Prince

Prince (Lat. princeps), an epithet which was originally applied to the princeps senatus of the Roman state, and afterwards became a title of dignity. It was adopted by Augustus and his successors; hence the word was afterwards applied to persons enjoying kingly power, more especially the rulers of small states, either sovereign or dependent. The title is now very generally applied to the sons of kings and emperors and persons of the blood-royal, sometimes with a territorial title (Prince of Wales, Prince of Orange), or with an addition, 'crown prince,' 'prince imperial,' &c. In various parts of continental Europe the title prince is borne by families of eminent rank but not possessed of sovereignty. Practically in Britain the term prince is restricted to members of the royal family (see PRECEDENCE). The eldest son of the reigning sovereign is by a special patent created Prince of Wales (see WALES, PRINCE OF). In France, under the old regime, dukes took precedence of princes; and many dukes had princedoms as minor titles. Napoleon put his new-created princes above dukes. In Italy princes rank after dukes, sons of dukes being called princes. In Germany the ambiguity of applying the same title to the members of royal houses and princely families, not sovereign, is avoided, the former being styled 'Prinz,' the latter 'Fürst.' The German Fürst takes rank below the Duke (Herzog). Most of the counts who had a seat in the old German Diet were elevated to the dignity of Prince on their acquiescence in the dismemberment of the German empire (see GERMANY, Vol. V. p. 177). In a more general acceptance the term prince is often used for a sovereign or the ruler of a state.