Grand prince facts for kids
A Grand Prince or Great Prince was a special title for a ruler in some parts of Europe, especially in Eastern Europe. It was like being a king or a duke, but sometimes it meant something a bit different. This title was used for the leaders of lands called grand principalities. The last places ruled by a Grand Prince stopped existing around 1917 and 1918.
In English, the title "Grand Duke" is often used to translate "Grand Prince," even though it's not exactly the same. This is because English doesn't always have separate words for a prince who rules a country and a prince who is just part of a royal family. However, in some languages, "Grand Prince" was a unique title, often for a younger member of a royal family, while "Grand Duke" was for a ruler.
The title of Grand Prince was once held by the main ruler of a grand principality. For example, Ivan IV of Moscow, who later became the first Tsar of Russia, was known as a velikiy knyaz (Grand Prince) before he took the title of Tsar. Velikiy knyaz is a Russian title that is often translated as "Grand Prince" because there isn't a perfect match in other European languages.
Velikiy knyaz also became a special title for members of the Russian Tsar's family from the 17th century onwards. These family members were not rulers themselves, but they held this important title.
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Titles in Slavic and Baltic Languages
The title Velikiy knyaz (which means something like Grand Prince) was used in Slavic and Baltic countries during the Middle Ages. It was the title for a powerful leader who was in charge of a group of smaller areas, each ruled by a lesser knyaz (often translated as "prince").
These Grand Princes were sometimes seen as kings, even though the titles of king, prince, and duke didn't originally exist among the early Slavic and Baltic people. The word knyaz itself came from a Germanic word.
A Velikiy knyaz was usually the most important among his family members, but not always the oldest son. All the knyazs in the family might have a chance to become the ruler. This was common in places like the Kievan Rus' and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So, a Velikiy knyaz was more like a "high king" who wasn't under anyone else's rule. As these countries grew, their rulers often took on even higher titles like king or emperor.
Grand Princes in the Middle Ages
Hungary
The title Grand Prince (Nagyfejedelem in Hungarian) was used for the leaders of the Hungarian tribes in the 10th century. For example, Árpád and Géza were called Grand Princes. They were important leaders who united the Hungarian people.
Serbia
In medieval Serbia, the title veliki župan (meaning "great chieftain") was used for the supreme leader of different tribes. This leader was in charge of smaller chieftains called župan. This title was used by Serbian rulers in the 11th and 12th centuries.
For example, Vukan became the veliki župan in Raška around the 1090s. Later, Stefan Nemanja also took this title. Sometimes, Latin documents called him mega iupanus.
Kievan Rus' and Successor States
Kievan Rus'
The Kievan Rus' was a powerful state in Eastern Europe. Its rulers were known as the Grand Princes of Kiev. They were very important leaders in the region.
Later Rus' Principalities
After the Kievan Rus' became less powerful, other areas like Vladimir-Suzdal and Galicia-Volhynia started using the title "Grand Prince" for their rulers in the 13th century. Later, cities like Moscow, Tver', and Smolensk also claimed this title.
From the 15th century, the Grand Princes of Moscow began adding "and of all Rus'" to their title. This showed they wanted to rule all the Rus' lands. Finally, Ivan IV declared himself "Tsar of Russia" in 1547.
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Lithuanian title Didysis kunigaikštis was used by the rulers of Lithuania. After 1569, when Poland and Lithuania joined together, this title became one of the main titles for the monarch of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The kings of Poland from the Swedish House of Vasa also used this title for their non-Polish lands. This Lithuanian title was sometimes translated into Latin as Magnus Dux or Grand Duke.
Modern Use
In 1582, King Johan III of Sweden added Grand Prince of Finland to his titles. However, this was just a title and didn't mean Finland was a separate country, as it was already a full part of Sweden.
The Holy Roman Empire's ruling family, the Habsburgs, created a similar Grand Principality in Transylvania in 1765.
After Russia conquered more lands, the Russian emperor continued to use the title of Grand Prince for his role as ruler of Lithuania (from 1793 to 1918) and autonomous Finland (from 1809 to 1917). His full list of titles included things like "Grand Duke of Smolensk" and "Lord and Grand Duke of Nizhni Novgorod."
The title "Grand Prince" also remained a family title for the important members of the Romanov dynasty in Russia during the imperial era. The title Velikiy Knyaz was officially given to the children and male grandchildren of the Russian emperors. Daughters and paternal granddaughters used a similar title, Velikaya Knyazhna. Today, a Russian Grand Duke or Grand Duchess is called Imperial Highness.
The title Grand Prince was also used for the person who was next in line to rule the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.
See also
- Grand Prince of the Hungarians
- Royal and noble ranks
- Titles of nobility
