This article is about the royal title. For the musician, see Prince (musician). For the racquet sports brand, see
Prince Sports. For the novel by Sonya Hartnett, see
Princes (novel).
The term
prince, from the
Latin root
princeps, is used for a member of the highest ranks of the
aristocracy or the
nobility.
The title is given only to males and has several fundamentally different meanings, of which one is generic to the word, and several types of titles. The female equivalent is a
princess.
Historical background


Cicero attacks Catilina in the Senate of the Roman Republic.
The
Latin word
prīnceps (older Latin *prīsmo-kaps, literally "first taker"), was established as the title of the more-or-less informal leader of the
Roman senate some centuries before Christ, the
princeps senatus.
Emperor Augustus established the formal position of monarch on the basis of
principate, not
dominion. He also tasked his grandsons as summer rulers of the city when most of the government were on holiday in the country or attending religious rituals, and, for that task, granted them the title of princeps.
The title has, next to its generic use, two basic meanings:
- as a substantive title, that are titles of princes who are reigning monarchs and in some cases heads of their noble house.
- as a courtesy title, that are titles of princes that are members of a royal or a highly noble family, sharing their title with several relatives in similar position.
In many other languages besides
English, there are at least two separate words for these two distinct notions.
Prince as a generic word for ruler
The original, but now less common use of the word, is as a
generic term originating in the application of the Latin word
princeps, from
Roman, more precisely
Byzantine law and the classical system of government that was the European feudal society. In this sense a prince is a ruler of a territory which is sovereign, or which was effectively so as part of the
Holy Roman Empire. In Medieval and Early Modern Europe there were as many as two hundred such territories, especially in
Italy and
Germany. In this sense prince can be used as a generalizing term for all sovereign rulers, regardless of title or protocolary rank, as it is in the early
Renaissance book by
Niccolò Machiavelli Il Principe.
All findings of the title prince used for a
lord of a territory before the 13th century are either translations of native titles to Latin or the term used in a more general sense than as the formal only title of the potentate in question.
Most of the medieval feudal magnates that now or then are accorded the prince title, have actually formally then been
Lord of an estate that is defined as a
principality. Almost all lands described as medieval principalities in feudal societies, have been so-called
allodial properties, i.e not under feudal obligations but inalienably the landowner's inheritable real-estate.
This explanation for origins of French principalities has been supplied by
heraldic and
genealogical research
[1]. An example of this has been the title of Prince of Dombes. Such principalities tended to be small. Presumably,
Monaco is an example of such a principality that has survived to today, by existing as a sovereign state.
The use of the term prince was then more like a common title given to different kinds of official titles for different kinds of feudal territories. All local rulers of feudal societies, from the level of
count upwards, were regarded as princes in this sense. This is attested by even today, surviving
styles for e.g counts,
margraves and
dukes that are
high and noble princes (cf.
Royal and noble styles).
From 16th century onwards, European monarchs quite widely granted such abstract titles that were not linked to the power of government of an actual county or territory. This led to official recognition that ancient dynasties of the
Holy Roman Empire were much more true rulers, reigning lords, than the new class of persons being holder of equivalent
title of honour.
After the general term "prince" was recognized, the practice of adding a
prefix title began. This tradition stems from the creation of nobilary titles in the Holy Roman Empire, where noble families began using prefix titles as a means to distinguish their older, territory-linked titles from merely honorific ones. For example, the German title of
gefürsteter Graf (princely count) is known to have existed in the 18th century and possibly may have existed even earlier. It is important to keep in mind, however, that these prefix titles were not new grants, but rather an explication of existing positions and status by the use of new terminology. Princely counts (including the various
gefürstete margraves, landgraves, counts palatine, etc.) soon started to use the title
Fürst (prince) more than they used the less impressive-sounding "count". Consequently, with the advent of the title "Fürst", a new class of nobility was created whose status clearly ranked above that of those newly created counts and marquesses, but ranked just under the title of duke. The rank of "duke" was not similarly augmented; it had not suffered any lessening of prestige, as the title was not given in bulk. In the 19th century, however, dukes holding, or in direct line of succession to autocratic power, tended to assume the title
archduke or
grand duke to further distinguish themselves from mere dukes.
The following parts of this article are only concerned with the usages as a formal
nobiliary (or analogous)
title.
Prince as a courtesy title
Prince of the blood


Louis II of Bourbon, Prince of Condé, was a first prince of the blood during his lifetime (painted by Joost van Egmont).
The courtesy title of prince was often given to a
prince of the blood. That is a general term for a male member of a ruling house of a monarchy. Further distinctions within this category can exist from country to country and from time period to time period, e.g.
First Prince of the Blood in France.
In some monarchies, e.g. the
kingdom of France, this appellation is a specific title in its own right, of more restricted use. There the notion of
prince du sang is restricted to paternal royal descendants. Depending on national tradition, the appellation may have restricted scope or not, often no further than one or two generations after the monarch and / or the line of succession, or it may be allowed to run into very high numbers, as is often the case in oriental dynasties.
Generally, when such a prince succeeds to the throne as ruling or least titular monarch, he stops being styled a titular prince. This goes for
Kings,
Emperors,
Grand Dukes or one of many other ruler-styles, usually of higher rank, except in the case of a ruler styled prince of a particular principality (see below). The same principle applies,
mutatis mutandis when a courtesy princess becomes a
queen regnant.
The female equivalent of a courtesy title of prince is princess. But then this title is also generally used for the spouse of any prince, of the blood, or of a principality, and also the daughter of any monarch. Regardless of birth rank, marriage to a prince(ss) generally means accession to the ruling house, but often the princely style is subject to an explicit conferral by the Monarch or a political authority with in say in the succession, e.g. certain parliaments, which may be delayed, withheld or even reversed. Inversely, the husband of a born princess is in many monarchies not as readily styled prince, although it certainly occasionally happened.
In these systems, a courtesy title of prince can be given to:
- The son of a monarch in the direct line of succession.
- Other members of the royal family, also in the order of succession, although more distant and styled Royal Highness.
- The husband of a reigning queen is usually titled prince or prince consort. However for wives of Monarchs, the title is usually a female variation on his, the same as used in case a female can mount the throne, such as queen or empress.
But in cultures which allow the ruler to have several wives, e.g. four in Islam and / or official concubines, for these women sometimes collectively referred to as
harem there are often specific rules determining their hierarchy and a variety of titles, which may distinguish between those whose offspring can be in line for the succeesion or not, or specifically who is mother to the heir to the throne.
To complicate matters, the style
His Royal Highness, a
prefix normally accompanying the title of a dynastic prince, of royal or imperial rank, that is, can be awarded separately (as a compromise or consolation prize, in some sense).
Although the definition above is the one that is most commonly understood, there are also different systems. Depending on
country,
epoch and
translation other meanings of prince are possible.
Over the centuries foreign-language titles such as
Italian principe,
French prince,
German Fürst,
Russian kniaz, etc., are often translated as prince in
English.
Many princely styles and titles are used in various monarchies, often changing with a new dynasty, even altered during one's rule, especially in conjunction with the style of the ruler. Indeed, various princely titles are derived from the ruler's, such as (e)
mirza(da),
khanzada,
nawabzada, sahibzada, shahzada,
sultanzada (all using the Persian patronymic suffix
-zada, or
son, descendant, or (maha)
rajkumar from (Maha)
Raja and
Kolano ma-ngofa 'son of the ruler' on Tidore, again patronymic; or even from a unique title, e.g.
mehtarjao.
However, often such style is used in a way that may surprise as not apparently logical, such as adopting a style for princes of the blood which is not pegged to the ruler's title, but rather continues an old tradition, asserts genealogical descendency from and / or claim of political succession to a more lofty monarchy, or simply is assumed 'because we can'.
Specific titles
In some monarchic dynasties, a very specific title is used, sometimes officially, such as
Infante in
Spain and
Portugal.
This can be a style in existence for a princely - at least originally - feudal entity, possibly still nominally linked to one,
Archduke in the Habsburg empire,
Grand Prince (often rendered, less correctly, as
Grand Duke) in tsarist Russia. See also
Porphyrogenetos.
Other titles are unique to one dynasty, even though the ruler's title is not, such as
Moulay (French form; also
Mulay in English) in the Sherifian sultanate (now kingdom ruled by a
Malik) of
Morocco,
On the other hand, an existing style can be used without retaining any of its intrinsic qualities, e.g.
Sultan for ordinary members of the
Ottoman dynasty (ruler mainly styled
Padishah)
Yet a style can be reserved for members of the dynasty meeting specific criteria, e.g. French Emperor
Napoléon I Bonaparte created the style
Prince français ('French prince') for the princes of his house in line for the imperial succession, which excluded notable his adoptive stepson
Eugène de Beauharnais, who meanwhile was
Prince de Venise in chief of Napoleon's other realm, Italy.
Sometimes a specific title is commonly used by various dynasties in a region, e.g.
Mian in various of the Punjabi princely
Hill States (lower Himalayan region in British India)
Some monarchies also commonly awarded some of their princes of the blood various lofty titles, some of which were reserved for royalty, other also open to the most trusted commoners and/or the highest nobility, as in the Byzantine empire (e.g.
Protosebastos reserved).
Independently of such traditions, some dynasties more or less frequently awarded
apanages to princes of the blood, typically carrying a feudal type title (often as such of lower protocollary rank than their birth rank) and some income.
- *For the often specific terminology concerning a probable future successor, see Crown Prince and links there.
Confusingly, there are instances where a title suggests close kinship but actually only expresses a similar position in the line of succession, e.g.
Filius Augusti 'son of the Augustus' in the Roman Tetrarchy. Furthermore, terms of kinship are sometimes used as a protocollary style, even for biologically unrelated digitaries, not unlike the practice of members of the clergy being addressed as 'father' and addressing laymen as 'my son/daughter', or even several ecclesiastical titles originally meaning father (notably
Pope,
Abbot, partially
Patriarch) or brother (e.g.
Fra).
Prince as a substantive title
Other princes derive their title not from their heraditory or dynastic position as such, but from their claim to a unique and personal title of formal princely rank, one named after a specific and historical
principality, but not connected to any practical claim as
sovereign of a state, even if they belong to one.
Prince as a reigning monarch
A prince or princess who is the
head of state of a territory that has a
monarchy as a
form of government is a
reigning prince.
Nominal principalities
If the state that is governed by such a prince carries no other specific, formal name, their domain, typically smaller than a full sized
kingdom, is called a
principality. This can be a regular, independent and sovereign nation. Protocolary, these princes rank below a
grand duke.
Currently the last sovereign cases, all tiny states in Europe, are:
Coat of arms of the principality of Andorra (1607). |
Coat of arms of the principality of Liechtenstein (1719). |
Coat of arms of the principality of Monaco (1861). | 
Coat of arms of the prince-bishopric of Rome (1927). |
In the same tradition some self-proclaimed monarchs of so-called
micronations establish themselves as virtual princes:
Generic use
The term prince has also been used to describe, in languages like
English for lack of a more specific word for this concept, the head of any
feudal or vassal state of lower — generally peerage — rank ruling in his own right, not in a mere gubernatorial capacity. For example, it has been used as a synonym for
duke or
count at times.
In
German, such a prince is specifically called
Fürst (capitals obligatory for German nouns), and there are equivalents in most languages and countries that know the tradition of the
Holy Roman Empire and where this was called
Kleinstaaterei. The title was used for the head of state, and the title of
Prinz was used for cadet members of reigning royal or princely families, and also for the cadets of some
mediatized families, and did not imply any sovereignty whatsoever.
The female equivalents are
Fürstin and
Prinzessin.
Princes as representants of a reigning monarch
Various monarchies provide for different modes in which princes of the dynasty can temporarily or permanently share in the style and / or office of the Monarch, e.g. as
Regent or
Viceroy.
Tthough these offices must not be reserved for members of the ruling dynasty, in some traditions they are, possibly even reflected in the style of the office, e.g. prince-lieutenant in
Luxembourg repeatedly filled by the
Crown prince before the grand duke's abdication, or in form of
consortium imperii.
Some monarchies even have a practice in which the Monarch can formally abdicate in favor of his heir, and yet retain a kingly title with executive power, e.g.
Maha Upayuvaraja (
Sanskrit for
Great Joint King in
Cambodia), though sometimes also conferred on powerful regents who exercised executive powers.
Titular princes
Titular Princes from within the royal family
One type of prince belongs in both the genealogical royalty and the territorial princely styles. A number of nobiliary territories, carrying with them the formal style of prince, are not or no longer actual political, administrative, principalities, but are maintained as essentially honorary titles and are awarded traditionally or occasionally) to princes of the blood, as an
appanage.
This is done in particular for the heir to the throne, creating a
de facto primogeniture, who is often awarded a particular principality in each generation, so that it becomes synonymous with the first in line for the throne, even if there is no automatic legal mechanism to do so.
Examples of such titles are:
Some states have an analogous tradition, where they confer another princely title, such as the
British royal duchies to various other royal princes, and (again, through
de facto primogeniture).
Both systems may concur, as in
Belgium, where
Prince of Liège is one of the traditional titles for royal sons, alongside the title of
Duke of Brabant, the highest title, being handed down through primogeniture if it is not yet taken. The title of
Count of Flanders is similarly used for the next in the succession order.
Titular Princes from outside the royal family
France and the Holy Roman Empire


Coat of arms of Otto, prince of Bismarck (Holy Roman Empire).
In several countries of the
European continent, e.g. in
France, prince can be an aristocratic title of someone having a high rank of
nobility in chief of a geographical place, but no actual territory, and without any necessary link to the
royal family, which makes comparing it with e.g. the
British system of royal princes difficult.
In France, prince was both a rank and a title. The rank was given to some great families related to foreign sovereign dynasties. It was called
prince étranger (Foreign Prince) and carried special precedence at the court. Families of
prince étranger rank were those of
Lorraine, Cleves,
Savoy,
La Tour d'Auvergne and
Rohan. The Foreign princes often had others ranks such as duke. When not a duke, a Foreign Prince could style himself
prince of a fiefdom he held.
- Prince de Mercœur of the House of Lorraine
- Prince de Turenne of the House of La Tour d'Auvergne
The kings of France started to bestow the aristocracy with princely titles from 16th century onwards. These titles were made by elevating a fiefdom to principalty status. This title had no place in the ranks of the nobility, but was notably use for dukes' heir apparent.
- Prince de Marcillac : heir of the duke de La Rochefoucauld
- Prince de Tingry : heir to the duke de Piney-Luxembourg
- Prince de Lamballe : heir of the duke de Penthièvre
This can even occur in a monarchy within which an identical but real and substantive feudal title exists, such as Fürst in German. An example of this is:
- Otto von Bismarck was called Prince of Bismarck in the empire of reunited Germany, under the Hohenzollern dynasty.
Spain and France
In other cases, such titular princedoms are created in chief of an event, such as a treaty of a victory. An example of this is:
Poland and Russia


Coat of arms of the princes Sanguszko-Lubartowicz (Poland).
In
Poland specifically, the titles of prince dated either to the times before the
Union of Lublin or were granted to Polish nobles by foreign kings, as the law in Poland forbade king from dividing nobility by granting them hereditary titles. For more information, see
The Princely Houses of Poland.
In the
Russian system,
knyaz, translated as prince, is the highest degree of nobility, and sometimes, represents a
mediatization of an older native
dynasty which became subject to the
Russian imperial dynasty.
Rurikid branches used the
knyaz title also after they were succeeded by the
Romanovs as the Russian imperial dynasty. An example of this is:
The title of prince in various Western traditions and languages
In each case, the title is followed (when available) by the female form and then (not always available, and obviously rarely applicable to a prince of the blood without a principality) the name of the territorial associated with it, each separated by a slash. If a second title (or set) is also given, then that one is for a Prince of the blood, the first for a principality. Be aware that the absence of a separate title for a prince of the blood may not always mean no such title exists; alternatively, the existence of a word does not imply there is also a reality in the linguistic territory concerned; it may very well be used exclusively to render titles in other languages, regardless whether there is a historical link with any (which often means that linguistic tradition is adopted)
Etymologically, we can discern the following traditions (some languages followed a historical link, e.g. within the Holy Roman Empire, not their linguistic family; some even fail to follow the same logic for certain other aristocratic titles):
Romanic languages
- Languages (mostly Romance) only using the Latin root princeps:
- Latin (post-Roman): Princeps/*Princeps/*
- English:Prince /Princess - Prince /Princess
- French: Prince /Princesse - Prince /Princesse
- Albanian: Princ /Princeshë - Princ /Princeshë
- Catalan: Príncep /Princesa - Príncep /Princesa
- Italian: Principe /Principessa - Principe /Principessa
- Maltese: Princep /Principessa - Princep /Principessa
- Monegasque: Principu /Principessa - Principu /Principessa
- Portuguese: Príncipe /Princesa - Príncipe /Princesa
- Rhaeto-Romansh: Prinzi /Prinzessa - Prinzi /Prinzessa
- Romanian: Prinţ /Prinţesă - Principe /Principesa
- Spanish: Príncipe /Princesa - Príncipe /Princesa
Celtic languages
- *Breton: Priñs /Priñsez
- Irish: Prionsa /Banphrionsa - Flaith /Banfhlaith
- Scottish Gaelic: Prionnsa /Bana-phrionnsa - Flath /Ban-fhlath
- Welsh: Twysog /Twysoges
Germanic languages
- Languages (mainly Germanic) that use (generally alongside a princeps-derivate for princes of the blood) an equivalent of the German Fürst:
- Danish: Fyrste /Fyrstinde - Prins /Prinsesse
- Dutch: Vorst /Vorstin- Prins /Prinses
- Estonian [Finno-Ugric family]: Vürst /Vürstinna - Prints /Printsess
- German: Fürst /Fürstin - Prinz /Prinzessin
- Icelandic: Fursti /Furstynja - Prins /Prinsessa
- Luxembourgish: Fürst /Fürstin - Prënz /Prinzessin
- Old English: Ǣğeling /Hlæfdiġe
- Norwegian: Fyrste /Fyrstinne - Prins /Prinsesse
- Swedish: Furste /Furstinna - Prins /Prinsessa
Slavic and Baltic languages
- Slavic and Baltic languages:
- Belarusian: Tsarevich, Karalevich, Prynts /Tsarewna, Karalewna, Pryntsesa
- Bulgarian: Knyaz /Knaginya, Tsarevich, Kralevich, Prints /Printsesa
- Croatian, Serbian: Knez /Kneginja Kraljević/Kraljevna, Princ/Princeza
- Czech: Kníže /Kněžna, Princ/Princezna
- Latvian: Firsts /Firstiene - Princis /Princese
- Lithuanian: Kunigaikštis /Kunigaikštiene - Princas /Princese
- Macedonian: Knez /Knezhina, Tsarevich, Kralevich, Prints /Tsarevna, Kralevna, Printsesa
- Polish: Książę /Księżna, Książę, Królewicz /Księżna, Królewna
- Russian: Knyaz /Knyagina Knyazhnya, Tsarevich, Korolyevich, Prints /Tsarevna, Korolyevna, Printsessa
- Slovak: Knieža /Kňažná, Kráľovič, Princ /Princezná
- Slovene: Knez /Kneginja, Kraljevič, Princ /Kraljična, Princesa
- Ukrainian: Knyaz /Knyazhnya, Tsarenko, Korolenko, Prints /Tsarivna, Korolivna, Printsizna
Other languages
- other languages:
- Finnish: Ruhtinas /Ruhtinatar - Prinssi /Prinsessa
- Greek (Medieval, formal): Prigkips, Πρίγκηψ/Prigkipissa, Πριγκήπισσα
- Greek (Modern, colloquial): Prigkipas, Πρίγκηπας/Prigkipissa, Πριγκήπισσα
- Hungarian (Magyar): Herceg / Hercegnő
- Turkish: Prens/Prenses
The title of prince in other traditions and languages
The above is essentially the story of European, Christian dynasties and other nobility, also 'exported' to their colonial and other overseas territories and otherwise adopted by rather westernized societies elsewhere (e.g. Haiti).
Applying these essentially western concepts, and terminology, to other cultures even when they don't do so, is common but in many respects rather dubious. Different (historical, religious...) backgrounds have also begot significantly different dynastic and nobiliary systems, which are poorly represented by the 'closest' western analogy.
It therefore makes sense to treat these per civilization.
Islamic traditions
- Arabian tradition since the caliphate - in several monarchies it remains customary to use the title Sheikh (in itself below princely rank) for all members of the royal family. In families (often reigning dynasties) which claim descent from Muhammad, this is expressed in either of a number of titles (supposing different exact relations): sayid, sharif; these are retained even when too remote from any line of succession to be a member of any dynasty.
- Malay countries
- In the Ottoman empire, the sovereign of imperial rank (incorrectly known in the west as (Great) sultan) was styled padishah with a host of additional titles, reflecting his claim as political successor to the various conquered states. Princes of the blood, male and female, were given the style sultan (normally reserved for Muslim rulers)
- Persia (Iran) - Princes as members of a Royal family, are referred to by the title Shahzadeh, meaning "descendant of the king". Since the word zadeh could refer to either a male or female descendant, Shahzadeh had the parallel meaning of "princess" as well. Princes as families having the highest nobility rank are referred to by the title "Mirza", diminutive of Amirzadeh, "Amir" meaning King and "Zadeh" descent or son.
Far Eastern traditions
In ancient
China, the title of prince developed from being the highest title of
nobility (synonymous with
duke) in the
Zhou Dynasty, to five grades of princes (not counting the sons and grandsons of the emperor) by the time of the fall of the
Qing Dynasty.The Chinese word for prince 'Wang' 王 literally means King as Chinese believe the emperor 'huangdi'皇帝 is the ruler of all kings. The most accurate translation of the English word 'prince' in Chinese is 皇子(son of the Emperor) or 王子 (son of the King).
In
Japan, the title of prince (kôshaku
公爵) was used as the highest title of
kazoku (
華族 Japanese modern nobility) before the present constitution. The title kôshaku, however, is more commonly translated as duke to avoid confusion with the royal ranks in the imperial household, shinnô (
親王 (literally king of the blood) female;naishinnô (
内親王 (literally queen (by herself) of the blood) and shinnôhi
親王妃 (literally consort of king of the blood)) or ô (
王 (literally king) female;nyoô (
女王 (literally queen (by herself)) and ôhi (
王妃 (literally consort of king)). The former is the higher title of a male member of the Imperial family and the latter is the lower.
African traditions
Except for the Arabized, Muslim North and some other monarchies that simply adopted Islamic practices, or in cases where a Western model was copied (e.g. Bokassa I's short-lived
Central-African Empire in Napoleonic fashion), usually the styles, or even the systems, are completely independent or almost.
The title of prince in religion


Saint Robert Cardinal Bellarmine was a prince of the Roman Catholic church during his lifetime.
In states with an element of
theocracy, this can affect princehood in several ways, such as the style of the ruler (e.g. with a secondary title meaning son or servant of a named divinity), but also the mode of succession (even reincarnation and recognition).
Furthermore, certain religious offices may be considered of princely rank, and/or imply comparable temporal rights.
See
Prince of the Church for the main Christian versions. Also in
Christianity,
Jesus Christ is sometimes referred to as the
Prince of Peace, and
Satan can be called the
Prince of Darkness.
See also
Sources and references
Prince Sports, Inc. is an American tennis/badminton/squash equipment manufacturer.
It started in 1970 as the manufacturer of tennis ball machines, and went on to manufacture racquets.
..... Click the link for more information.
Princes
Author Sonya Hartnett
Country Australia
Language English
Genre(s) Novel
Publisher Viking (Australia)
Publication date 1997
Media type Print (Paperback)
Princes
..... Click the link for more information.
Latin}}}
Official status
Official language of: Vatican City
Used for official purposes, but not spoken in everyday speech
Regulated by: Opus Fundatum Latinitas
Roman Catholic Church
Language codes
ISO 639-1: la
ISO 639-2: lat
..... Click the link for more information.
The Latin word Princeps (plural: principes) means "the first".
This article is devoted to a number of specific historical meanings the word took, by far the most important of which follows first.
..... Click the link for more information.
aristocracy refers to a form of government where power is held by a small number of individuals from a social elite or from noble families. The transmission of power is often hereditary.
..... Click the link for more information.
This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims.Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the for details.
This article has been tagged since September 2007.
..... Click the link for more information. Princess is the feminine form of prince (from Latin princeps, meaning citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or her daughters, women whose station in life depended on their relationship to a prince and who could be disowned and stripped
..... Click the link for more information.
Latin}}}
Official status
Official language of: Vatican City
Used for official purposes, but not spoken in everyday speech
Regulated by: Opus Fundatum Latinitas
Roman Catholic Church
Language codes
ISO 639-1: la
ISO 639-2: lat
..... Click the link for more information.
The Roman Senate (Latin: Senatus) was the main governing council of both the Roman Republic, which started in 509 BC, and the Roman Empire. Although the West Roman Empire ended in the 5th century (in 476), the Roman Senate continued to meet until the latter part of the 6th
..... Click the link for more information.
The princeps senatus (plural principes senatus) was the first member by precedence of the Roman senate. Although officially out of the cursus honorum and owning no imperium, this office brought enormous prestige to the senator holding it.
..... Click the link for more information.
Etymology
The Principate is, according to its etymological derivation from the Latin word princeps, meaning chief or first, the political regime dominated by such a political leader, whether or not he is formally head of state and/or head of
..... Click the link for more information. Dominate was the 'despotic' last of the two phases of government in the ancient Roman Empire between its establishment in 27 BC and the formal date of the collapse of the Western Empire in AD 476.
..... Click the link for more information.
A substantive title (or substantive peerage) is a title of nobility or royalty held by someone (normally by one person alone), which they gained through either grant or inheritance, as opposed to one given or loaned to them either as a courtesy title, or gained through
..... Click the link for more information.
This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims.Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the for details.
This article has been tagged since September 2007.
..... Click the link for more information. worldwide view of the subject.
Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page.
A
courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used by children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer.
..... Click the link for more information. English}}}
Writing system: Latin (English variant)
Official status
Official language of: 53 countries
Regulated by: no official regulation
Language codes
ISO 639-1: en
ISO 639-2: eng
ISO 639-3: eng
..... Click the link for more information.
The Latin word Princeps (plural: principes) means "the first".
This article is devoted to a number of specific historical meanings the word took, by far the most important of which follows first.
..... Click the link for more information.
Using the term Roman law in a broader sense, one may say that Roman law is not only the legal system of ancient Rome but the law that was applied throughout most of Europe until the end of the 18th century.
..... Click the link for more information.
Byzantine Empire or Byzantium is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire of the Middle Ages, centered on its capital of Constantinople.
..... Click the link for more information.
LAW may refer to:
- Lightweight Anti-tank Weapon, like the M72 LAW (US Army) and the LAW 80 (British Army)
- Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights (also known as LAW)
- League of American Bicyclists, formerly known as the League of American Wheelmen
..... Click the link for more information. Holy Roman Empire (Latin: Sacrum Romanum Imperium, German: Heiliges Römisches Reich, Italian: Sacro Romano Impero
..... Click the link for more information.
AnthemIl Canto degli Italiani(also known as
Fratelli d'Italia)
..... Click the link for more information. Anthem
"Das Lied der Deutschen" (third stanza)
also called "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit"
..... Click the link for more information.
Renaissance (French for "rebirth"; Italian: Rinascimento; Spanish: Renacimiento), was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th through the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe.
..... Click the link for more information.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (May 3, 1469 – June 21, 1527) was an Italian diplomat, political philosopher, musician, poet, and playwright. He is a figure of the Italian Renaissance and a central figure of its political component, most widely known for his treatises on
..... Click the link for more information.
The Prince
Author Niccolò Machiavelli
Original title Il Principe
Country Florence
Language Italian
Subject(s) Political Science
Genre(s) Non-fiction
Publisher
..... Click the link for more information.
Lord is a person who has power and authority. It can have different meanings depending on the context of use. Women will usually (but not universally) take the title 'Lady' instead of Lord. Two examples of a female Lord are the Lord of Mann, or the current Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
..... Click the link for more information.
Lord is a person who has power and authority. It can have different meanings depending on the context of use. Women will usually (but not universally) take the title 'Lady' instead of Lord. Two examples of a female Lord are the Lord of Mann, or the current Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
..... Click the link for more information.
principality (or princedom) is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of prince or princess, or (in the widest sense) a monarch with another title within the generic use of the term prince.
..... Click the link for more information.
Property law
Part of the common law series
Acquisition of property
Gift · Adverse possession · Deed
Lost, mislaid, and abandoned property
Alienation · Bailment · License
Estates in land
..... Click the link for more information.