic titles: