Imperial, royal and noble ranks

Traditional rank amongst European imperiality, 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. Distinction should be made between reigning (or formerly reigning) families and the nobility – the latter being a social class subject to and created by the former.

The word monarch is derived from the 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.

Greek

The word sovereign is derived from the super ("above").

Latin

is derived from the Greek αὐτοκράτωρ: αὐτός ("self") and κρατείν ("to hold power"), and may be translated as "one who rules by themself".

Autocrat

Clergy

Courtesy title

Ecclesiastical Addresses

False titles of nobility

Forms of address in the United Kingdom

Nobiliary particle

Petty kingdom

Prince of the church

Royal and noble styles

Subsidiary title

Substantive title

(archived 13 December 2004)

Hereditary titles

Unequal and Morganatic Marriages in German Law

Noble, Princely, Royal, and Imperial Titles

British noble titles

Fake titles

Media related to Noble titles at Wikimedia Commons