Royal and noble ranks

Royal and noble ranks

Emperor & Empress

King & Queen

Viceroy & Vicereine

Archduke & Archduchess

Infante & Infanta

Grand Duke & Grand Duchess Grand Prince & Grand Princess

Duke & Duchess

Prince & Princess

Marquess & Marchioness Marquis & Marquise

Margrave & Margravine

Count & Countess Earl & Countess

Viscount & Viscountess

Baron & Baroness Freiherr & Freifrau

Baronet & Baronetess

Hereditary Knight, Ritter

Knight & Dame

Nobile, Edler von

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Traditional rank amongst European royalty, peers, and nobility is 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 reasonably comprehensive list that provides information on both general ranks and specific differences.

Ranks and titles

Sovereign

Main articles: Monarch and Sovereign

• The word monarch is derived from the Greek μονάρχης (from μόνος, or mónos "one/singular," and ἄρχων, or archon "leader/ruler/chief" through the Latin: monarcha (mono: "one" + arch "chief").
• 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 ("rule"), 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.
  • Tsar, derived from Caesar, primarily used in Russian and Slavic countries.
  • Kaiser, derived from Caesar, primarily used in Germanic countries.
  • Perandor, derived from Caesar, 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 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.
  • 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.

Royal titles

• King, from the Germanic *kuningaz, roughly meaning "son of the people." (See: Germanic kingship) ^[1] 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,

• Queen, from the Germanic *kwoeniz, or *kwenon, meaning "wife." The female equivalent 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

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.
• 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, Turkish for "Chieftain."

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 holder of various fiefs, 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. Originally both a religious and a secular leader in the mode of the medieval Popes.

Other sovereigns, royals, peerage, and nobility

Main articles: Royal family, Peerage, and Nobility

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. Almost all 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).

Titles

• Archduke, ruler of an archduchy; was generally only a sovereign rank when used by the rulers of Austria; it was also used by the Habsburgs of the Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Empire, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire for members of the imperial family; it was also used for those ruling some Habsburg territories such as those that became the modern BeNeLux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) nations
• Grand Prince, ruler of a grand principality; a title primarily used in the medieval Russian principalities; it was also used by the Romanovs of the Russian Empire for members of the imperial family
• Duke, ruler^[1] of a duchy,^[2] also for junior members of ducal and some grand ducal families
• Prince, Prinz in German; junior members of a royal, ducal or princely family (the title of Fürst for heads of princely families and sometimes all members, e.g. Wrede)
  • In particular Crown Prince, Kronprinz in German, was reserved for the heir apparent of an emperor or king
• Dauphin, title of the crown prince of the royal family of France
• Infante, title of the cadet members of the royal families of Portugal and Spain
• Elector, Kurfürst in German, a rank for those who voted for the Holy Roman Emperor, usually sovereign of a state (e.g. the Margrave of Brandenburg, an elector, called the Elector of Brandenburg)
• Marquess, Margrave, or Marquis was 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 modern Britain
• Viscount (vice-count), theoretically the ruler of a viscounty or viscountcy
• Freiherr, holder of an allodial barony – these are "higher" level of barons^{[citation needed]}
• 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

Regarding the titles of duke and prince: in Germany, a sovereign duke (Herzog) outranks a sovereign prince (Fürst), but a royal cadet prince (Prinz) outranks a cadet duke of a ducal or grand ducal family. In the German nobility as well, being created a duke was a higher honour than being created a prince. The issue of a duke were sometimes styled as dukes or as princes; princely issue were styled as princes. In particular, the heir apparent to a certain title would usually append the prefix Erb- (hereditary) to their respective title, e.g. Erbherzog, Erbprinz, Erbgraf, Erbherr etc., to distinguish from their junior siblings.

Aristocracy and gentry

Main articles: Aristocracy (class) and Gentry

Titles

• Baronet is an hereditary title ranking below Baron but above Knight; this title is granted only in the British Isles
• Dominus was the Latin title of the feudal, superior and mesne, lords, and also an ecclesiastical and academical title (equivalent of Lord)
• 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
• Patrician is an Italian title of nobility ranking between that of a knight and an esquire; it was only granted in the Italian aristocratic city republics
• Fidalgo or Hidalgo is a minor Portuguese and Spanish aristocrat (respectively; from filho d'algo = filho d'alguém = son of someone [noble])
• Nobile (aristocracy) is an Italian title of nobility for prestigious families that never received a title
• Principalía the aristocratic class of Filipino nobles, through whom the Spanish Monarchs ruled the Philippines during the colonial period (c. 1600's to 1898).
• Jonkheer is a title for prestigious Dutch families that never received a title, so instead a new title was invented; Though these titles have no claim to a territory, city, or province in the Netherlands, they are basically claiming a good family name; A woman who holds this title is called a Jonkvrouw, though the wife of a Jonkheer is a Mevrouw or sometimes Freule, which could also be used by daughters of the same
• Esquire is a rank of gentry originally derived from Squire and indicating the status of an attendant to a knight or an apprentice knight; it ranked below Knight but above Gentleman^[3][4]
• Gentleman is the basic rank of gentry, historically primarily associated with land or manoral lords; within British Commonwealth nations it is also roughly equivalent to some lower nobility of some continental European nations^[5]

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. The actual rank of the holder of a title in Germany was dependent on not only the title, but also on other factors such as the degree of sovereignty and the rank of the lord of the title-holder. Such matters as the age of the princely dynasty also play a role (Uradel, Briefadel, altfürstliche, neufürstliche, see: German nobility). Thus, any sovereign ruler is 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 rank higher than the regular nobility. Among the regular nobility, those whose titles derive from the Holy Roman Empire rank higher than those whose titles were granted by one of the German princes after 1806, regardless of what title was held.

In Austria, nobility titles may no longer be used since 1918.^[6]

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	Portuguese	Spanish	German	Dutch	Norwegian	Swedish	Czech	Slovak	Finnish[7]	Polish[8]	Russian	Danish	Greek	Slovene	Welsh	Latin[9]	Turkish	Maltese	Hungarian
Emperor, Empress	Empereur, Impératrice	Imperatore, Imperatrice	Imperador, Imperatriz	Emperador, Emperatriz	Kaiser, Kaiserin	Keizer, Keizerin	Keiser, Keiserinne	Kejsare, Kejsarinna	Císař, Císařovna	Cisár, Cisárovná	Keisari, Keisarinna (or Keisaritar, obsolete)	Cesarz, Cesarzowa	Imperator/Tsar, Imperatritsa/Tsaritsa	Kejser, Kejserinde	Aftokrator, Aftokratira	Cesar, Cesarica	Ymerawdwr, Ymerodres	Imperator/Caesar, Imperatrix/Caesarina	İmparator, İmparatoriçe	Imperatur, Imperatriċi	Császár, császárnő
King, Queen	Roi, Reine	Re, Regina	Rei, Rainha	Rey, Reina	König, Königin	Koning, Koningin	Konge, Dronning	Kung, Drottning	Král, Královna	Kráľ, Kráľovná	Kuningas, Kuningatar	Król, Królowa	Koról/Tsar, Koroléva/Tsaritsa	Konge Dronning	Vasilefs, Vasilissa	Kralj, Kraljica	Brenin, Brenhines	Rex, Regina	Kral, Kraliçe	Re, Reġina	Király, királynő
Viceroy, Vicereine	Viceroi, Vicereine	Viceré, Viregina	Vice-rei, Vice-rainha	Virrey, Virreina	Vizekönig, Vizekönigin	Onderkoning, Onderkoningin	Visekonge, Visedronning	Visekung, Visedrottning				Wicekról, Wicekrólowa	Vitse-koról, Vitse-koroléva			Vizekonge, Vizedronning		Prorex, Proregina			Alkirály, alkirálynő
Grand Duke/Grand Prince, Grand Duchess/Grand Princess	Grand Duc, Grande Duchesse	Granduca, Granduchessa	Grão-Duque, Grã-Duquesa	Gran Duque, Gran Duquesa	Großherzog/Großfürst, Großherzogin/Großfürstin	Groothertog, Groothertogin	Storhertug, Storhertuginne	Storfurste, Storfurstinna	Velkovévoda, Velkovévodkyně	Veľkovojvoda, Veľkovojvodkyňa	Suuriruhtinas, Suuriruhtinatar	Wielki Książę, Wielka Księżna	Velikiy Knyaz, Velikaya Kniagina	Storhertug, Storhertuginde	Megas Doux, Megali Doukissa	Veliki vojvoda, Velika vojvodinja	Archddug, Archdduges	Magnus Dux/ Magnus Princeps, magna ducissa, magna principissa	Grandük, Grandüşes	Gran Duka, Gran Dukessa	Nagyherceg, fejedelem, vajda nagyhercegnő, fejedelemasszony, -
Archduke, Archduchess	Archiduc, Archiduchesse	Arciduca, Arciduchessa	Arquiduque, Arquiduquesa;	Archiduque, Archiduquesa	Erzherzog, Erzherzogin	Aartshertog, Aartshertogin	Erkehertug, Erkehertuginne	Ärkehertig, ärkehertiginna	Arcivévoda, Arcivévodkyně	Arcivojvoda, Arcivojvodkyňa	Arkkiherttua, Arkkiherttuatar	Arcyksiążę Arcyksiężna	Ertsgertsog, Ertsgertsoginya	Ærke Hertug, Ærke Hertuginde	Archidoux, Archidoukissa	Nadvojvoda, Nadvojvodinja	Archddug, Archdduges	Archidux, archiducissa	Arşidük, Arşidüşes	Arċiduka, Arċidukessa	Főherceg, főhercegnő
(Prince)-Elector, Electress	Prince-électeur, Princesse-électrice	Principe Elettore, Principessa Elettrice	Príncipe-Eleitor, Princesa-Eleitora;	Príncipe Elector, Princesa Electora;	Kurfürst, Kurfürstin	Keurvorst, Keurvorstin	Kurfyrste, Kurfyrstinne	Kurfurste Kurfurstinna	Kurfiřt	Kurfirst/Knieža voliteľ/Knieža volič	Vaaliruhtinas, Vaaliruhtinatar	Książę Elektor, Księżna Elektorowa	Kurfyurst, Kurfyurstina	Kurfyrste, Kurfystinde	Pringkips-Eklektor Pringkipissa-Eklektorissa	Volilni knez, Volilna kneginja		Princeps Elector	Veliaht Prens, Veliaht Prenses	Prinċep Elettur, Prinċipessa Elettriċi	Választófejedelem, (választófejedelemnő)
Prince,[10] Princess	Prince,[10] Princesse	Principe,[10] Principessa	Príncipe, Princesa	Príncipe,[10] Princesa	Prinz/Fürst, Prinzessin/Fürstin[11]	Prins/Vorst, Prinses/Vorstin	Prins/Fyrste, Prinsesse/Fyrstinne	Prins/Furste, Prinsessa/Furstinna[12]	Kníže, Kněžna10	Knieža, Kňažná	Prinssi/Ruhtinas, Prinsessa/Ruhtinatar[12]	Książę, Księżna	Kniaz/Gertsog, Kniagina/Gertsoginya[13]	Prins/Fyrste Prinsesse/Fyrstinde	Pringkips Pringkipissa	Knez, Kneginja	Tywysog, Tywysoges	Princeps, principissa	Prens, Prenses	Prinċep, Prinċipessa	Királyi herceg, királyi hercegnő
Duke, Duchess	Duc, Duchesse	Duca, Duchessa	Duque, Duquesa	Duque, Duquesa	Herzog, Herzogin	Hertog, Hertogin	Hertug, Hertuginne	Hertig, hertiginna	Vévoda, Vévodkyně	Vojovda, Vojvodkyňa	Herttua, Herttuatar	Diuk (Książę), (Księżna)		Hertug Hertuginde	Doukas/archon Doux/archontissa	Vojvoda, Vojvodinja	Dug, Duges	Dux, ducissa	Dük, Düşes	Duka, Dukessa	Herceg, hercegnő
Marquess/Margrave, Marchioness/Margravine	Marquis, Marquise	Marchese, Marchesa	Marquês, Marquesa	Marqués, Marquesa	Markgraf,[14] Markgräfin	Markies/Markgraaf, Markiezin/Markgravin	Marki, Markise	Markis/markgreve, markisinna/markgrevinna[12]	Markýz/Markrabě[15]	Markíz, Markíza	Markiisi/rajakreivi, Markiisitar/rajakreivitär	Markiz/Margrabia, Markiza/Margrabina	Markiz, Markiza, Boyar, Boyarina[13]	Markis, Markise	Markissios, Markissia	Markiz, Markiza	Marcwis/Ardalydd, Ardalyddes	Marchio, marchionissa	Marki, Markiz	Markiż, Markiża	Márki, őrgróf márkinő, őrgrófnő
Earl / Count, Countess	Comte, Comtesse	Conte, Contessa	Conde, Condessa[16]	Conde, Condesa	Graf, Gräfin	Graaf, Gravin	Jarl / Greve, Grevinne	Greve, Grevinna	Hrabě, Hraběnka	Gróf, Grófka	Kreivi/(brit:)jaarli, Kreivitär[12]	Hrabia, Hrabina	Graf, Grafinya[13]	Greve Grevinde, Komtesse	Komis, Komissa	Grof, Grofica	Iarll/Cownt, Iarlles/Cowntes	Comes, comitissa	Kont, Kontes	Konti, Kontessa	Gróf grófnő
Viscount, Viscountess	Vicomte, Vicomtesse	Visconte, Viscontessa	Visconde, Viscondessa	Vizconde, Vizcondesa	Vizegraf, Vizegräfin	Burggraaf, Burggravin	Vikomte/Visegreve, Visegrevinne	Vicomte, Vicomtessa	Vikomt	Vikomt, Vikontesa	Varakreivi, Varakreivitär	Wicehrabia, Wicehrabina	Vikont, Vikontessa	Vicegreve, Vicegrevinde/Vicekomtesse	Ypokomis, Ypokomissa	Vikont, Vikontinja	Iarll, Iarlles	Vicecomes, vicecomitissa	Vikont, Vikontes	Viskonti, Viskontessa	Várgróf, vikomt Várgrófnő (vikomtnő)
Baron, Baroness	Baron, Baronne	Barone, Baronessa	Barão, Baronesa	Barón, Baronesa	Baron, Herr, Baronin, Frau	Baron, Barones(se)	Baron, Baronesse	Baron, Herre, Baronessa, Fru	Baron, Baronka	Barón, Barónka	Paroni, Herra, Paronitar, Rouva/ Herratar[12]	Baron, Baronowa	Baron, Baronessa	Baron, Baronesse	Varonos, Varoni	Baron, Baronica	Barwn, Barwnes	Baro, baronissa	Baron, Barones	Baruni, Barunessa	Báró, bárónő
Baronet[17] Baronetess	Baronnet	Baronetto	Baronete, Baronetesa;	Baronet		Erfridder			Baronet		Baronetti, "Herra" (=fiefholder), Herratar	Baronet	Baronet	Baronet, Baronetesse	Baronetos, Baroneta	Baronet, Baronetinja	Barwnig, Barwniges		Baronet, Baronetes	Barunett	Baronet, baronetnő
Knight[18] / Dame	Chevalier	Cavaliere	Cavaleiro	Caballero	Ritter	Ridder	Ridder	Riddare/ Frälseman, Fru[12]	Rytíř	Rytier	Aatelinen/Ritari[12] style of wife: Rouva	Rycerz/ Kawaler	Rytsar	Ridder	Hippotis	Vitez	Marchog	Eques	Şövalye	Kavallier	Lovag (vitéz[19])
Esquire, Gentleman	Ecuyer	Nobile,Nobiluomo	Fidalgo	Escudero, Hidalgo	Junker (Prussia), Edler (Austria), Junkerin, Edle	Jonkheer										Oproda		Nobilis Homo (N.H.)	Bey, Efendi		Nemes, nemesasszony

Aristocratic titles in medieval Korea

In the Kingdom of Korea, similarly to the Chinese Empire, there were 7 aristocratic titles:

1. Gun (i.e. Crown Prince),
2. Kung (hereditary prince or Duke),
3. Champan (Marquess),
4. Poguk (Count or Earl),
5. Pansoh (Viscount),
6. Chamise (Baron),
7. Chusa (cca. Baronet).

See also

• Forms of address in the United Kingdom
• Table of Ranks in the Russian Empire
• German comital titles
• Nobility
• Peerage
• Royal and noble styles
• Nobiliary particle
• False titles of nobility

References

1. ^ ^{a b} 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.
3. ^ The meaning of the title Esquire became (and remains) quite diffuse, and may indicate anything from no aristocratic status, to some official government civil appointment, or (more historically) the son of a knight or noble who had no other title above just Gentleman.
4. ^ In the United States, where there is no aristocracy, the title Esquire is sometimes arrogated (without any governmental authorization) by lawyers admitted to the state bar.
5. ^ Ruling of the Court of the Lord Lyon (26/2/1948, Vol. IV, page 26): 'With regard to the words 'untitled nobility' employed in certain recent birthbrieves in relation to the (Minor) Baronage of Scotland, Finds and Declares that the (Minor) Barons of Scotland are, and have been both in this nobiliary Court and in the Court of Session recognised as a ‘titled nobility’ and that the estait of the Baronage (i.e. Barones Minores) are of the ancient Feudal Nobility of Scotland’. This title is not, however, in and of itself a peerage title, and nobility, or the noblesse, in Scotland incorporates the concept of gentry in England.
6. ^ Austrian law on noble titles
7. ^ Finland accorded the noble 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 used as official titles of members of the dynasties that ruled Finland, though not granted as titles of nobility. Some feudally-based privileges in landowning, connected to nobily related lordship, existed into the nineteenth century; and fiefs were common in the late medieval and early modern eras. The title Ritari was not commonly used except in the context of knightly orders. The lowest, untitled level of hereditary nobility was that of the "Aatelinen" (i.e. "noble").
8. ^ In keeping with the principle of equality among noblemen, no noble titles (with few exceptions) below that of prince were allowed in Poland. 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, the Polish nobility developed and used a set of titles based on offices held. See "szlachta" for more info on Polish nobility.
9. ^ Latin titles are for etymological comparisons. They do not accurately reflect their medieval counterparts.
10. ^ ^{a b c d} "Prince" (Prinz in German, Prins in Swedish, Prinssi in Finnish, "Principe" in Spanish) can also be a title of junior members of royal houses. In the British system, for example, prince is not a rank of nobility but a title held exclusively by members of the royal family.
11. ^ In central Europe, the title of Fürst or 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, and the titles of Ritter and Edler were not commonly used.
12. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} No noble titles were granted after 1906 when the unicameral legislatures (Eduskunta, Riksdag) were established, removing the constitutional status of the so-called First Estate. However, noble ranks were granted in Finland until 1917 (there, the lowest, untitled level of hereditary nobility was "Aatelinen", or "noble"; it was in essence a rank, not a title).
13. ^ ^{a b c} For domestic Russian nobility, only the titles Kniaz and Boyar were used before the 18th century, when Graf was added.
14. ^ In the German system by rank approximately equal to Landgraf and Pfalzgraf.
15. ^ The title Markýz was not used in Bohemia and thus referred only to foreign nobility, while the title Markrabě (the same as the German Markgraf) is connected only to a few historical territories (including the former marches on the borders of the Holy Roman Empire, or Moravia).
16. ^ In Portugal, a baron or viscount who was a "grandee of the kingdom" (Portuguese: Grandes do Reino) was called a "baron with grandness" (Portuguese: Barão com Grandeza) or "viscount with grandness" (Portuguese: Visconde com Grandeza); each of these grandees was ranked as equal to a count.
17. ^ Does not confer nobility in the British system.
18. ^ Non-hereditary. Does not confer nobility in the British system. See also squire and esquire.
19. ^ The "vitéz" title was introduced in Hungary after 1920. In preceding ages simply meant a warrior or a courageous man.

External links

• Hereditary titles
• Unequal and Morganatic Marriages in German Law
• Noble, Princely, Royal, and Imperial Titles
• British noble titles
• Fake titles