HRVATSKO KRALJEVSKO VIJEĆE CONSILIUM REGIUM CROATICUM
INDEX OF CROATIAN ROYAL AND NOBLE
TITLES AND RANKS
Hierarchy of Croatian Royal and Noble titles:
Kralj (lat. Rex), King
Style of address; Your Majesty (HRM-His/Her Royal Majesty)
Indicates the highest title in Croatia, it derives its origins from the Slavic interpretation of the name of Charlemagne (Carolus Magnus) of the Carolingian dynasty. The title Kralj is the equivalent of the Latin title Rex (earlier also Rege). The first Croatian King was Tomislav (reign; 925-928?) of the Trpimirović dynasty. The last Croatian King according to the Zvonimir's (old Croatian) succession tradition was Blessed King Karlo IV Habsburško-Lotarinški (Charles IV, reign; 1916-1918), while the last Croatian Monarch to have the tile King of Croatia was Aimone Tomislav II Savoy-Aosta (reign; 1941-1943).
Kraljević (lat. Princeps/Rex Hereditarium), Crown Prince (Prince)
Style of address; Your Highness (HRH-His/Her Royal Highness)
Most commonly is associated with the first Son of the ruling Monarch or the Heir to the throne of the Kingdom. It is the equivalent of the Latin title Principes and (more rarely used) Rex hereditarium. In the Croatian index of titles and ranks it (depending on the dynasty) it describes the Heir apparent or Heir Presumptive and sometimes even all the children of the Monarch.
Medieval Relief of a Croatian Monarch, Split baptistery (originally from the Coronation Church in Solin), 11th century
Ceremonial dress of HRH Crown Prince Oton Habsburško-Lotarinški from 1916
Ban (lat. Banus/Vice Rex/Banus hereditarium), Ban
Style of address; Your Excellency (HREB-His Royal Excellency the Ban )
One of the oldest and most unique Croatian noble titles and royal functions through the history. Which depending on the period, mostly indicates a person who rules over (or parts of) the Kingdom Croatia in the name of the King. The title can be related to the international definition of the title Viceroy, but the main difference is that he rules instead of administrates a country in the name of the King. Beside being a function it was also one of the highest nobility titles awarded with hereditary rights to Pavao I of the Šubić Bribirski dynasty. The last Ban of the Kingdom of Croatia until 1918 was Ban Antun pl Mihalović, while the last person to hold such title in general was Ban Ivan Šubašić (1939-1941/43).
Veliki Knez (lat. Magnus Princeps/Dux), Grand Prince
Style of address; Your Highness (HSH-His/Her Serene Highness)
Higher nobility title unique for the Slavic based cultural and linguistic area, which indicates a higher title then the one of Knez, but lesser then the ruling royal ones. The Latin equivalent is Magnus Princeps or Magnus Dux (depending on the translation), while the German equivalent is Großfürst. In Croatia the title is mostly used in the Kneževina of Poljica (Principality/Duchy of Poljica) from the 13th until 19th century, where the Grand Prince was elected among the higher nobility and later lower nobility.
Knez (lat. Princeps/Dux), Prince or Duke
Style of address; Your Highness (HH or HRH-His/Her (Royal) Highness)
Higher noble and royal title of Slavic origin, which represents one of the earliest Croatian rulers titles. It was used to title the rulers of the Ancient Homeland (White Croatia), as well as the later two main duchies the Littoral Duchy of Croatia and the Duchy of Pannonian Croatia, as well as the Duchy of Nerentia (Pagania). Which all before the unification into the Kingdom of Croatia in 925, where core state entities of the Croatian people. The title is also used to describe members of the Royal family (Princes), as well as members of the higher nobility (Princes or Dukes). The title was a hereditary title in the principality of Poljica, while it was the highest function in the Dubrovnik aristocratic republic. The Latin equivalent of the title is Principes or Dux, while the German equivalent is Fürst.
Nadvojvoda (lat. Archidux), Archduke
Style of address; Your Highness (HH or HRH-His/Her (Royal) Highness)
A title that is mostly associated with the Habsburg or Habsburg-Lothringen dynasty, which is the longest reigning Croatian Royal family. as well as the highest ranked Croatian noble family. The title and its tradition came with the Habsburgs in the year 1527 and the elction of the Habsburg dynasty as the new Croatian Royalty by the Croatian Sabor (Parliament) consisting of the Government, Church and Nobility. The Latin equivalent of the title is Archidux.
Vojvoda (lat. Dux), Duke
Style of address; Your Illustrious Highness (HIIIH-His/Her Illustrious Highness)
Nobility title mostly associated with the Latin title Dux, English Duke and German Herzog. In Croatia it was awarded to the higher nobility as well as members of the Croatian-Hungarian Royal family. The title mostly came with a territorial claim of ownership of a vojvodstvo (Duchy). Also it was sometimes used as a military function but as such was not a nobility title (specially in neighboring countries). The most notable Croatian Duke is Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić.
Markiz (lat. Comes Terminalis), Marquess
Style of address; Your Illustrious Highness (HIIIH-His/Her Illustrious Highness)
Younger title in history which came by adoption of foreign titles. It is the equivalent of the French title Marquis and the German title Markgraf. Its earlier description would include a countly title with the right of a military and territorial governing of the county, while later it is a title higher then the one of a Count. The most famous Croatian Marquess was Fran Krto Frankopan,
Župan (lat. Iupanus/Comes), Župan (as Count)
Style of address; Your Illustrious Highness (HIIIH-His/Her Illustrious Highness)
A unique Croatian nobility title and function. It was one of the earliest nobility titles to describe a Count (earlier Latin Iupanus, later Latin Comes) who administrates a territorial entity known as a Županija (county). With the more often usage of the title Knez (for Count), the title ceased to exist as a nobility one and remained an administrative title until today. As an administrative title and office, in history it was divided into titles of Veliki Župan (Grand Župan), Župan and Dožupan (Deputy Župan). Today in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina the Župan is a political administrative title of a person who administrates a Županija which is an administrative local-regional entity or county.
Knez (lat. Comes), Knez (as Count)
Style of address; Your Illustrious Highness (HIIIH-His/Her Illustrious Highness)
One of older Croatian titles, unlike the title of Župan (Count) in the Medieval period it did not necessary carry a territorial ownership of a County. It is the older equivalent of the title Grof and Conte (Count) and is similar in meaning to other countly titles. The title is mostly held by older countly families, specially in Dalmatia to make them more superior to the title of Conte. The Latin equivalent of the title is Comes.
Grof (lat. Comes), Grof (as Count)
Style of address; Your Excellency (HE-His/Her Excellency)
Younger nobility title which is taken from the German title Graf (Count), it came in the Croatian tradition with the enthronement of the Habsburg dynasty in 1527. The Latin equivalent of the title is Comes. It was given to most prominent noble families mainly in Croatia and Slavonia, and lesser degree in Dalmatia. Unlike the Conte equivalent of the title, this one was considered in a higher rank since the holders where mostly also political, military and economical magnates. The families that held the title where also considered Velikaši (Magnates) of Croatia.
Conte (lat. Comes/Comes Venetia), Conte (as Count)
Style of address; Your Excellency (HE-His/Her Excellency)
Title used mostly on the area of former Venetian rule, the full name of the title was Venetian Conte (Italian; Conte Veneto). The title was awarded by Venice to older families to mark their importance, as well as new ones. During the Habsburg KuK monarchy dozens of families where recognized the same title, with the title not being translated into Knez or Grof to make them an equivalent with a lesser rank of importance.
Venetian nobility dress from the 16th century
Vikont (lat. Vicecomes), Viscount
Style of address; Your Excellency (HE-His/Her Excellency)
Nobility title which is used in a lesser degree in Croatia, but is more common in Dalmatia and Istria, that is, in territory with more historic influence of Venice or Hungary. It is a title higher than the one of a Baron, but lesser then the one of a Count.
Barun (lat. Baro/Baron), Baron
Style of address; Sir/Madam
Younger nobility title, which is consider a lower title in the nobility hierarchy. It also used through history the adjective freiherr (Free Master), which sometimes is referred to as a separate title. The title Baron is considered the first nobility title just above the common nobility rank.
Plemenit (lat. Nobilis), Noble
Style of address; Sir/Madam
The first common nobility rank shown with the abbreviation ''pl.'' (short from Plemenit-Noble) or with the adjectives; Croatian ''od'', German ''von'', Italian ''di'' or ''de'' which are used before or in the middle of a surname to mark a member of the nobility. All of the nobility uses this abbreviations or adjectives to mark their belonging to the nobility. The main difference is that the lower nobility doesn't uses other titles (Baron, Count, Duke, etc.) and has only this marks of their nobility status.
Nasljedni vitez (lat. Eques hereditarium), Hereditary Knight
Style of address; Sir/Madam
Title and function which is the same as the one of a Knight but with the hereditary right passed on to their descendants.
Vitez (lat. Eques/Equites), Knight
Style of address; Sir/Madam
Personal lifelong title which was created during the Medieval Period when the professional military formed a separate social and ruling class. It is not considered a true nobility title, but rather represents a honorific title awarded mainly with Orders of Merit. With the development of knightly orders into military Orders and Decorations it becomes more and more a honorific title which emphasizes noble and chivalric virtues, specially the nobility code (Noblesse oblige). This practice of honor was present in Croatia until 1945, when it was abolished under the Socialist regime. Today some civil organizations award honorific titles in their civil Orders.
Peace offering of King Koloman and the Croatian Nobility
