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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
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:
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 least common use of the title, is as a ''generic term'' (descriptive, not formal), one 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. I.e. the emperor, or generalized the ruler. In this sense, it can in principle be used for any reigning Monarch , hereditary or elective, regardless of his title and protocolary rank. : ''Example'': The early Renaissance title of Niccolò Machiavelli 's book '' Il Principe '' attests and exemplifies the use of the word prince in this meaning, as a sovereign ruler of a society. The word prince did not come into official, or formalized, use in Europe until quite late, i.e some three-to-four centuries ago. All medieval rulers had other, particular or more formalized titles in use, either in their native language or in Latin. 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 . 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, Margrave s and Duke s 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 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 King s, Emperor s, Grand Duke s 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:
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 was an Infante of the kingdom of Spain during his lifetime.]] 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 Apanage s 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.
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, independant and sovereign nation. Protocolary, these princes rank below a Grand Duke . Currently the last sovereign cases, all tiny states in Europe, are:
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