Royal and Noble Ranks - Ranks and Titles - Sovereign

Sovereign

• The word monarch is derived from the Greek μονάρχης, monárkhēs, "sole ruler" (from μόνος, mónos, "single" or "sole", and ἄρχων, árkhōn, archon, "leader", "ruler", "chief", the word being the present participle of the verb ἄρχειν, árkhein, "to rule", "to lead", this from the noun ὰρχή, arkhē, "beginning", "authority", "principle") through the Latinized form monarcha.
• The word sovereign is derived from the vulgar Latin superanus "chief, principal," from the Latin super "over".
• Autocrat is derived from the Greek αὐτοκράτωρ: αὐτός ("self") and κρατείν ("to hold power"), 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

• Emperor, from the Latin Imperator, 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:
  • Caesar, the appellation of Roman emperors derived from the Roman dictator Julius Caesar, whose great-nephew and adopted son Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus became the first emperor of Rome. Augustus' four successors were each made the adoptive son of his predecessor, and were therefore legally entitled to use "Caesar" as a constituent of their names; after Nero, however, the familial link of the Julio-Claudian dynasty was disrupted and use of the word Caesar continued as a title only.
  • Csar / Czar / Tsar / Tzar, derived from Caesar, primarily used in Russian and Slavic countries.
  • Kaiser, derived from Caesar, primarily used in Germanic countries.
  • Perandor, derived from Imperator, used in Albania.
  • Basileus, from Mycenaean Greek meaning "chieftain", later used for the Roman emperors of the Byzantine period.

• Samraat (Sanskrit: samrāṭ or सम्राज् samrāj) is an Ancient Indian title sometimes translated into modern English as "Emperor". The feminine form is Samrãjñī.

• King of Kings mostly used in Christian contexts 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 Persian šāhān šāh, meaning"King's King." Used in Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and surrounding countries.
  • Nəgusä Nägäst, title of the Emperors of Ethiopia, meaning "King of Kings".
  • Mepe-Mepeta, Georgian for "King of Kings."
  • Khagan, derived from Khan of Khans, meaning king of kings in the Mongol Empire and successor states.

High royal titles

• High King, A king who rules over lesser kings.
  • Mahārāja, Sanskrit for a "great king" or "high king".
  • Padishah, Persian pād "master" and shāh "king"
  • Anax, from Mycenaean wanax for "High King". Outranked Basileus in Mycenaean usage.
  • Nam-Lugal High kings of ancient Sumer (Mesopotamia).
  • Pharaoh, used in Ancient Egypt to denote the High kings of the upper and lower kingdoms of the Nile river valley.
  • Ard Rí, Gaelic for high king, most notably used for high kings of Ireland and high kings of Scotland.
  • Bretwalda, high kings of Anglo-Saxon England.
• Yang di-Pertuan Agong, 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.
• Lamane, "master of the land" or "chief owner of the soil" in old Serer language were the ancient kings and landed gentry of the Serer people found in Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania. The title was inherited from father to son. The Lamanes were guardians of Serer religion and many of them have been canonized as Holy Saints (Pangool). Preceded by non.

Royal titles

• King, from the Germanic *kuningaz, roughly meaning "son of the people." (See: Germanic kingship) The realm of a King is termed a Kingdom (sovereign kings are ranked above vassal kings)
  • Rex Latin for "ruler." Cognate with Raja, Rí, Reign, Regina, etc.
  • Raja, Indian for "ruler.". Cognate with Latin Rex, Gaelic Rí, etc.
  • Rí, Gaelic 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.
  • Khan, from the Turko-Mongol word for "lord," like Duke it was originally a military rank. A Khan's realm is called a Khanate.
  • Shah, Persian word for king, form Indo-European for "he who rules"
  • Sultan, from Arabic for "has power."
  • Malik, Arabic for King.
  • Lakan, Fillipino title (mostly for the Island of Luzon) which, together with the term "Datu" of Visayas and Mindanao, 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,
  • Maad a Sinig, King of Sine, a pre-colonial kingdom of the Serer people. From the old Serer title "Maad" (king).
  • Maad Saloum, King of Saloum, a pre-colonial kingdom of the Serer people.
  • Teigne, King of Baol, previously a pre-colonial Serer kingdom.

• Queen, from the Germanic *kwoeniz, or *kwenon, "wife"; cognate of Greek γυνή, gynē, "woman"; from PIE *gʷḗn, "woman". The female equivalent of a King, or the consort of a King; a Queen's realm is also a kingdom.
  • Rani, Indian for Queen. See Raja, above.
  • Shahbanu, Persian for Queen. See Shah, above.
  • Sultana, Arab for Queen. See Sultan, above.
  • Ratu, Indochinese term for Queen, derived from Raja
  • Diyan, Filipino feminine equivalent of "Datu"
  • Hara, Filipino feminine equivalent of "Raha"
  • Bai, Filipino feminine equivalent of a prince.

Princely, ducal, and other sovereign titles

• Prince, from the Latin princeps, meaning "first citizen". The feminine form is Princess. Variant forms include the German Fürst.
• Morza A Tartar title usually translated as "prince," it ranked below a Khan. The title was borrowed from Persian and Indian appellation Mirza added to the names of certain nobles, which itself derived from Emir.
  • Ginoo Filipino term, equivalent to noble man or prince.(During ancient times)
• 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.
• Duke, from the Latin Dux, meaning "leader," a military rank in the late Roman Empire. 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
• Emir, 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."
• Bey, or Beg/Baig, Turkish for "Chieftain."
• Buumi, first in line to the throne in Serer pre-colonial kingdoms.
• Thilas, second in line to the throne in Serer pre-colonial kingdoms.
• Loul, third in line to the throne in Serer country.

Religious titles

• Pope (also "Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church and Vicar of Christ"); once wielding substantial secular power as the ruler of the Papal States and leader of Christendom, the Pope is also the absolute ruler of the sovereign state Vatican City
• Caliph, was the ruler of the caliphate, an Islamic title indicating the successor to Muhammad. Both a religious and a secular leader; the Ottoman sultans continued to use Caliph as another of their titles. However, in later Ottoman times the religious function was practically exercised by the Sheikh ül-Islam; after the establishment of the Turkish Republic, a solely religious Caliphate, held by members of the Sultans' family, was established for a short period of time.
• Saltigue, the high priests and priestesses of the Serer people. They are the diviners in Serer religion.