Glossary of Titles

In an archive such as this, concerned primarily with hereditary and quasi-hereditary forms of governance, it may not be out of order to provide a commentary on the various forms of sovereign and noble titles mentioned herein. There have been many forms of rulership, each with its own particular meaning and origin; what follows is a brief dictionary of such terms.

EUROPEAN

• ALTGRAVE ( Ger. Altgraf) An exclusively German usage, granted to nobles of the status of Counts with holdings in mountainous regions, particularly along passes, where they were vested with the right to garrison such points, and levy tolls for access and passage. See also Burgrave, Landgrave, Margrave, Rhinegrave, Wildgrave.
• ARCHDUKE ( Fr. Archiduc; Ger. Erzherzog; Ir. Ard Diuc; Ital. Arciduca; Sp. Archiduque) The title of sovereignty used exclusively by legitimate members of the Austrian Habsburgs and Lorraine-Habsburgs, from 1359; a duke of higher rank than Grand Dukes or simple Dukes.
• ARDRIGH, ARDRI, ARDRY ( Irish) High King, the theoretical (and sometimes actual) ruler of the entire Irish nation.
• BAN ( Slavonic) A term usually found in Hungary and the Balkans, in the context of describing district or provincial governors; it often had a hereditary implication, and could be approximately equivalent to Duke or Prince. In it's origin, it seems to have been based on a Irani term, and imported into the Balkans with the Avar invasions.
• BARON ( Fr. Baron; Ger. Freiherr; Ir. Barun; It. Barone; Port. Barao; Sp. Baron) The lowest grade of nobility; the word derives from a Gothic term meaning "Man" in the sense of "My man in London", ie. my representative, my servant, one who exerts himself on my behalf. Spanish still has two separate terms for the idea, the Latinate "Hombre" and the Visigothic "Varon". Originally, Barons were the holders of Royal lands, castellans and companions of the King who assisted in maintaining order in the provinces. The German term translates as "free warrior".
• BOYAR ( Slavonic) A term meaning "Noble", "Companion", or "Landholder"; roughly speaking, an eastern European equivalent for "Count". It is an archaic term, and tends to be superceded by Slavic transliterations of central and western European titles after the 16th century.
• BURGRAVE ( Ger. Burggraf) A title encountered exclusively in Germany, where it refers to a person with the status of Count whose domain was primarily an urban territory. Some sources equate it as an equivalent title to the Anglo-French Viscount. Cf. Altgrave, Landgrave, Margrave, Rhinegrave, Wildgrave.
• COUNT ( Ang.-Sax. Ealdorman; Eng. Earl/Countess; Fr. Comte; Ger. Graf; Ir. Iarla, Coimhid, Cunta; It. Conte; Lat. Comes; Port. Conde; Scand. Jarl; Sp. Conde) The Anglo-Saxon term translates literally as "Elder", "Senior", and refers to a chief counselor of the realm. The term survives in modern English as "Alderman", a councilman or representative in local government or a local church governing body. The "Co..." terms all derive from the Latin "Comes", a companion, ally, or supporter. In English, a cognate term is "Committee". The term came to be used to refer to close friends and companions of Royalty, and was eventually institutionalized as such, somewhat superceding, but not replacing, Barons. The Scandinavian "Jarl", which came to be transliterated in English as "Earl" has exactly the same sense: a companion or supporter (of Royalty). The German term of "Graf" also has the same basic meaning as well. English is unusual in that it preserves all three terms in contemporary speech: Earl recalls the Scandinavian term, a Countess is a female Earl, and Graf entered the language as "Reeve", a manorial steward or overseer; "Reeve" has become archaic with the disappearance of manorial feudalism, but it may be noted that Kings began to appoint bailiffs to enforce Royal perogatives on a local level, and these "shire-reeves" (sheriffs) still exist today.
• COUNT PALATINE ( Eng. Palatine Earl; Ger. Pfalzgraf; Ital. Conte palatino) In a general sense, Palatine nobles are those invested not only with the honours and privileges usual to their rank, but also with certain sovereign or semi-sovereign rights as well, especially those involving the administration of justice. This is the case both in the north of England and within Germany, where this form is most usually encountered. In the specific sense of the German usage, the Counts Palatine of the Rhine became the senior Counts of the Empire, and were invested with Electoral dignity from the 14th century.
• DESPOT ( Gk.) An old term which came, in the Middle Ages, to be used in the Balkans and Anatolia as regional ruler, dictator (in the modern sense). Sometimes as a vassal. sometimes autonomous.
• DUKE ( Arm. Naharar; Fr. Duc; Ger. Herzog; Ir. Diuc; Ital. Doge, Duca; Lat. Dux; Port. Duque; Serb. Herceg; Sp. Duque) The highest grade of nobility, and sometimes a sovereign title. Most of the above-mentioned terms derive from the Latin "Dux", meaning a leader or commander, especially in a military sense, ie. a general or warlord. Warlord is the exact equivalent of the Dark Ages usage from which the term evolved into an hereditary caste of nobility: "Dux Bellorum". The German Herzog means exactly the same thing.
• ELECTOR ( Ger. Kurfürst) In the restricted sense of the German usage, "Elector" refers to the any of the great nobles of the Mediaeval and Renaissance Kingdom of Germany who held the right to elect successive Holy Roman Emperors; the term became in effect a kind of senior nobility in and of itself. In fact, one electorate (Hesse-Cassel) insisted on retaining the title even after the Empire had been abolished.
• EMPEROR Fr. Empereur; Ger. Kaiser; Ital. Imperatore; Lat. Augustus, Caesar, Imperator; Rus. Tsar; Sp. Emperador) Technically, a ruler of sovereigns, a king of kings. Most of the above terms derive from the Latin Imperator, meaning "One who requires, demands, or obligates". The Roman usage was as field marshal, a supreme military commander. As such, there were many individuals invested with imperium before the establishment of the Roman Empire. That establishment took place with the granting of the style of "Augustus" (revered one) to the Imperator Octavian Caesar in 27 BCE. His family name provides the source for the remaining terms.
• GENTRY ( Fr. Gens de Qualite; Ger. Landadel; Ir. Daoine Uaisle; Lat. Gentis; Sp. Gentil) A Gentleman is not necessarily mild-mannered, he is gentle because he is a member of a Gens, a distinguished lineage or family (cf. "Gender, Genealogy, Genetics").
• GRAND DUKE ( Fr. Grand Duc; Ger. Grossherzog; Ital. Granduca) A title created in early modern times to distinguish certain sovereign Dukes from simple Dukes of various nobilities. A single Grand Duchy remains today: Luxembourg.
• HETMAN ( Ger. Hauptmann; Pol./Ukr. Hetman) In a general sense, a Hetman is a clan or tribal leader and/or military commander. The title is most usually a reference to Cossack leaders of the Ukraine: in fact, it has been used to identify Ukrainian Sovereigns on those occasions when dissident Cossacks attempted the establishment of a separate State. Its military sense has also been used extensively in Moldavia during the 17th and 18th centuries.
• KING ( Arm. Tagavor; Celt. Rig; Dan. Konge; Dutch Koning; Fr. Roi; Ger. König; Gk. Basileus; Hung. Kiraly; Ir. Ri(gh); Ital. Re; Lat. Rex; Pol. Krol; Port. Rei; Nor. Konge; Rom. Regele; Serb. Kralj; Sp. Rey; Swe. Konung) All of these terms mean essentially the same thing; national ruler or sovereign leader of a particular people.
• KNIAZ ( Russian Knyaz; Serb. Knez) An archaic title meaning "Prince", but often mistranslated as "Duke". The Kniazy were rulers of the various Russian states existing during the Middle Ages. They had differing levels of authority; technically a Kniaz was a sub-Prince, the highest level were called Veliky Knyaz, Great Prince (also translated poorly, as Grand Duke).
• KNIGHT Ang.-Sax. Cniht; Fr. Chevalier; Ger. Ritter; Ir. Curadh, Ridire; Ital. Cavaliere; Lat. Equites; Port. Cavaleiro; Sp. Caballero) A knight is, technically, just someone who owes military service to a feudal lord, and is wealthy enough to own a horse. Most of the above terms are variations on "Horseman" or "Rider"; the Anglo-Saxon term has the sense of "Youth", "Aide-de-Camp", or "Military Retainer" (almost exactly the same status as later came to be described by the term "Squire").
• LANDGRAVE ( Ger. Landgraf) A title found in Germany, referring to a Count who has jurisdiction over primarily rural regions. Cf. Altgrave, Burgrave Margrave, Rhinegrave, Wildgrave.
• LEADER ( Ger. Führer; Ital. Duce; Lat. Dictator; Sp. Caudillo) Not noble titles at all, these terms nevertheless are important references to political rulers. They each have the sense of Overall Commander, Ruler (especially: Military Ruler), "Boss".
• LEATH-RI ( Irish) Literally "Half-King", the particular style for a member of a joint rulership.
• LORD ( Ang.-Sax. Hlaford; Fr. Seigneur; Ger. Herr; Ir. Tiarna, Tighearna; It. Signore; Port. Senhor; Sp. Señor) This is an imprecise term which can mean various things depending on context. Usually it means "One of noble birth, a holder of a title of nobility". In Great Britain though, it can also have the sense of rural gentry, one of gentle birth who, without possessing a patent of nobility, nevertheless owns a manorial estate. The Scottish "Laird" is an exact equivalent of this sense. The Irish Tighearna was also similar; an untitled ruler of a compact swath of territory. Most of the above terms derive from the Latin "Senior", an elder or master. The German term means "Warrior".
• MARGRAVE Eng. Marquess/Marchioness; Fr. Marquis; Ger. Markgraf; Ir. Marcas; It. Marchese; Port. Marques; Sp. Marques) Originally this term refered to counts who held frontier districts. Since such regions tended to be larger than average, and heavily militarized, March lords slowly accumulated greater status than others, and now are the second grade of nobility, ranking below Dukes but above Counts. Note also; Altgrave, Burgrave, Landgrave, Rhinegrave, Wildgrave.
• MBRETI ( Albanian) King or Prince, ruler of a state. Derived from Latin Imperator, "Leader, Commander, Emperor".
• MELIQ ( Armenian) Prince, ruler of a small state. Derived from Arabic Malik, "King, Prince".
• PAGE Fr. Page; Ger. Page; Ital. Paggio; Lat. Paginus; Sp. Paje) All these terms derive from the Latin, which means "A boy, a child servant". Pages were institutionalized as the first step in becoming a Knight; a child of roughly 7 to 14 who was set to learning the fundamentals of life in a castle.
• PRINCE ( Arm. Ishxan; Fr. Prince; Ger. Fürst, Prinz; Ir. Flaith, Mal, Prionsa; Lat. Princeps; Port. Principe; Sp. Principe; Welsh Brenin) This term has any of a number of definitions depending on context. Usually, "Prince" refers to a member of a Royal Family who is not the sovereign. Often, especially when used as "Crown Prince", it refers to the immediate heir to the throne. It is also a sovereign title, and as such there are several Principalities still in existence today. In German nobility, a Prince was a grade of nobility located below Dukes but above Margraves. The term derives from the Latin, which means simply "First, Chief, the Boss" The Roman Empire was, in fact, described by its citizens as "the Principate".
• RHINEGRAVE ( Ger. Rheingraf) An exclusively German usage, denoting nobles of Countal status with holdings on the Rhine River, and vested with the privilege of levying tolls for passage along the river. See as well; Altgrave, Burgrave, Landgrave, Margrave, Wildgrave.
• RUIRE ( Irish) Petty King; Lord of a minor or dependent regality.
• SQUIRE ( Ger. Gutsherr, Junker; Ir. Scuibheir; Ital. Scudiero; Port. Morgado; Sp. Escudero) Usually this refers to the servant of a knight, a young person of roughly 14 to 21 who is learning the business of being a knight. It, and similar terms in other languages have been applied to landed gentry, owners of large estates who do not hold patents of nobility. The term derives ultimately to a phrase (Esquyer, Escutier) in Anglo-Norman meaning "Shieldbearer", and a variant of that has also remained in the language: Esquire.
• STRATEGOS ( Arm. Sparapet) An old Greek term for military commander, General. Came to be used in various places around the Middle East as a term for Military Governor
• TANAISTE, TANIST ( Irish) Successor-designate to a chieftaincy or royalty. Utilized today as the Irish term for Deputy Prime Minister.
• TAOISEACH ( Irish) Clan elder, chieftain. Utilized today as the Irish term for Prime Minister.
TYRANT ( Gk.) An ancient term for semi-monarchic oligarchic ruler of a region or city-state. Very similar in many respects to the modern idea of a military junta or dictator, but not necessarily pejorative. Tyrants were found mainlt in Greece, western Anatolia, and southern Italy, especially in the 7th through 5th centuries BCE.
• VISCOUNT ( Fr. Vicomte; Ger. Vicomte; Ir. Biocun; Ital. Visconte; Lat. Vice Comes; Sp. Vizconde) A title meaning, essentially, "Vice-Count", an assistant or deputy Count. It is now the fourth grade of nobility, situated between Counts/Earls on the one hand, and Barons on the other.
• VOIVODE ( Russ. Voyevoda; Serb. Vojvod) An old Slavonic title, usually encountered in the Balkans. Its original sense was a military one, meaning field commander in an army. By extension, it became the title of district or provincial governors, and evolved in some areas a quasi-hereditary status close to that of Prince or Duke. Cf. Bulg. "Voin", "Warrior". In a slightly altered context, it has also come to be applied as a term describing the clan leader of a Gypsy (Rroma) band or extended family.
• WILDGRAVE ( Ger. Wildgraf) A German usage, refering to a noble of the status of Count, who held jurisdiction over wilderness, waste ground, forests, and uninhabited districts. They had certain legal privileges which made them, in effect, foresters and gamekeepers.
• ZUPAN ( Slavonic) Most usually found in the Balkans, the original meaning of this term was the "Leader of a Zupa", a clan or grouping of extended families. These associations of families (remnants of which can still be recognized today in various Slavic nations) were among the earliest political organizations found among Proto-Slavic and Slavonic peoples. As the term evolved, it became a usage for certain types of provincial governors and minor nobles.

NON-EUROPEAN

• AJAW ( Mayan) Among the Maya of the Yucatan, Guatemala, and Belize, a King, ruler of a city-state.
• ATABEG ( Turkic) Originating within the Seljuq hegemony of western Asia in the 12th century, it generally refers to a governor of provincial stature. The term was utilized sporadically after the end of Seljuq rule.
• BEY ( Turkish) A title current within the Ottoman Empire. Depending on context, it could mean a military commander of roughly regimental level, or it could mean the Governor of a district or small province.
• BEYLERBEY ( Turkish) A military commander of very senior rank, or the governor of a major province or region.
• BWANA ( Swahili) Lord, a noble or important personage.
• CALIPH ( Arabic Khalifa, "successor") The theoretical leader of all Islam; at times this has been in effect an Emperor.
• DAIMYO ( Japanese) Provincial ruler, governor of a region, and/or leader of a noble clan.
• EFFENDI ( Turkish) A noble or important person; similar in many respects to "Bwana" or Sahib".
• EMIR ( Arabic) Roughly, the ruler of a small State; approximately equivalent to the European Prince or Duke.
• GŌNG ( China) Governor of a province, often translated as "Duke" - in pre-Han times, these were often autonomous rulers.
• HUANG TI ( China) The Emperor of China.
• KAKHAN ( Mongol, and Central Asian) Also Qaghan, Kakan, Kagan, etc. A supreme Khan, an emperor.
• KHAN ( Mongol, and Central Asian) Originally a clan leader among the Mongols, it has become a term used for "King, ruler of a state" in many parts of the Middle East. Kakhan was the leader of many tribes or nations.
• MAHARAJADHIRAJ ( India) An Emperor; king of Kings.
• MAHARAJAH ( India) A Great King, the ruler of numerous states. (Compare "Maha" to Greek "Mega")
• MALIK ( Arabic) A King, the ruler of a State.
• MARZPAN ( Persian) Governor of a province.
• MIR ( Persian, Pashtun, etc.) A local ruler or clan elder.
• MOI ( Hawaiian) A King, the Ruler of an island.
• NABOB, NAWAB ( India) Governor, provincial leader.
• NASI ( Hebrew) A Prince, noble, or wise and important personage.
• NEGUSA NEGEST ( Amharic) Literally, "King of Kings"; the Emperor of Ethiopia.
• PADISHAH ( Persian, and Turkiic) A supreme Shah - one of the titles held by the Ottoman Sultan.
• PASHA ( Turkish) A title current within the Ottoman Empire. Depending on context, it could mean a General officer in the military, of roughly divisional or corps level, or it could mean the Governor of a province.
• PIR-AA ( Egypt) (Hebraicized as "Pharaoh") Literally "The Great House", King of ancient Egypt (also: Suten Bati, Lord of the North and South).
• RAJAH ( India) A King, the ruler of a State. (Compare with Celtic "Rig", Latin "Rex")
• RAS ( Amharic) A military title, equivalent to Field Marshal; often translated as Duke in regards to Ethiopian honours.
• SAHIB ( India) Lord, master, important or noble personage.
• SAJAL ( Mayan) A Mayan noble, or provincial governor.
• SAR ( Hebrew) A sovereign, Prince, or Royal personage.
• SATRAP ( Persian) A Hellenized version of the Old Persian "KHšaçapavan" ("protector of the realm"); an hereditary or appointed Viceroy of governor.
• SHAH ( Persian) A King, the ruler of a State. It is often taken to mean "Emperor", but technically that is "Shahanshah", King of Kings.
• SHEIK ( Arabic) A person of noble lineage, and/or a clan or tribal leader.
• SIRDAR ( Persian, Afghan, Pakistani, India) A title of nobility, roughly equivalent to that of a European Count.
• SIRDAR BAHADUR ( Persian, Afghan, Pakistani, India) Literally "Exalted" or "Victorious" Sirdar; a title of nobility very roughly equivalent to the European Margrave.
• SULTAN Arabic) A leader of a State or many States; a King or Emperor.
• SULTAN ES SELATIN ( Turkish) Literally "Sultan of Sultans, a title of the Ottoman Emperor.
• TAIFA Spanish) The ruler of a state, especially one of the post-Abbassid successor states in Moslem Spain. The term is based on the (Andalusian dialect) Arabic "Muluk at-Tawa'if" meaning roughly Junta Leader, or King of a Faction.
• TENNO Japan) The ultimate leader of the Japanese people, commonly translated by Japanese as "Emperor".
• TUI ( Tonga) King, ruler of the nation.
• VIZIER, WAZIR ( Arabic) A title encountered in many places around the Muslim world; it is usually, though not always, non-hereditary. Usually it refers to a high-ranking Officer of State; typically the equivalent of a European Prime Minister or chief financial or treasury officer.
• WANG ( Chinese, Korean, others) A Chinese term for King; the Ruler of the State. Often adopted by neighbouring states within Chinese cultural influence, or specifically granted the term by Chinese diplomats or overlords.