Imperial, royal and noble ranks

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.

Ranks and titles

• Sovereign:
  • Emperor, rules¹ an empire.
  • Tsar (or Czar) in Bulgarian, Russian, and Serbian, 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.
  • Khan (Mongol, or Turkic) rules a khanate. (Mainly Asian, but also existed in Mongol/Turkic territory in Russia, Ukraine, and the Crimea.)
  • Caliph is an Islamic title indicating the successor to Muhammad, who is both a religious and a secular leader.
  • Sultan, a Turkish title, rules¹ a Sultanate
  • Emir, another Islamic title, rules an Emirate
  • King, rules¹ a kingdom (Sovereign kings are ranked above vassal kings).
  • Prince, Fürst in German, ruling¹ a Principality
  • Grand Duke, ruling¹ a grand duchy.
  • Grand Prince, a title primarily used in the medieval Russian principalities as the title for the highest level

• Nobility:
  • Prince, Prinz in German; junior members of a sovereign or formerly sovereign family
  • Prince-elector, Kurfürst in German, electing the Holy Roman Emperor
  • Archduke, a unique rank used only by the Habsburgs in Austria for princes of the imperial family
  • Duke, who rules¹ a duchy²
  • Marquess or Margrave, theoretically the ruler¹ of a marquessate, margraviate, or march.
  • Landgrave, a german title, ruler of a landgraviate.
  • Count, theoretically the ruler of a county, known as an Earl in Britain.
  • Viscount (vice-count), theoretically the ruler of a viscounty
  • Freiherr, holder of an allodial barony - these are "higher" level of barons
  • Baron, theoretically the ruler of a barony - some barons in some countries may have been "free barons" (liber baro) and as such, regarded (themselves) as higher barons
  • Vidame, a minor French aristocrat
  • Seigneur or Knight of the Manor rules a smaller local fief
  • Knight is the basic rank of the aristocratic system

1) 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) 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.

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. [1] (http://www.ris.bka.gv.at/taweb-cgi/taweb?x=d&o=d&v=bnd&d=BND&i=13944)

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.

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	Finnish	Polish¹	Russian	Danish	Greek	Portuguese	Latin8
Emperor, Empress	Empereur, Imperatrice	Imperatore, Imperatrice	Emperador, Emperatriz	Kaiser, Kaiserin	Keizer, Keizerin	Keiser, Keiserinne	Kejsare, Kejsarinna	Císař, Císařovna	Keisari, Keisarinna (or Keisaritar, obsolete)11	Cesarz, Cesarzowa	Imperator/Tsar, Imperatritsa/Tsaritsa	Kejser, Kejserinde	Aftokrator, Aftokratira	Imperador, Imperatriz	Imperator/Caesar, Imperatrix/Caesarina
King, Queen	Roi, Reine	Re, Regina	Rey, Reina	König, Königin	Koning, Koningin	Kong, Dronning	Kung, Drottning	Král, Královna	Kuningas, Kuningatar11	Król, Królowa	Koról, Koroléva	Konge Dronning	Vasilefs, Vasilissa	Rei, Rainha	Rex, Regina
Grand Duke/Grand Prince, Grand Duchess/Grand Princess	Grand Duc, Grande Duchesse	Granduca, Granduchessa	Granduque, Granduquesa	Großherzog/Großfürst, Großherzogin/Großfürstin	Groothertog, Groothertogin	Storhertug, Storhertuginne	Storfurste, Storfurstinna	Velkovévoda, Velkovévodkyně	Suuriruhtinas, Suuriruhtinatar11	Wielki Książę, Wielka Księżna	Velikiy Knyaz, Velikaya Kniagina	Storhertug, Storhertuginde	Megas Doux, Megali Doukissa	Grão-Duque, Grã-Duquesa	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	Arkkiherttua, Arkkiherttuatar11	Arcyksiążę Arcyksiężna		Ærke Hertug, Ærke Hertuginde	Archidoux, Archidoukissa	Arqui-duque, Arqui-duquesa;	Archidux, archiducissa
(Prince)-Elector, Electress	Prince-électeur, princesse-électrice	Principe Electore, principessa electrice	Príncipe Elector, princesa electora;	Kurfürst, Kurfürstin	Keurvorst, Keurvorstin	Kurfyrste, Kurfyrstinne	Kurfurste Kurfurstinna	Kurfiřt	Vaaliruhtinas, Vaaliruhtinatar11			Kurfyrste, Kurfystinde	Pringkips-Eklektor Pringkipissa-Eklektorissa		Princeps Elector
Prince², Princess	Prince², Princesse	Principe², Principessa	Príncipe², Princesa	Fürst, Fürstin10	Prins/Vorst, Prinses/Vorstin	Prins/fyrste, Prinsesse/fyrstinne	Furste/prins, Furstinna/prinsessa4	Kníže, Kněžna10	Ruhtinas/prinssi, Ruhtinatar/prinsessa4,11	Książę, Księżna	Kniaz/Gertsog, Kniagina/Gertsoginya5	Fyrste Fyrstinde	Pringkips Pringkipissa	Príncipe, Princesa	Princeps, principissa
Duke, Duchess	Duc, Duchesse	Duca, Duchessa	Duque, Duquesa	Herzog, Herzogin	Hertog, Hertogin	Hertug, Hertuginne	Hertig, hertiginna	Vévoda, Vévodkyně	Herttua, Herttuatar11			Hertug Hertuginde	Doukas/archon Doux/archontissa	Duque, Duquesa	Dux, ducissa
Marquess/Margrave, Marchioness/Margravine	Marquis, Marquise	Marchese, Marchesa	Marqués, Marquesa	Markgraf3, Markgräfin	Markies/Markgraaf, Markiezin/Markgravin	Marki	Markis/markgreve, markisinna/markgrevinna4	Markýz/Markrabě12	Markiisi/rajakreivi, Markiisitar/rajakreivitär11	Markiz, Markiza	Markiz, Markiza, Boyar, Boyarina5	Markis, Markise	Markissios, Markissia	Marquês, Marquesa	Marchio, marchionissa
Earl / Count, Countess	Comte, Comtesse	Conte, Contessa	Conde, Condesa	Graf, Gräfin	Graaf, Gravin	Jarl / Greve, Grevinne	Greve, Grevinna	Hrabě, Hraběnka	Kreivi/(brit:)jaarli, Kreivitär4,11	Hrabia, Hrabina	Graf, Grafinya5	Greve Grevinde, Komtesse	Komis, Komissa	Conde, Condessa	Comes, comitissa
Viscount, Viscountess	Vicomte, Vicomtesse	Visconte, Viscontessa	Vizconde, Vizcondesa	Vizegraf, Vizegräfin	Burggraaf, Burggravin	Vikomte, Visegrevinne	Vicegreve, vicegrevinna		Varakreivi, Varakreivitär11	Wicehrabia, Wicehrabina	Viskont, Viskontsha	Vicegreve, Vicegrevinde/Vicekomtesse	Ypokomis, Ypokomissa	Visconde, Viscondessa	Vicecomes, vicecomitissa
Baron, Baroness	Baron, Baronne	Barone, Baronessa	Barón, Baronesa	Freiherr/ Baron, Freifrau/Freiherrin/ Baronin	Baron, Barones(se)	Baron, Baronesse	Friherre, Friherrinna	Baron, Baronka	Vapaaherra/Paroni, Vapaaherratar/Paronitar4,11	Baron, Baronowa	Baron, Baronessa	Baron, Baronesse	Varonos, Varoni	Barão, Baronesa	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	Paroni, Herra, Paronitar, Rouva/ Herratar,4,11	Baron, Baronowa	Baron, Baronessa	Baron, Baronesse	Varonos, Varoni	Barão, Baronesa	Baro, baronissa
Baronet6, Baronetess	Baronnet	Baronetto		Edler, Edle					Baronetti, "Herra" (=fiefholder), Herratar11			Baronet, Baronetesse	Baronetos, Baroneta	Baronete, Baronetesa;
Knight9	Chevalier	Cavaliere	Caballero	Ritter	Ridder	Ridder	Riddare/ Frälseman, Fru4	Rytíř	Aatelinen/Ritari411 style of wife: Rouva	Kawaler	Rycer	Ridder	Hippotis	Cavaleiro	Eques
Notes: 1) 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. 2) 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. 3) In the German system by rank approximately equal to Landgraf and Pfalzgraf. 4) 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. 5) For domestic Russian nobility only the two titles Kniaz and Boyar were used before the 18th century when Graf was added. 6) Not counted as nobility in the British system. 7) Portuguese titles in italic are not used in Portugal. 8) Latin titles are for etymological comparisons. They do not accurately reflect their medieval counterparts. 9) Non-hereditary. Not counted as nobility in the British system. See also squire and esquire. 10) 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. 11) 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"). 12) 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 teritories - former marches on the borders of the Holy Roman Empire, e.g. Moravia.

See also

• Styles and titles of peers in the United Kingdom
• Table of Ranks in the Russian Empire
• German comital titles
• Nobility, Peerage

External links

• Unequal and Morganatic Marriages in German Law