Kniaz’ or knyaz (князь in Russian and Ukrainian; 'knez' in Serbian; cneaz in Romanian fem. kniahynia, княгиня) is a title originated in the history of some Slavic lands (Ukraine, Ruthenia, Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria). It is usually translated into English either as Prince or Duke, although the correspondence is not exact. The etymology is probably related to the English King and the German König via Scandinavian konung. It is also possible that it is an even earlier borrowing from the Proto-Germanic *Kuningaz, a form also borrowed by Finnish (Kuningas). The meaning was changing during history. Russian (русский язык  listen?) is the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages. ... Ukrainian (украї́нська мо́ва) is an East Slavic language, one of three members of this language group, the other two being Russian and Belarusian. ... Romanian (limba română ) is an Eastern Romance language, spoken by about 28 million people, most of them in Romania, Moldova (where it is the official language) and nearby countries. ... (In the context of property law, title refers to ownership or documents of ownership; see title (property). ... The Slavic peoples are the most numerous ethnic and linguistic body of peoples in Europe. ... Ukraine (Україна, Ukrayina in Ukrainian; Украина in Russian) is a republic in eastern Europe which borders Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, Romania and Moldova to the southwest and the Black Sea to the south. ... Ruthenia is a name applied to parts of Eastern Europe which were populated by Eastern Slavic peoples, as well as to various states that existed in this territory in the past. ... The Russian Federation (Russian: Росси́йская Федера́ция, transliteration: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya or Rossijskaja Federacija), or Russia (Russian: Росси́я, transliteration: Rossiya or Rossija), is a country that stretches over a vast expanse of eastern Europe and northern Asia. ... Serbia and Montenegro  – Serbia    – Kosovo and Metohia        (UN administration)    – Vojvodina  – Montenegro Official language Serbian1 Capital Belgrade Area  – Total  – % water  88,361 km²  n/a Population  – Total (2002)     (without Kosovo)  – Density  7. ... The Republic of Bulgaria is a republic in the southeast of Europe. ... A prince (from the Latin princeps) is a male member of royalty or a royal family. ... The term duke is a title of nobility which refers to the sovereign male ruler of a Continental European duchy, to a nobleman of the highest grade of the British peerage, or to the highest rank of nobility in various other European countries, including Spain and France (in Italy, principe... Proto-Germanic, the proto-language believed by scholars to be the common ancestor of the Germanic languages, includes among its descendants Dutch, Yiddish, German, English, Afrikaans, Norwegian, Old Norse, Swedish, Icelandic and Danish. ... Finnish is spoken by the majority (92%) in Finland and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. ...

Initially it was used to denote the chieftain of a tribe. Later, with the development of feudal statehood it become the title of a ruler of a state (княжество, kniazhestvo, translated as duchy or principality), i.e. of Kievan Rus'. In such cases the title is better translated as Prince. This article is about the leader. ... A duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess. ... Prince Albert of Monaco on the left represents a principality where he wields adminisitrative authority. ... Kievan Rus′ (Ки́евская Ру́сь, Kievskaya Rus in Russian; Київська Русь, Kyivs’ka Rus’ in Ukrainian) was the early, mostly East Slavic¹ state dominated by the city of Kiev (ru: Ки́ев, Kiev; uk: Ки́їв, Kyiv), from about 880 to the middle of the 12th century. ... A prince (from the Latin princeps) is a male member of royalty or a royal family. ...

As the degree of centralization grew, the ruler acquired the title Velikii Kniaz (translated as Grand duke, see Russian Grand Dukes). He ruled a Velikoe Knyazhestvo (Grand Duchy), while a ruler of its vassal constituent (udel, udelnoe kniazhestvo) was called udelny kniaz or simply kniaz. The title of Grand Duke (Latin, Magnus Dux; German, Großherzog, Russian, Великий князь) used in Slavic, Baltic, and Germanic countries, is ranked in honour below King but higher than a sovereign Duke (Herzog) or Prince (Fürst). ... The title of Grand Duke (Latin, Magnus Dux; German, Großherzog, Russian, Великий князь) used in Slavic, Baltic, and Germanic countries, is ranked in honour below King but higher than a sovereign Duke (Herzog) or Prince (Fürst). ... The title of Grand Duke (Latin, Magnus Dux; German, Großherzog, Russian, Великий князь) used in Slavic, Baltic, and Germanic countries, is ranked in honour below King but higher than a sovereign Duke (Herzog) or Prince (Fürst). ... A grand duchy is a form of principality which has a Grand Duke or a Grand Duchess as head of state. ...

When Kievan Rus' became fragmented in the 13th century, the title Kniaz continued to be used in Ruthenian states, including Novgorod, Vladimir-Suzdal' (later Muscovy), Halych-Volynia, and in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Ruthenia is a name applied to parts of Eastern Europe which were populated by Eastern Slavic peoples, as well as to various states that existed in this territory in the past. ... For other cities named Novgorod see Novgorod (disambiguation). ... Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, Vladimir-Suzdal Rus (Владимирско-Суздальская Русь), or Vladimir-Suzdal Grand Duchy (Влади́миро-Су́здальское кня́жество) was one of major principalities within the Kievan Rus and after its collapse. ... This article is about Muscovite Russia. ... Halych-Volynia principality was the Ruthenian successor state of Kievan Rus on the territory of Rus menora (Rus propria) including the lands of Red Ruthenia, Black Ruthenia, and the remainder of southwestern Rus. This state also briefly controlled the region of Bessarabia and Moldavia. ... The presumable banner of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with the coat of arms, called Пагоня in Belarusian, Vytis in Lithuanian and Pogoń in Polish Another version of the Lithuanian banner The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė, Belarusian: Вялі́кае Кня́ства Літо́ўскае (ВКЛ), Ukrainian: Велике Князівство...

As Muscovy gained dominion over much of former Kievan Rus', Velikii Kniaz Ivan IV of Russia in 1547 was crowned as Tsar, and tsars become Emperors. The title Velikii Kniaz has been applied to sons and grandsons (through male lines) of the Tsars and Emperors of Russia, see Titles for Tsar's family. This article is about Muscovite Russia. ... Ivan IV (August 25, 1530–March 18, 1584) was the first ruler of Russia to assume the title of tsar. ... Events January 16 - Grand Duke Ivan IV of Muscovy becomes the first Tsar of Russia. ... Tsar ( Bulgarian цар, Russian царь,  listen?; often spelled Czar or Tzar and sometimes Csar or Zar in English), was the title used for the autocratic rulers of the First and Second Bulgarian Empires since 913, in Serbia in the middle of the 14th century, and in Russia from 1547 to... Emperor is also a Norwegian black metal band; see Emperor (band). ... Emperor is also a Norwegian black metal band; see Emperor (band). ... Tsar ( Bulgarian цар, Russian царь,  listen?; often spelled Czar or Tzar and sometimes Csar or Zar in English), was the title used for the autocratic rulers of the First and Second Bulgarian Empires since 913, in Serbia in the middle of the 14th century, and in Russia from 1547 to...

Gradually, Kniaz has become a hereditary title of nobility granted by Tsar. The title kniaz (in this case it corresponds to Duke) usually came with udel (land, property), i.e., the term Duchy will be a close match. Unusually many of "kniazes" were in the lands of Caucasus. The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the Windows of the Lodge of the Heralds. ... Tsar ( Bulgarian цар, Russian царь,  listen?; often spelled Czar or Tzar and sometimes Csar or Zar in English), was the title used for the autocratic rulers of the First and Second Bulgarian Empires since 913, in Serbia in the middle of the 14th century, and in Russia from 1547 to... The term duke is a title of nobility which refers to the sovereign male ruler of a Continental European duchy, to a nobleman of the highest grade of the British peerage, or to the highest rank of nobility in various other European countries, including Spain and France (in Italy, principe... A duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess. ... The Caucasus is a region in West Asia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea which includes the Caucasus mountains and surrounding lowlands. ...

Finally, within the Russian Empire of 1809-1917, Finland was called Grand Duchy of Finland (Velikoe Kniazhestvo Finlandskoe). Imperial Russia is the term used to cover the period of Russian history from the expansion of Russia under Peter the Great, through the expansion of the Russian Empire from the Baltic to the Pacific Ocean, to the deposal of Nicholas II of Russia, the last tsar, at the start... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1917 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Republic of Finland (Finnish: Suomen tasavalta, Swedish: Republiken Finland) is a Nordic country in northeastern Europe, bordered by the Baltic Sea to the southwest, the Gulf of Finland to the southeast and the Gulf of Bothnia to the west. ... A grand duchy is a form of principality which has a Grand Duke or a Grand Duchess as head of state. ...

Related articles

• History of Russia
• Rulers of Kievan Rus
• Tsars