A
king is a
head of state, who may or may not, depending on the style of government of a nation, exercise
monarchal powers over a nation, usually called a
kingdom or a
realm. A king is the second highest sovereign title, second to that of
emperor. The female equivalent of king is queen; although the term "queen" may refer to one ruling as a monarch in her own right, a
queen regnant, or to the wife of a king, a
queen consort. A queen who becomes the reigning monarch because the king has died, has become debilitated, or is a minor, is known as a
queen regent. The husband of a queen regnant is sometimes styled the
king consort but is more commonly
styled the
prince consort. A king or queen may wear a
crown or carry other
regalia (symbols of office).
Historically the term "king" has been used for the rulers of very small peoples and territories. Such a king (Sumerian
lugal, Semitic
sharrum, Latin
rex, Greek
basileus, Sanskrit
raja, Germanic
kuningaz) could be a tribal leader or
chief, or the
tyrant of a city state. Often, the king will not only have a political function, but the same time a religious one, acting as
high priest or
divine king.
Tribal leaders continue to be referred to as king also into the modern period, e.g.
Maquinna, king of perhaps 2000
Nootka people in the early 20th century.
See also
Category:Men's social titlesCategory:Positions of authorityCategory:Royal titlesals:Königar:الملكbe:Карольbg:Кралcs:Králda:Kongede:Königet:Kuningaseo:Reĝoext:Reifr:Roigot:𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰𐌽𐍃ko:왕ia:Regeit:Rekn:ಅರಸla:Rexlv:Karalislt:Karaliushu:Királymk:Кралnl:Koning (titel)nds-nl:Könning (titel)ja:国王no:Kongenn:Kongepl:Królpt:Reiqu:Qhapaqru:Корольsq:Mbretisimple:Kingszl:Krůlsr:Краљ (титула)fi:Kuningassv:Kungte:మహారాజుtr:Kraludm:Корольuk:Корольvec:Rewuu:国王zh-yue:王zh:王
