High Nobility

Traditional rank amongst European 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.

Ranks and titles

Sovereign

* The word ''monarch'' is derived from the Greek μονάρχης, ''monárkhēs'', "sole ruler" (from μόνος, ''mónos'', "single" or "sole", and , ''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 Latin ''above''.
* Autocrat is derived from the Greek : ("self") and ("to hold power"), and may be translated as "one who rules by themself".

Common titles for European, Latin American, and Asian 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 (Emperor/Empress, etc.), royal (King/Queen, Grand Duke, etc.), others (sovereign Prince, sovereign Duke, etc.), and religious.

=Imperial titles

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*"Emperor" (in English), Imperador (in Portuguese), Emperador (in Spanish) and Empereur (in French), from the Latin Imperator, was originally a military title. Soldiers would salute the leader of a victorious army as 'imperator'. In English, the feminine form is Empress (the Latin is ''imperatrix''). The realm of an emperor or empress is termed an ''Empire''. Other 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.
** Kaiser, derived from Caesar, primarily used in Germanic countries. The feminine form in German is Kaiserin.
**Augustus, a Roman honorific title which means 'Venerable' or 'Majestic', used by Roman Emperors from the beginning of the Empire onwards.
** Basileus kai Autokrator, Medieval Greek title meaning "sovereign and autocrat", used by the Greek Byzantine Emperors from the 9th century onwards.
** Tsar / Tzar / Csar / Czar, derived as shortened variant of the Slavic pronunciation of Caesar (''tsyasar''), the feminine form is Tsaritsa, primarily used in Bulgaria, and after that in Russia and other Slavic countries, although in English Tsarina was also sometimes used.
** Huangdi (皇帝), the Imperial monarch during Imperial China.
** Huēyi Tlahtloāni, the Classical Nahuatl term for the ruler of multiple , a pre-Hispanic city-state in Mesoamerica, commonly referring to the head of the Aztec Triple Alliance, or Aztec Empire. It is variously translated in English as "Great Speaker" or the equivalent to the European " great king" or " high king", though more usually as "Emperor".
** Samrat, (Sanskrit: samrāt or सम्राट) is an ancient Indian title meaning 'A paramount sovereign, universal lord'. The feminine form is Samrājñī or साम्राज्ञी.
**Tennō (天皇), which means "heavenly sovereign" in Japanese. Is the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people. Historically, he is also the highest authority of the Shinto religion as he and his family are said to be the direct descendants of the sun-goddess Amaterasu.
**Kōtei (皇帝), Japanese title primarily used for emperors of other nations (e.g. Rome, Russia, Germany). ''Tennō'' refers only to an emperor of Japan, and ''kōtei'' refers to an emperor of any countries.
** Khagan, derived from khan of khans, used by the Central Asian nomads.
*** Tian Kehan（天可汗） meaning Heavenly Khagan. Given to Tang Taizong and Tang Gaozong by Turkic nomads.
** Padishah, Persian ''pād'' "master" and ''shāh'' "king". Used in the Ottoman Empire and the Mughal Empire.
** Shahanshah, Persian title meaning "king of kings". Used by Persian (Iranian monarchs)
** Basileus tōn Basileōn, Ancient Greek title meaning "king of kings", used by Alexander the Great after the similar title of the Achaemenid dynasty of Persia. A translation from Ancient Persian Shahanshah.
** Nəgusä Nägäst, title of the rulers of Ethiopia