Traditional rank amongst European royalty, peers, and nobility is rooted in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Although they vary over time and among 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.[vague]
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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 (Emperor, Empress, etc.), high royal (King of Kings etc.), royal (King/Queen, sovereign Grand Duke or Grand Prince, etc.), others (sovereign Prince, sovereign Duke, etc.), and religious.
Archduke (meaning "chief" Duke), Grand Duke (literally "large," or "big" Duke; see above under royal titles), Vice Duke ("deputy" Duke), etc. The female equivalent is Duchess.
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. Several of the following ranks were commonly both sovereign and non-sovereign within the HRE. Outside of the HRE, the most common sovereign rank of these below was that of Prince. Within the HRE, those holding the following ranks who were also sovereigns had (enjoyed) what was known as 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).
In all European countries, the sovereign Grand Duke (or Grand Prince in some eastern European languages) is considered the third-highest monarchic title in precedence, after Emperor and King.
![]() | This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Titles and privileges of nobility were abolished in Germany in 1919..August 2020) ( |
In Germany, a sovereign Duke (Herzog) outranks[] a sovereign prince (Fürst). A cadet prince (Prinz) who belongs to an imperial or royal dynasty, however, may outrank a duke who is the cadet of a reigning house, e.g., Wurttemberg, Bavaria, Mecklenburg or Oldenburg.
The children of a sovereign Grand Duke may be titled "Prince" (Luxembourg, Tuscany, Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt, Saxe-Weimar) or "Duke" (Oldenburg) in accordance with the customs of the dynasty. The heir of the throne of a Grand Duchy is titled "Hereditary Grand Duke", as soon as he reaches the full legal age (majority).
Children of a sovereign (i.e., ruling) Duke and of a ruling Prince (Fürst) were, however, all titled prince (Prinz).
The heir apparent to a ruling or mediatised title would usually prepend the prefix Erb- (hereditary) to his or her title, e.g., Erbherzog, Erbprinz, Erbgraf, to distinguish their status from that of their junior siblings.
Children of a mediatised Fürst were either Prinzen or Grafen (counts), depending upon whether the princely title was limited to descent by masculine primogeniture or not. In the German non-sovereign nobility, a Duke (Herzog) still ranked higher than a Prince (Fürst).
In Russia "Grand duke" is the traditional translation of the title Velikiy Kniaz (? ), which from the 11th century was at first the title of the leading Prince of Kievan Rus', then of several princes of the Rus'. From 1328 the Velikii Kniaz of Muscovy appeared as the grand duke for "all of Russia" until Ivan IV of Russia in 1547 was crowned as tsar. Thereafter the title was given to sons and grandsons (through male lines) of the Tsars and Emperors of Russia. The daughters and paternal granddaughters of Russian emperors, as well as the consorts of Russian grand dukes, were generally called "grand duchesses" in English.
The distinction between the ranks of the major nobility (listed above) and the minor nobility, listed here, was not always a sharp one in all nations. But the precedence of the ranks of a Baronet or a Knight is quite generally accepted for where this distinction exists for most nations. Here the rank of Baronet (ranking above a Knight) is taken as the highest rank among the ranks of the minor nobility or landed gentry that are listed below.
In Germany, the constitution of the Weimar Republic in 1919 ceased to accord privileges to members of dynastic and noble families. Their titles henceforth became legal parts of the family name, and traditional forms of address (e.g., "Hoheit" or "Durchlaucht") ceased to be accorded to them by governmental entities. The last title was conferred on 12 November 1918 to Kurt von Klefeld. The actual rank of a title-holder in Germany depended not only on the nominal rank of the title, but also the degree of sovereignty exercised, the rank of the title-holder's suzerain, and the length of time the family possessed its status within the nobility (Uradel, Briefadel, altfürstliche, neufürstliche, see: German nobility). Thus, any reigning sovereign ranks higher than any deposed or mediatized sovereign (e.g., the Fürst of Waldeck, sovereign until 1918, was higher than the Duke of Arenberg, head of a mediatized family, although Herzog is nominally a higher title than Fürst). However, former holders of higher titles in extant monarchies retained their relative rank, i.e., a queen dowager of Belgium outranks the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein. Members of a formerly sovereign or mediatized house rank higher than the nobility. Among the nobility, those whose titles derive from the Holy Roman Empire rank higher than the holder of an equivalent title granted by one of the German monarchs after 1806.
In Austria, nobility titles may no longer be used since 1918.[19]
The titles used by royalty, aristocracy & nobility of the Maratha Empire
Below is a comparative table of corresponding royal and noble titles in various 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.
[inconsistent] | Emperor, Empress |
King, Queen |
Archduke, Archduchess |
Duke, Duchess |
(Prince)-Elector, Electress |
Prince,[g] Princess |
Marquess/ Margrave, Marchioness/ Margravine |
Earl/Count, Countess |
Viscount, Viscountess |
Baron, Baroness |
Baronet[h] Baronetess |
Knight,[i] Dame |
Esquire/Gentleman | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Latin[j] | Imperator/ Caesar, Imperatrix/ Caesarina |
Rex, Regina |
Archidux, Archiducissa |
Dux, Ducissa |
Princeps Elector | Princeps, Principissa |
Marchio, Marchionissa |
Comes, Comitissa |
Vicecomes, Vicecomitissa |
Baro, Baronissa |
Eques | Nobilis Homo (N.H.) | ||
Arabic | imperator/ embrator
(), imperatora/ embratora () |
Malik
(), Malika (?) |
Al-Ka'ed Al-Askary Al-Akbar
( ? ) |
Al-Emir Al-Akbar
( ), Al-Emira Al-Kobra (? ) |
Ka'ed Askary
(? ) |
Emir Nakheb
(? ?), Emira Nakheba ( ), |
Amir/ Emir
(?), Amira/ Emira () |
- | - | - | Baron
(), Barona () |
- | Faris
?
|
Rajol Nabil
? |
Armenian | Tagavor tagavorats (King of kings); Gaysr (from Latin "Caesar") | Arka (from Greek 'árch?n,' 'king'); Tagavor, Taguhee |
Ishkhanats ishkhan (literally Prince of Princes) | Nakharar ('Grand' only by precedence among other 'dukes') | Nakharar (synonyms are Medzamedz, Ter, Tanuter, Nahapet) | - A function held by the Dukes when assembled in council. Otherwise, a function held by imperial powers who appointed governors or dependent monarchs. (Prince-électeur, ) |
Ishkhan, Ishkhanooee |
Bdeshkh, Bdeshkhooee |
- (Comte, Comtesse) |
Paronats Paron | Paron | Aznavour | Asbed | Azat |
Bulgarian | , |
?, ? |
, |
?, ? |
, |
, |
?, ? |
, ? |
?, ? |
, |
, |
?, ? |
, ? |
|
Czech | Císa?, Císa?ovna |
Král, Královna |
Arcivévoda, Arcivévodkyn? |
Velkovévoda, Velkovévodkyn? |
Vévoda, Vévodkyn? |
Kurfi?t, Kurfi?tka |
Kní?e, Knna10 |
Markýz/Markrab?[k] Markýza/Markrab?nka |
Hrab?, Hrab?nka |
Vikomt, Vikomtka/Vikomtesa |
Baron, Baronka |
Baronet | Rytí? | Pán, Paní |
Danish | Kejser, Kejserinde |
Konge Dronning |
Ærkehertug, Ærkehertuginde |
Storhertug, Storhertuginde |
Hertug, Hertuginde |
Kurfyrste, Kurfyrstinde |
Prins/Fyrste Prinsesse/Fyrstinde |
Markis, Markise |
Greve Grevinde, Komtesse |
Vicegreve, Vicegrevinde/ Vicekomtesse |
Baron, Friherre, Baronesse, Friherreinde |
Baronet, Baronetesse |
Ridder | Junker |
Dutch | Keizer, Keizerin |
Koning, Koningin |
Aartshertog, Aartshertogin |
Groothertog/grootvorst, Groothertogin/grootvorstin |
Hertog, Hertogin |
Keurvorst, Keurvorstin |
Prins/Vorst, Prinses/Vorstin |
Markies/Markgraaf, Markiezin/Markgravin |
Graaf, Gravin |
Burggraaf, Burggravin |
Baron, Barones(se) |
Erfridder style of wife: Mevrouw |
Ridder | Jonkheer,
Jonkvrouw |
Estonian | Keiser, Keisrinna |
Kuningas, Kuninganna |
Ertshertsog, Ertshertsoginna |
Suurhertsog, Suurhertsoginna |
Hertsog, Hertsoginna |
Kuurvürst, Kuurvürstinna |
Vürst, Vürstinna |
Markii, Markiis |
Krahv, Krahvinna |
Vikont, Vikontess |
Parun, Paruness |
Baronet | Rüütel | D?entelmen |
Finnish[l] | Keisari, Keisarinna (or Keisaritar, obsolete) |
Kuningas, Kuningatar |
Arkkiherttua, Arkkiherttuatar |
Suurherttua/Suuriruhtinas, Suurherttuatar/Suuriruhtinatar |
Herttua, Herttuatar |
Vaaliruhtinas, Vaaliruhtinatar |
Prinssi/Ruhtinas, Prinsessa/Ruhtinatar[m] |
Markiisi/Rajakreivi, Markiisitar/Rajakreivitär |
Jaarli/Kreivi, Kreivitär[m] |
Varakreivi, Varakreivitär |
Paroni, Vapaaherra, Paronitar, Rouva/ Vapaaherratar[m] |
Baronetti, "Herra" (=fiefholder), Herratar |
Aatelinen/Ritari[m] style of wife: Rouva |
|
French | Empereur, Impératrice |
Roi, Reine |
Archiduc, Archiduchesse | Grand-Duc, Grande-Duchesse |
Duc, Duchesse |
Prince-électeur, |
Prince,[g] Princesse |
Marquis, Marquise |
Comte, Comtesse |
Vicomte, Vicomtesse |
Baron, Baronne |
Baronnet | Chevalier | Ecuyer, Gentilhomme |
German | Kaiser, Kaiserin |
König, Königin |
Erzherzog, Erzherzogin |
Großherzog/ Großfürst, Großherzogin/ Großfürstin |
Herzog, Herzogin |
Kurfürst, Kurfürstin |
Prinz/Fürst, Prinzessin/Fürstin[n] |
Markgraf,[o] Markgräfin |
Graf, Gräfin |
Vizegraf, Burggraf Vizegräfin, Burggräfin |
Baron, Herr, Freiherr Baronin, Frau, Freifrau, Freiin |
Ritter | Junker (Prussia), Edler (Austria), Junkerin, Edle | |
Greek domestic | ?, |
, |
A, A |
, |
, |
E | , |
, |
, ? |
, ? |
B | ? | ?, |
, ; |
Hindi | Samrat () | Raja (?), Rani (?) |
Rana (?) | Rao () | Rai () | - | Yuvraj (), Yuvrani (?) |
Thakur () | Chaudhary () | Zamindar () | Mukhia () | Sardar () | Samant () | Sriman (?) |
Hungarian | Császár, császárn? |
Király, királyn? |
F?herceg, f?hercegn? |
Nagyherceg, fejedelem, vajda nagyhercegn?, fejedelemasszony, - |
Herceg, hercegn? |
Választófejedelem, (választófejedelemn?) |
Királyi herceg, királyi hercegn? |
Márki, ?rgróf márkin?, ?rgrófn? |
Gróf grófn? |
Várgróf, vikomt Várgrófn? (vikomtn?) |
Báró, bárón? |
Baronet, baronetn? |
Lovag (vitéz[p]) | Nemes, nemesasszony |
Icelandic | Keisari, keisarynja |
Konungur, kóngur, drottning |
Erkihertogi,
Erkihertoginja |
Stórhertogi, stórhertogaynja |
Hertogi, hertogaynja |
Kjörfursti, kjörfurstynja |
Prins/fursti, prinsessa/furstynja |
Markgreifi, markgreifynja |
Greifi, jarl greifynja, jarlkona |
Vísigreifi, vísigreifynja |
Barón, fríherra, barónessa |
Riddari | Aðalsmaður, aðalskona | |
Italian | Imperatore, Imperatrice |
Re, Regina |
Arciduca, Arciduchessa |
Granduca, Granduchessa |
Duca, Duchessa |
Principe Elettore, Principessa Electrice |
Principe,[g] Principessa |
Marchese, Marchesa |
Conte, Contessa |
Visconte, Viscontessa |
Barone, Baronessa |
Baronetto | Cavaliere | Nobile, Nobiluomo |
Latvian | Imperators/?eizars, Imperatrise/?eizariene |
Karalis/ni, Karaliene/ni?iene |
Erchercogs, Erchercogiene |
Lielhercogs, Lielhercogene |
Hercogs, Hercogiene |
K?rfirsts, K?rfirstiene |
Princis, Princese |
Markgr?fs/Marzs Markgr?fiene/Marziene |
Gr?fs, Gr?fiene |
Vikonts, Vikontese |
Barons, Baronese |
Baronets | Bru?inieks, Bru?iniece |
Di?cilt?gais/Augstdzimu?ais, Di?cilt?g?/ Augstdzimus? |
Lithuanian | Imperatorius, Imperatorien? |
Karalius, Karalien? |
Kunigaik?tis, Kunigaik?tien? |
Didysis kunigaik?tis, Did?ioji kunigaik?tien? |
Hercogas, Hercogien? |
Princas, Princes? |
Markizas, Markizien? |
Grafas, Grafien? |
Vikontas, Vikontien? |
Baronas/Freiheras, Baronien?/Freifrau |
Baronetas,
Baronet? |
Riteris | Skvairas, D?entelmenas
Ponas, Ponia | |
Luxembourgish | Keeser, Keeserin |
Kinnek, Kinnigin |
Erzherzog, Erzherzogin |
Groussherzog, Groussherzogin |
Herzog, Herzogin |
Kuerfierscht, Kuerfierschtin |
Prënz/Fierscht, Prënzessin/Fierschtin |
Markgrof/Marquis, Markgrofin/Marquise |
Grof, Grofin/Comtesse |
Vizegrof/Vicomte, Vizegrofin/Vicomtesse |
Baron, Baroness(e) |
Ritter | ||
Maltese | Imperatur, Imperatri?i |
Re/Sultan, Re?ina/Sultana |
Ar?iduka, Ar?idukessa |
Gran Duka, Gran Dukessa |
Duka, Dukessa |
Prin?ep Elettur, Prin?ipessa Elettri?i |
Prin?ep, Prin?ipessa |
Marki?, Marki?a |
Konti, Kontessa |
Viskonti, Viskontessa |
Baruni, Barunessa |
Barunett | Kavallier | |
Norwegian | Keiser, Keiserinne |
Konge, Dronning |
Erkehertug, Erkehertuginne |
Storhertug, Storhertuginne |
Hertug, Hertuginne |
Kurfyrste, Kurfyrstinne |
Prins/Fyrste, Prinsesse/Fyrstinne |
Marki, Markise |
Jarl / Greve, Grevinne |
Vikomte/Visegreve, Visegrevinne |
Baron, Friherre, Baronesse, Friherreinde |
Ridder | Adelsmann, Adelskvinne | |
Polish[q] | Cesarz, Cesarzowa |
Król, Królowa |
Arcyksi Arcyksina |
Wielki Ksi, Wielka Ksina |
Diuk (Ksi), (Ksina) |
Ksi Elektor, Ksina Elektorowa |
Ksi, Ksina |
Markiz/Margrabia, Markiza/Margrabina |
Hrabia, Hrabina |
Wicehrabia, Wicehrabina |
Baron, Baronowa |
Baronet | Rycerz/ Kawaler | Szlachcic |
Portuguese | Imperador, Imperatriz |
Rei, Rainha |
Arquiduque, Arquiduquesa; |
Grão-Duque, Grã-Duquesa |
Duque, Duquesa |
Príncipe-Eleitor, Princesa-Eleitora; |
Príncipe, Princesa |
Marquês, Marquesa |
Conde, Condessa[r] |
Visconde, Viscondessa |
Barão, Baronesa |
Baronete, Baronetesa; |
Cavaleiro | Fidalgo |
Romanian | Împ?rat, Împ?r?teas? |
Rege, Regin? |
Arhiduce, Arhiduces? |
Mare Duce, Mare Duces? |
Duce, Duces? |
Prin? Elector, Prin?es? Electora |
Prin?, Prin?es? |
Marchiz, Marchiz? |
Conte, Contes? |
Viconte, Vicontes? |
Baron, Baroneas?, Baroan? |
Baronet | Cavaler | Gentilom |
Russian | /?(Imperator/Tsar), | /?
(Koról/Tsar), (Koroléva/Tsaritsa) |
(Ertsgertsog), (Ertsgertsoginya) |
? (Velikiy Knyaz), ? ? (Velikaya Kniagina) |
(Gertsog), (Gertsoginya) |
? (Kurfyurst), ? (Kurfyurstina) |
?/ (Tsarevich/Kniaz), ?/? (Tsarevna/Kniagina)[s] |
(Markiz), ? (Markiza), |
? (Graf), ? (Grafinya)[s] |
(Vikont), ? (Vikontessa) |
(Baron), (Baronessa) |
? (Baronet) | (Rytsar),
? (Dama) |
(Gospodin),
? (Gospozha) |
Serbian | (Car), (Carica) |
? (Kralj), ? (Kraljica) |
? (Nadvojvoda)/ (Herceg), ? (Nadvojvodkinja)/ (Hercoginja) |
? (Veliki vojvoda), ? (Velika vojvodkinja) |
? (Vojvoda), ? (Vojvodkinja) |
(Kraljevi?)/ ? (Carevi?)/ (Princ), (Princeza) |
? (Knez)/ ? (Knj?z), ? (Kneginja)/ ? (Knjeginja) |
(Markiz), ? (Markiza) |
? (Grof), ? (Grofica) |
(Vikont), (Vikontica) |
(Baron), (Baronica)/ (Baronesa) |
? (Barunet), (Baruneta) |
(Vitez) | (Gospodin) |
Spanish | Emperador, Emperatriz |
Rey, Reina |
Archiduque, Archiduquesa |
Gran Duque, Gran Duquesa |
Duque, Duquesa |
Príncipe Elector, Princesa Electora; |
Príncipe,[g] Princesa |
Marqués, Marquesa |
Conde, Condesa |
Vizconde, Vizcondesa |
Barón, Baronesa |
Baronet | Caballero | Escudero, Hidalgo |
Slovak | Cisár, Cisárovná |
Krá?, Krá?ovná |
Arcivojvoda, Arcivojvodky?a |
Ve?kovojvoda, Ve?kovojvodky?a |
Vojvoda, Vojvodky?a |
Kurfirst/ Knie?a volite?/ Knie?a voli? |
Knie?a, K?a?ná |
Markíz, Markíza |
Gróf, Grófka |
Vikomt, Vikontesa |
Barón, Barónka |
Baronet | Rytier | |
Slovene | Cesar, Cesarica |
Kralj, Kraljica |
Nadvojvoda, Nadvojvodinja |
Veliki vojvoda, Velika vojvodinja |
Vojvoda, Vojvodinja |
Volilni knez, Volilna kneginja |
Knez, Kneginja |
Markiz/Mejni grof, Markiza/Mejna grofica |
Grof, Grofica |
Vikont, Vikontinja |
Baron, Baronica |
Baronet, Baronetinja |
Vitez | Oproda |
Swedish | Kejsare, Kejsarinna |
Kung, Drottning |
Ärkehertig, ärkehertiginna |
Storhertig/Storfurste, Storhertiginna/Storfurstinna |
Hertig, hertiginna |
Kurfurste Kurfurstinna |
Prins/Furste, Prinsessa/Furstinna[m] |
Markis/markgreve, markisinna/markgrevinna[m] |
Greve, Grevinna |
Vicomte, Vicomtessa |
Baron, Herre, Friherre, Baronessa, Fru, Friherrinna |
Riddare/Frälseman, Dam/Fru[m] |
||
Turkish | Padishah, Hakan, Sulnü's-Seln | Sultan, Han | Khedive, Pasha | Pasha, Beylerbey, Beylerbayan |
Bey, Bayan |
- | ?ehzade, Han?msultan |
- | - | - | Timariot, Timariota |
Timar | ?övalye | Bey, Efendi |
Persian | ?âhan?âh,
?ahrbânu |
?âh, ?ahbânu |
_,
_ |
Khan-i-Khanan,
Khatun Bozorg |
Khan,
Khatun |
Entexâbgare ?âhpur,
Entexâbgare ?âhdoxt, |
?âhpur,
?âhdoxt |
Mârki,
Mârkiz |
Kont,
Kontes |
Vikont,
Vikontes |
Barun,
Barunes |
Barunet,
Bârunetes |
?ovâlye | Agha, Khanum |
Ukrainian | / (Imperator), / (Imperatrytsia) |
/ (Koról/Tsar), / (Koroléva/Tsarytsia) |
/ (Ertshertsoh/Arkheknyaz), / (Ertshertsohynia/Arkhikniahynia) |
? (Velykyi Knyaz), ? (Velyka Kniahynia) |
/ (Hertsoh/Diuk), / (Hertsohynia/Diuchesa) |
(Kurfyurst), (Kurfyurstyna) |
/ (Knyaz/Printz), ?/ (Kniahynia/Pryntsesa) |
/ (Markiz/Boyaryn), ?/? (Markiza/Boyarynia) |
? (Hraf), ? (Hrafynia) |
(Vikont), (Vikontesa) |
(Baron), (Baronesa) |
? (Baronet) | (Lytsar) | / (Pan/Hospodar), ?/ (Pani/Hospodynia) |
Urdu | Badishah (), Shahanshah () |
Sultan (), Shah () |
Nawab (?), Nizam (?) |
Mian (?) | Mir () | Nawab Wazir, Wazir e Azim, Mir Bakshi |
Shahzada (), Sahibzada (), Nawabzada () |
Malik () | Pasha (?) | Khan () | Sardar (), Tumandar |
Baig () | Ghazi (?) | Janab (?), Sahib (?) |
Welsh | Ymerawdwr, Ymerodres |
Brenin, Brenhines |
Archddug, Archdduges |
Archddug, Archdduges |
Dug, Duges |
Tywysog, Tywysoges |
Marcwis/Ardalydd, Ardalyddes |
Iarll/Cownt, Iarlles/Cowntes |
Iarll, Iarlles |
Barwn, Barwnes |
Barwnig, Barwniges |
Marchog |