Jump to content

King: Difference between revisions

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m redirect beats pipe (via WP:JWB)
m →Contemporary kings: clean up spacing around commas and other punctuation, replaced: ] , [ → ], [
 
(48 intermediate revisions by 33 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Type of monarch}}
{{Short description|Title given to a male monarch}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Other uses}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
Line 5: Line 5:
{{Ranks of Nobility}}
{{Ranks of Nobility}}


'''King''' is the title given to a male [[monarch]] in a variety of contexts. A king is an [[absolute monarch]] if he holds the powers of [[government]] without control, or the entire sovereignty over a [[nation]]; he is a limited monarch if his power is restrained by fixed laws; and he is an absolute, when he holds the whole [[legislative]], [[judicial]], and [[executive power]], or when the legislative or judicial powers, or both, are vested in other people by the king. Kings are [[hereditary monarchy|hereditary sovereigns]] when they hold the powers of government by right of birth or inheritance, and elective when raised to the throne by choice.
[[File:Heraldic Royal Crown of the King of the Romans (1486-c.1700).svg|thumb|[[Heraldic crown]] of the [[King of the Romans]] (variant used in the early modern period)]]
[[File:Iron Crown.JPG|thumb|The [[Iron Crown of the Lombards]], a surviving example of an early medieval royal crown]]
[[File:Gesta Theodorici - Theodoric the Great (455-526).jpg|thumb|12th-century depiction of [[Theodoric the Great]], [[Ostrogothic Kingdom|King of the Ostrogoths]].]]
[[File:Louis XIV of France.jpg|thumb|[[Louis XIV of France]], the "Sun King" (''Roi-Soleil''), who ruled at the height of [[Absolute monarchy in France|French absolutism]] (painting by [[Hyacinthe Rigaud]], 1701).]]
[[File:Nezahualpiltzintli.jpg|thumb|[[Aztec]] King [[Nezahualpiltzintli]] of [[Texcoco (altepetl)|Texcoco]]]]
'''King''' is the title given to a male [[monarch]] in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is [[queen regnant|queen]],<ref>There have been rare exceptions, most notably [[Jadwiga of Poland]] and [[Mary, Queen of Hungary]], who were crowned as King of Poland and King of Hungary respectively during the 1380s.</ref> which title is also given to the [[queen consort|consort]] of a king.


*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the title may refer to [[tribal kingship]]. Germanic kingship is cognate with [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] traditions of tribal rulership (c.f. Indic ''[[rājan]]'', Gothic ''[[reiks]]'', and Old Irish ''[[rí]]'', etc.).
*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the title may refer to [[tribal kingship]]. Germanic kingship is cognate with [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] traditions of tribal rulership (c.f. Indic ''[[rājan]]'', Gothic ''[[reiks]]'', and Old Irish ''[[rí]]'', etc.).
Line 16: Line 11:
*In classical European [[feudalism]], the title of ''king'' as the ruler of a ''kingdom'' is understood to be the highest rank in the feudal order, potentially subject, at least nominally, only to an [[emperor]] (harking back to the [[List of Roman client kings|client kings]] of the [[Roman Republic]] and [[Roman Empire]]).<ref>The notion of a king being below an emperor in the feudal order, just as a [[duke]] is the rank below a king, is more theoretical than historical. The only kingdom title held within the [[Holy Roman Empire]] was the [[Kingdom of Bohemia]], with the Kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Germany|Germany]], [[Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)|Italy]] and [[Kingdom of Burgundy-Arles|Burgundy/Arles]] being nominal realms. The titles of [[King of the Germans]] and [[King of the Romans]] were non-landed titles held by the Emperor-elect (sometimes during the lifetime of the previous Emperor, sometimes not), although there were anti-Kings at various points; Arles and Italy were either held directly by the Emperor or not at all.
*In classical European [[feudalism]], the title of ''king'' as the ruler of a ''kingdom'' is understood to be the highest rank in the feudal order, potentially subject, at least nominally, only to an [[emperor]] (harking back to the [[List of Roman client kings|client kings]] of the [[Roman Republic]] and [[Roman Empire]]).<ref>The notion of a king being below an emperor in the feudal order, just as a [[duke]] is the rank below a king, is more theoretical than historical. The only kingdom title held within the [[Holy Roman Empire]] was the [[Kingdom of Bohemia]], with the Kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Germany|Germany]], [[Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)|Italy]] and [[Kingdom of Burgundy-Arles|Burgundy/Arles]] being nominal realms. The titles of [[King of the Germans]] and [[King of the Romans]] were non-landed titles held by the Emperor-elect (sometimes during the lifetime of the previous Emperor, sometimes not), although there were anti-Kings at various points; Arles and Italy were either held directly by the Emperor or not at all.


The [[Austrian Empire|Austrian]] and [[Austria-Hungary|Austro-Hungarian Empires]] technically contained various kingdoms ([[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungary]], [[Kingdom of Bohemia|Bohemia]], [[Kingdom of Dalmatia|Dalmatia]], [[Kingdom of Illyria (1816–49)|Illyria]], [[Lombardy–Venetia]] and [[Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria|Galicia and Lodomeria]], as well as the Kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)|Croatia]] and [[Kingdom of Slavonia|Slavonia]] which were themselves subordinate titles to the Hungarian Kingdom and which were merged as [[Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia|Croatia-Slavonia]] in 1868), but the emperor and the respective kings were the same person. The [[Russian Empire]] did not include any kingdoms. The short-lived [[First French Empire]] (1804–1814/5) included a number of [[client state|client]] kingdoms under [[Napoleon I]], such as the [[Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)|Kingdom of Italy]], the [[Kingdom of Westphalia]], the [[Kingdom of Etruria]], the [[Kingdom of Württemberg]], the [[Kingdom of Bavaria]], the [[Kingdom of Saxony]] and the [[Kingdom of Holland]]. The [[German Empire]] (1871-1918) included the Kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]], Bavaria, Württemberg and Saxony, with the Prussian king also holding the Imperial title.</ref>
The [[Austrian Empire|Austrian]] and [[Austria-Hungary|Austro-Hungarian Empires]] technically contained various kingdoms ([[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungary]], [[Kingdom of Bohemia|Bohemia]], [[Kingdom of Dalmatia|Dalmatia]], [[Kingdom of Illyria (1816–49)|Illyria]], [[Lombardy–Venetia]] and [[Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria|Galicia and Lodomeria]], as well as the Kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)|Croatia]] and [[Kingdom of Slavonia|Slavonia]] which were themselves subordinate titles to the Hungarian Kingdom and which were merged as [[Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia|Croatia-Slavonia]] in 1868), but the emperor and the respective kings were the same person. The [[Russian Empire]] did not include any kingdoms. The short-lived [[First French Empire]] (1804–1814/5) included a number of [[client state|client]] kingdoms under [[Napoleon I]], such as the [[Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)|Kingdom of Italy]], the [[Kingdom of Westphalia]], the [[Kingdom of Etruria]], the [[Kingdom of Württemberg]], the [[Kingdom of Bavaria]], the [[Kingdom of Saxony]] and the [[Kingdom of Holland]]. The [[German Empire]] (1871–1918) included the Kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]], Bavaria, Württemberg and Saxony, with the Prussian king also holding the Imperial title.</ref>
*In a modern context, the title may refer to the ruler of one of a number of modern monarchies (either absolute or constitutional). The title of ''king'' is used alongside other titles for monarchs: in the West, [[emperor]], [[grand prince]], [[prince]], [[archduke]], [[duke]] or [[grand duke]], and in the Islamic world, [[malik]], [[sultan]], [[emir]] or [[Hakim (title)|hakim]], etc.<ref name="pine">{{cite book | title=Titles: How the King became His Majesty | publisher=Barnes & Noble | author-link=L.G. Pine | last=Pine | first=L.G. | year=1992 | location=New York | page=[https://archive.org/details/titleshowkingbec0000pine/page/86 86] | isbn=978-1-56619-085-5 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/titleshowkingbec0000pine/page/86 }}</ref>
*In a modern context, the title may refer to the ruler of one of a number of modern monarchies (either absolute or constitutional). The title of ''king'' is used alongside other titles for monarchs: in the West, [[emperor]], [[grand prince]], [[prince]], [[archduke]], [[duke]] or [[grand duke]], and in the Islamic world, [[malik]], [[sultan]], [[emir]] or [[Hakim (title)|hakim]], etc.<ref name="pine">{{cite book | title=Titles: How the King became His Majesty | publisher=Barnes & Noble | author-link=L.G. Pine | last=Pine | first=L.G. | year=1992 | location=New York | page=[https://archive.org/details/titleshowkingbec0000pine/page/86 86] | isbn=978-1-56619-085-5 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/titleshowkingbec0000pine/page/86 }}</ref>
*The [[city-states]] of the [[Aztec Empire]] had a [[Tlatoani]], which were kings of pre-Hispanic [[Mesoamerica]]. The [[Huey Tlatoani]] was the [[emperor]] of the Aztecs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=History Crunch Writers |title=Aztec Emperors (Huey Tlatoani) |url=https://www.historycrunch.com/aztec-emperors-huey-tlatoani.html#/ |website=History Crunch - History Articles, Summaries, Biographies, Resources and More |access-date=18 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
*The [[city-states]] of the [[Aztec Empire]] each had a ''[[tlatoani]]''. These were the kings of pre-Hispanic [[Mesoamerica]]. The ''[[Huey Tlatoani]]'' was the [[emperor]] of the Aztecs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=History Crunch Writers |title=Aztec Emperors (Huey Tlatoani) |url=https://www.historycrunch.com/aztec-emperors-huey-tlatoani.html#/ |website=History Crunch - History Articles, Summaries, Biographies, Resources and More |access-date=18 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
The term ''king'' may also refer to a [[king consort]], a title that is sometimes given to the husband of a [[Queen regnant|ruling queen]], but the title of [[prince consort]] is more common.
The term ''king'' may also refer to a [[king consort]], a title that is sometimes given to the husband of a [[queen regnant]], but the title of [[prince consort]] is more common.


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
Line 25: Line 20:
The English term {{wikt-lang|en|king}} is derived from the [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] ''cyning'', which in turn is derived from the [[Common Germanic]] *''kuningaz''. The Common Germanic term was borrowed into Estonian and Finnish at an early time, surviving in these languages as {{wikt-lang|fi|kuningas}}. It is a derivation from the term ''*kunjom'' "kin" ([[Old English]] {{wikt-lang|ang|cynn}}) by the ''-inga-'' suffix. The literal meaning is that of a "scion of the [noble] kin", or perhaps "son or descendant of one of noble birth" ([[OED]]).
The English term {{wikt-lang|en|king}} is derived from the [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] ''cyning'', which in turn is derived from the [[Common Germanic]] *''kuningaz''. The Common Germanic term was borrowed into Estonian and Finnish at an early time, surviving in these languages as {{wikt-lang|fi|kuningas}}. It is a derivation from the term ''*kunjom'' "kin" ([[Old English]] {{wikt-lang|ang|cynn}}) by the ''-inga-'' suffix. The literal meaning is that of a "scion of the [noble] kin", or perhaps "son or descendant of one of noble birth" ([[OED]]).


The English term translates, and is considered equivalent to, Latin ''[[Rex (title)|rēx]]'' and its equivalents in the various [[European languages]]. The Germanic term is notably different from the word for "King" in other Indo-European languages (''*rēks'' "ruler"; [[Latin]] ''[[King of Rome|rēx]]'', [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]] ''[[Raja|rājan]]'' and [[Irish language|Irish]] ''[[rí]]g''; however, see Gothic ''[[reiks]]'' and, e.g., modern German ''Reich'' and modern Dutch ''rijk'').
The English term translates, and is considered equivalent to, Latin ''[[Rex (title)|rēx]]'' and its equivalents in the various [[European languages]]. The Germanic term is notably different from the word for "King" in other Indo-European languages (''*rēks'' "ruler"; [[Latin]] ''[[King of Rome|rēx]]'', [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]] ''[[Raja|rājan]]'' and [[Irish language|Irish]] ''[[rí]]''; however, see Gothic ''[[reiks]]'' and, e.g., modern German ''Reich'' and modern Dutch ''rijk'').


==History==
==History==
Line 34: Line 29:
With the breakup of the Carolingian Empire in the 9th century, the system of [[feudalism]] places kings at the head of a pyramid of relationships between liege lords and vassals, dependent on the regional rule of [[baron]]s, and the intermediate positions of [[counts]] (or [[earl]]s) and [[duke]]s. The core of European feudal [[manorialism]] in the [[High Middle Ages]] were the territories of the former [[Carolingian Empire]], i.e. the [[kingdom of France]] and the [[Holy Roman Empire]] (centered on the nominal kingdoms of [[kingdom of Germany|Germany]] and [[Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)|Italy]]).<ref>
With the breakup of the Carolingian Empire in the 9th century, the system of [[feudalism]] places kings at the head of a pyramid of relationships between liege lords and vassals, dependent on the regional rule of [[baron]]s, and the intermediate positions of [[counts]] (or [[earl]]s) and [[duke]]s. The core of European feudal [[manorialism]] in the [[High Middle Ages]] were the territories of the former [[Carolingian Empire]], i.e. the [[kingdom of France]] and the [[Holy Roman Empire]] (centered on the nominal kingdoms of [[kingdom of Germany|Germany]] and [[Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)|Italy]]).<ref>
see e.g. M. Mitterauer, ''Why Europe?: The Medieval Origins of Its Special Path'', University of Chicago Press (2010),
see e.g. M. Mitterauer, ''Why Europe?: The Medieval Origins of Its Special Path'', University of Chicago Press (2010),
[https://books.google.ch/books?id=0IU9fduDRIMC&pg=PA28 p. 28].</ref>
[https://books.google.com/books?id=0IU9fduDRIMC&pg=PA28 p. 28].</ref>


In the course of the European Middle Ages, the [[Monarchies in Europe|European kingdoms]] underwent a general trend of centralisation of power, so that by the [[Late Middle Ages]] there were a number of large and powerful kingdoms in Europe, which would develop into the [[great power]]s of Europe in the [[Early Modern period]].
In the course of the European Middle Ages, the [[Monarchies in Europe|European kingdoms]] underwent a general trend of centralisation of power, so that by the [[Late Middle Ages]] there were a number of large and powerful kingdoms in Europe, which would develop into the [[great power]]s of Europe in the [[Early Modern period]].

*Most famously, in [[Western Europe]], the western part of the [[Carolingian Empire]] became [[Francia Occidentalis]] ([[West Francia]]) and developed into the [[Kingdom of France]] covering at its height all the lands between the Atlantic and the Rhine. Its fragmented several times into almost independent states, but was several times the preeminent military and cultural power in Europe. Its monarch evolved from "Francorum Rex Occidentalis" (king of the Western Franks) to "Franciae Rex" ("King of France") and in French "Roi de France" (see [[Style of the French sovereign]]. Under the [[French Empire (disambiguation)|French Empire]] this was [[Emperor of the French]] and under the constitutional monarchy [[King of the French]].
*On the [[British Isles]], coalescing around the [[Kingdom of England]], the [[King of England]], which came to preeminent and incorporated in once way or the other [[Scotland]], [[Wales]] and [[Ireland]]
*In the [[Iberian Peninsula]], the remnants of the [[Visigothic Kingdom]], the petty kingdoms of [[kingdom of Asturias|Asturias]] and [[Kingdom of Pamplona|Pamplona]], expanded into the [[kingdom of Portugal]], the [[Crown of Castile]] and the [[Crown of Aragon]] with the ongoing [[Reconquista]].
*In the [[Iberian Peninsula]], the remnants of the [[Visigothic Kingdom]], the petty kingdoms of [[kingdom of Asturias|Asturias]] and [[Kingdom of Pamplona|Pamplona]], expanded into the [[kingdom of Portugal]], the [[Crown of Castile]] and the [[Crown of Aragon]] with the ongoing [[Reconquista]].
*In [[southern Europe]], the [[kingdom of Sicily]] was established following the [[Norman conquest of southern Italy]]. The [[Kingdom of Sardinia]] was claimed as a separate title held by the [[Crown of Aragon]] in 1324. In the Balkans, the [[Kingdom of Serbia (medieval)|Kingdom of Serbia]] was established in 1217.
*In [[southern Europe]], the [[kingdom of Sicily]] was established following the [[Norman conquest of southern Italy]]. The [[Kingdom of Sardinia]] was claimed as a separate title held by the [[Crown of Aragon]] in 1324. In the Balkans, the [[Kingdom of Serbia (medieval)|Kingdom of Serbia]] was established in 1217.
*In [[central Europe]], the [[Kingdom of Hungary]] was established [[Europe in AD 1000|in AD 1000]] following the Christianisation of the [[Magyars]]. The kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Poland (1025–1385)|Poland]] and [[Kingdom of Bohemia|Bohemia]] were established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1025 and 1198, respectively.
*In [[central Europe]], the [[Kingdom of Hungary]] was established [[Europe in AD 1000|in AD 1000]] following the Christianisation of the [[Magyars]]. The kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Poland (1025–1385)|Poland]] and [[Kingdom of Bohemia|Bohemia]] were established in 1025 and 1198, respectively.
*In [[eastern Europe]], the [[Kievan Rus']] consolidated into the [[Grand Duchy of Moscow]], which did not technically claim the status of kingdom until the early modern [[Tsardom of Russia]].
*In [[eastern Europe]], the [[Grand Duchy of Moscow]] did not technically claim the status of kingdom until the early modern [[Tsardom of Russia]].
*In [[northern Europe]], the tribal kingdoms of the [[Viking Age]] by the 11th century expanded into the [[North Sea Empire]] under [[Cnut the Great]], king of Denmark, England and Norway. The [[Christianization of Scandinavia]] resulted in "consolidated" kingdoms of [[Consolidation of Sweden|Sweden]] and [[Norwegian expansion during the Middle Ages|Norway]], and by the end of the medieval period the pan-Scandinavian [[Kalmar Union]].
*In [[northern Europe]], the tribal kingdoms of the [[Viking Age]] by the 11th century expanded into the [[North Sea Empire]] under [[Cnut the Great]], king of Denmark, England and Norway. The [[Christianization of Scandinavia]] resulted in "consolidated" kingdoms of [[Consolidation of Sweden|Sweden]] and [[Norwegian expansion during the Middle Ages|Norway]], and by the end of the medieval period the pan-Scandinavian [[Kalmar Union]].

By the end of the Middle Ages, the kings of these kingdoms would start to place arches with an orb and cross on top as an [[Imperial crown]], which only the [[Holy Roman Emperor]] had had before. This symbolized them holding the [[imperium]] and being [[emperors]] in their own realm not subject even theoretically anymore to the Holy Roman Emperor.


==Contemporary kings==
==Contemporary kings==
{{Further|List of current sovereign monarchs|List of current reigning monarchies|List of current constituent monarchs}}
{{Further|List of current sovereign monarchs|List of current reigning monarchies|List of current constituent monarchs}}
{{Monarchism}}
{{Monarchism}}
Currently ({{as of|2016|lc=y}}),<!--but note death of [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]] in October 2016--> fifteen kings are recognized as the heads of state of [[sovereign state]]s (i.e. English ''king'' is used as official translation of the respective native titles held by the monarchs).
Currently ({{as of|2023|lc=y}}),<!--but note death of [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]] in October 2016--> seventeen kings are recognized as the heads of state of [[sovereign state]]s (i.e. English ''king'' is used as official translation of the respective native titles held by the monarchs).


Most of these are heads of state of [[constitutional monarchy|constitutional monarchies]]; kings ruling over [[absolute monarchy|absolute monarchies]] are the [[King of Saudi Arabia]], the [[King of Bahrain]] and the [[King of Eswatini]].<ref>The distinction of the title of "king" from "sultan" or "emir" in oriental monarchies is largely stylistics; the [[Sultanate of Oman]], the [[State of Qatar]], the [[State of Kuwait]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]] are also categorised as absolute monarchies.</ref>
Most of these are heads of state of [[constitutional monarchy|constitutional monarchies]]; kings ruling over [[absolute monarchy|absolute monarchies]] are the [[King of Saudi Arabia]], the [[King of Bahrain]] and the [[King of Eswatini]].<ref>The distinction of the title of "king" from "sultan" or "emir" in oriental monarchies is largely stylistics; the [[Sultanate of Oman]], the [[State of Qatar]], the [[State of Kuwait]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]] are also categorised as absolute monarchies.</ref>
Line 52: Line 52:
{|class="wikitable sortable"
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
!Monarch !! House !! Title !! Kingdom !! est.
!Monarch !! House !! Title !! Kingdom
!Reign begin
!Age!!Monarchy est.
|-
|[[Harald V of Norway|Harald V]], [[Monarchy of Norway|King of Norway]] || [[House of Glücksburg|Glücksburg]] ||''konge'' || [[Kingdom of Norway]]
|January 17, 1991
|{{Age|1937|2|21}}|| 11th c.
|-
|[[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl XVI Gustaf]], [[Monarchy of Sweden|King of Sweden]] || [[House of Bernadotte|Bernadotte]] || ''konung'' || [[Kingdom of Sweden]]
|September 15, 1973
|{{Age|1946|4|30}}|| 12th c.
|-
|-
|[[Harald V of Norway|Harald V]] [[Monarchy of Norway|King of Norway]] || [[House of Glücksburg|Glücksburg]] ||''konge'' || [[Kingdom of Norway]] || 11th c.
|[[Felipe VI of Spain|Felipe VI]], [[Monarchy of Spain|King of Spain]] || [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]] || ''rey'' || [[Kingdom of Spain]]
|June 19, 2014
|{{Age|1968|1|30}}|| 1978 / 1479
|-
|-
|[[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl XVI Gustaf]] [[Monarchy of Sweden|King of Sweden]] || [[House of Bernadotte|Bernadotte]] || ''konung'' || [[Kingdom of Sweden]] || 12th c.
|[[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|Willem-Alexander]], [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|King of the Netherlands]] || [[House of Orange-Nassau|Orange-Nassau]] || ''koning'' || [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]
|April 30, 2013
|{{Age|1967|4|27}}|| 1815
|-
|-
|[[Felipe VI of Spain|Felipe VI]] [[Monarchy of Spain|King of Spain]] || [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]] || ''rey'' || [[Kingdom of Spain]] || 1978 / 1479
|[[Philippe of Belgium|Philippe]], [[Monarchy of Belgium|King of the Belgians]] || [[Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]] || ''koning / roi / König'' || [[Kingdom of Belgium]]
|July 21, 2013
|{{Age|1960|4|15}}|| 1830
|-
|-
|[[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|Willem-Alexander]] [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|King of the Netherlands]] || [[House of Orange-Nassau|Orange-Nassau]] || ''koning'' || [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]] || 1815
|[[Salman of Saudi Arabia|Salman]], [[King of Saudi Arabia]] || [[House of Saud|Saud]] || ملك ''malik'' || [[Kingdom of Saudi Arabia]]
|January 23, 2015
|{{Age|1935|12|31}}|| 1932
|-
|-
|[[Philippe of Belgium|Philippe]] [[Monarchy of Belgium|King of the Belgians]] || [[Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]] || ''koning / roi / König'' || [[Kingdom of Belgium]] || 1830
|[[Abdullah II of Jordan|Abdullah II]], [[King of Jordan]] || [[Hashemites|Hashim]] || ملك ''malik'' || [[Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan]]
|February 7, 1999
|{{Age|1962|1|30}}|| 1946
|-
|-
|[[Salman of Saudi Arabia|Salman]] [[King of Saudi Arabia]] || [[House of Saud|Saud]] || ملك ''malik'' || [[Kingdom of Saudi Arabia]] || 1932
|[[Mohammed VI of Morocco|Mohammed VI]], [[King of Morocco]] || [[Alaouite dynasty|Alaoui]] || ملك ''malik'' || [[Kingdom of Morocco]]
|July 23, 1999
|{{Age|1963|8|21}}|| 1956
|-
|-
|[[Abdullah II of Jordan|Abdullah II]] [[King of Jordan]] || [[Hashemites|Hashim]] || ملك ''malik'' || [[Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan]] || 1946
|[[Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa]], [[King of Bahrain]] || [[House of Khalifa|Khalifa]] || ملك ''malik'' || [[Kingdom of Bahrain]]
|February 14, 2002
|{{Age|1950|1|28}}|| 1971
|-
|-
|[[Mohammed VI of Morocco|Mohammed VI]] [[King of Morocco]] || [[Alaouite dynasty|Alaoui]] || ملك ''malik'' || [[Kingdom of Morocco]] || 1956
|[[Vajiralongkorn]], [[King of Thailand]] || [[Chakri Dynasty|Chakri]] || กษัตริย์ ''kasat'' || [[Kingdom of Thailand]]
|October 13, 2016
|{{Age|1952|7|28}}|| 1782
|-
|-
|[[Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa]] [[King of Bahrain]] || [[House of Khalifa|Khalifa]] || ملك ''malik'' || [[Kingdom of Bahrain]] || 1971
|[[Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck]], [[King of Bhutan]] || [[House of Wangchuck|Wangchuck]] || འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་པོ་ ''druk gyalpo'' || [[Kingdom of Bhutan]]
|December 9, 2006
|{{Age|1980|2|21}}|| 1907
|-
|-
|[[Vajiralongkorn]] [[King of Thailand]] || [[Chakri Dynasty|Chakri]] || กษัตริย์ ''kasat'' || [[Kingdom of Thailand]] || 1782
|[[Norodom Sihamoni]], [[King of Cambodia]] || [[House of Norodom|Norodom]]|| ស្ដេច ''sdac'' || [[Kingdom of Cambodia]]
|October 14, 2004
|{{Age|1953|5|14}}|| 1993 / 1953
|-
|-
|[[Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck]] [[King of Bhutan]] || [[House of Wangchuck|Wangchuck]] || འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་པོ་ ''druk gyalpo'' || [[Kingdom of Bhutan]] || 1907
|[[Tupou VI]], [[King of Tonga]] || [[House of Tupou|Tupou]] || ''king / tu'i'' || [[Kingdom of Tonga]]
|March 18, 2012
|{{Age|1959|7|12}}|| 1970
|-
|-
|[[Norodom Sihamoni]] [[King of Cambodia]] || [[House of Norodom|Norodom]]|| ស្ដេច ''sdac'' || [[Kingdom of Cambodia]] || 1993 / 1953
|[[Letsie III of Lesotho|Letsie III]], [[King of Lesotho]] || [[House of Moshesh|Moshesh]]|| ''king / morena'' || [[Kingdom of Lesotho]]
|February 7, 1996
|{{Age|1963|7|17}}|| 1966
|-
|-
|[[Tupou VI]] [[King of Tonga]] || [[House of Tupou|Tupou]] || ''king / tu'i'' || [[Kingdom of Tonga]] || 1970
|[[Mswati III]], [[King of Eswatini]] || [[House of Dlamini|Dlamini]] || ''[[ngwenyama]]'' || [[Kingdom of Eswatini]]
|April 25, 1986
|{{Age|1968|4|19}}|| 1968
|-
|-
|[[Letsie III of Lesotho|Letsie III]] [[King of Lesotho]] || [[House of Moshesh|Moshesh]]|| ''king / morena'' || [[Kingdom of Lesotho]] || 1966
|[[Charles III]], [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|King of the United Kingdom]]||[[House of Windsor|Windsor]]|| ''King'' || [[United Kingdom|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]] and [[Commonwealth realm]]s
|September 8, 2022
|{{Age|1948|11|14}}|| 927 / 843
|-
|-
|[[Frederik X]], [[Monarchy of Denmark|King of Denmark]]
|[[Mswati III]] [[King of Eswatini]] || [[House of Dlamini|Dlamini]] || ''[[ngwenyama]]'' || [[Kingdom of Eswatini]] || 1968
|[[House of Glücksburg|Glücksburg]]
|''Konge''
|[[Danish Realm|Kingdom of Denmark and its autonomous territories]]
|January 14, 2024
|{{Age|1968|May|26}}
|710
|}
|}


Line 107: Line 151:
*[[Tribal kingship]]
*[[Tribal kingship]]
;Titles translated as "king":
;Titles translated as "king":
*[[Khan (title)|Khan]]
*[[Archon]]
*[[Archon]]
*[[Basileus]]
*[[Basileus]]
*[[Lugal]]
*{{Lang|sux|[[Lugal]]|italic=no}}
*[[Kabaka of Buganda|Kabaka]]
*[[Kabaka of Buganda|Kabaka]]
*[[Mepe (title)]]
*[[Mepe (title)]]
Line 128: Line 173:


==References==
==References==
*{{cite book|editor-last1=Cannadine|editor-first1=David|editor-link1=David Cannadine|editor-last2=Price|editor-first2=Simon|editor-link2=Simon Price (classicist)|year=1987|title=Rituals of Royalty: Power and Ceremonial in Traditional Societies|url=https://archive.org/details/ritualsofroyalty0000unse|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=0-521-33513-2|lccn=86-29881}}
*Thomas J. Craughwell, ''5,000 Years of Royalty: Kings, Queens, Princes, Emperors & Tsars'' (2009).
*{{Cite book|last=Craughwell|first=Thomas J.|year=2009|title=5,000 Years of Royalty: Kings, Queens, Princes, Emperors & Tsars|url=https://archive.org/details/5000yearsofroyal0000crau|publisher=[[Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers]]|isbn=978-1-60376-189-5}}
*David Cannadine, Simon Price (eds.), ''Rituals of Royalty: Power and Ceremonial in Traditional Societies'' (1992).
*Jean Hani, ''Sacred Royalty: From the Pharaoh to the Most Christian King'' (2011).
*{{cite book|last=Hani|first=Jean|author-link=Jean Hani|year=2011|title=Sacred Royalty: From the Pharaoh to the Most Christian King|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Joqu8GJsVbcC|publisher=[[The Matheson Trust]]|isbn=978-1-908092-05-2}}


==External links==
==External links==
Line 136: Line 181:
*{{commons category-inline|Kings}}
*{{commons category-inline|Kings}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{wikiquote}}
*{{cite EB1911 |last=Phillip |first=Walter Alison |wstitle=King |volume=15 |pages=805–806 |short=x}}
*{{cite EB1911 |last=Phillip |first=Walter Alison |wstitle=King|author-link=Walter Alison Phillips|volume=15 |pages=805–806 |short=x}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

Latest revision as of 00:07, 7 August 2024

For other uses, see King (disambiguation).

Charlemagne or Charles the Great (748–814) was King of the Franks, King of the Lombards, and the first Holy Roman Emperor. Due to his military accomplishments and conquests, he has been called the "Father of Europe".
Part of a series on
Imperial, royal, noble,
gentry and chivalric ranks in Europe

King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. A king is an absolute monarch if he holds the powers of government without control, or the entire sovereignty over a nation; he is a limited monarch if his power is restrained by fixed laws; and he is an absolute, when he holds the whole legislative, judicial, and executive power, or when the legislative or judicial powers, or both, are vested in other people by the king. Kings are hereditary sovereigns when they hold the powers of government by right of birth or inheritance, and elective when raised to the throne by choice.

The term king may also refer to a king consort, a title that is sometimes given to the husband of a queen regnant, but the title of prince consort is more common.

Etymology

Further information: Rex (title) and Knyaz

The English term king is derived from the Anglo-Saxon cyning, which in turn is derived from the Common Germanic *kuningaz. The Common Germanic term was borrowed into Estonian and Finnish at an early time, surviving in these languages as kuningas. It is a derivation from the term *kunjom "kin" (Old English cynn) by the -inga- suffix. The literal meaning is that of a "scion of the [noble] kin", or perhaps "son or descendant of one of noble birth" (OED).

The English term translates, and is considered equivalent to, Latin rēx and its equivalents in the various European languages. The Germanic term is notably different from the word for "King" in other Indo-European languages (*rēks "ruler"; Latin rēx, Sanskrit rājan and Irish rí; however, see Gothic reiks and, e.g., modern German Reich and modern Dutch rijk).

History

The English word is of Germanic origin, and historically refers to Germanic kingship, in the pre-Christian period a type of tribal kingship. The monarchies of Europe in the Christian Middle Ages derived their claim from Christianisation and the divine right of kings, partly influenced by the notion of sacral kingship inherited from Germanic antiquity.

The Early Middle Ages begin with a fragmentation of the former Western Roman Empire into barbarian kingdoms. In Western Europe, the kingdom of the Franks developed into the Carolingian Empire by the 8th century, and the kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England were unified into the kingdom of England by the 10th century.

With the breakup of the Carolingian Empire in the 9th century, the system of feudalism places kings at the head of a pyramid of relationships between liege lords and vassals, dependent on the regional rule of barons, and the intermediate positions of counts (or earls) and dukes. The core of European feudal manorialism in the High Middle Ages were the territories of the former Carolingian Empire, i.e. the kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire (centered on the nominal kingdoms of Germany and Italy).[4]

In the course of the European Middle Ages, the European kingdoms underwent a general trend of centralisation of power, so that by the Late Middle Ages there were a number of large and powerful kingdoms in Europe, which would develop into the great powers of Europe in the Early Modern period.

By the end of the Middle Ages, the kings of these kingdoms would start to place arches with an orb and cross on top as an Imperial crown, which only the Holy Roman Emperor had had before. This symbolized them holding the imperium and being emperors in their own realm not subject even theoretically anymore to the Holy Roman Emperor.

Contemporary kings

Further information: List of current sovereign monarchs, List of current reigning monarchies, and List of current constituent monarchs
Part of the Politics series
Monarchy
Heraldic royal crown
Central concepts
Types
Philosophy

Philosophers

Works

Politicians
History
Polity
Administration
Related ideologies
Related topics
icon Politics portal

Currently (as of 2023), seventeen kings are recognized as the heads of state of sovereign states (i.e. English king is used as official translation of the respective native titles held by the monarchs).

Most of these are heads of state of constitutional monarchies; kings ruling over absolute monarchies are the King of Saudi Arabia, the King of Bahrain and the King of Eswatini.[5]

Monarch House Title Kingdom Reign begin Age Monarchy est.
Harald V, King of Norway Glücksburg konge Kingdom of Norway January 17, 1991 87 11th c.
Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden Bernadotte konung Kingdom of Sweden September 15, 1973 78 12th c.
Felipe VI, King of Spain Bourbon rey Kingdom of Spain June 19, 2014 56 1978 / 1479
Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands Orange-Nassau koning Kingdom of the Netherlands April 30, 2013 57 1815
Philippe, King of the Belgians Saxe-Coburg and Gotha koning / roi / König Kingdom of Belgium July 21, 2013 64 1830
Salman, King of Saudi Arabia Saud ملك malik Kingdom of Saudi Arabia January 23, 2015 88 1932
Abdullah II, King of Jordan Hashim ملك malik Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan February 7, 1999 62 1946
Mohammed VI, King of Morocco Alaoui ملك malik Kingdom of Morocco July 23, 1999 61 1956
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain Khalifa ملك malik Kingdom of Bahrain February 14, 2002 74 1971
Vajiralongkorn, King of Thailand Chakri กษัตริย์ kasat Kingdom of Thailand October 13, 2016 72 1782
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Bhutan Wangchuck འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་པོ་ druk gyalpo Kingdom of Bhutan December 9, 2006 44 1907
Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia Norodom ស្ដេច sdac Kingdom of Cambodia October 14, 2004 71 1993 / 1953
Tupou VI, King of Tonga Tupou king / tu'i Kingdom of Tonga March 18, 2012 65 1970
Letsie III, King of Lesotho Moshesh king / morena Kingdom of Lesotho February 7, 1996 61 1966
Mswati III, King of Eswatini Dlamini ngwenyama Kingdom of Eswatini April 25, 1986 56 1968
Charles III, King of the United Kingdom Windsor King United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Commonwealth realms September 8, 2022 75 927 / 843
Frederik X, King of Denmark Glücksburg Konge Kingdom of Denmark and its autonomous territories January 14, 2024 56 710

See also

Titles translated as "king"

Notes

  1. ^ The notion of a king being below an emperor in the feudal order, just as a duke is the rank below a king, is more theoretical than historical. The only kingdom title held within the Holy Roman Empire was the Kingdom of Bohemia, with the Kingdoms of Germany, Italy and Burgundy/Arles being nominal realms. The titles of King of the Germans and King of the Romans were non-landed titles held by the Emperor-elect (sometimes during the lifetime of the previous Emperor, sometimes not), although there were anti-Kings at various points; Arles and Italy were either held directly by the Emperor or not at all. The Austrian and Austro-Hungarian Empires technically contained various kingdoms (Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Illyria, Lombardy–Venetia and Galicia and Lodomeria, as well as the Kingdoms of Croatia and Slavonia which were themselves subordinate titles to the Hungarian Kingdom and which were merged as Croatia-Slavonia in 1868), but the emperor and the respective kings were the same person. The Russian Empire did not include any kingdoms. The short-lived First French Empire (1804–1814/5) included a number of client kingdoms under Napoleon I, such as the Kingdom of Italy, the Kingdom of Westphalia, the Kingdom of Etruria, the Kingdom of Württemberg, the Kingdom of Bavaria, the Kingdom of Saxony and the Kingdom of Holland. The German Empire (1871–1918) included the Kingdoms of Prussia, Bavaria, Württemberg and Saxony, with the Prussian king also holding the Imperial title.
  2. ^ Pine, L.G. (1992). Titles: How the King became His Majesty. New York: Barnes & Noble. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-56619-085-5.
  3. ^ History Crunch Writers. "Aztec Emperors (Huey Tlatoani)". History Crunch - History Articles, Summaries, Biographies, Resources and More. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  4. ^ see e.g. M. Mitterauer, Why Europe?: The Medieval Origins of Its Special Path, University of Chicago Press (2010), p. 28.
  5. ^ The distinction of the title of "king" from "sultan" or "emir" in oriental monarchies is largely stylistics; the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are also categorised as absolute monarchies.

References

Look up cyning in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
  • Media related to Kings at Wikimedia Commons
Wikiquote has quotations related to King.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=King&oldid=1239031036"