Royal and Noble Ranks

European nobility / honorific hierarchy 

Sovereign Ranks (Rulers)

1. Emperor / Empress
   Ruler of an empire (multiple kingdoms or peoples)
   
   

2. King / Queen
   Sovereign ruler of a kingdom
   
   

3. Prince / Princess (sovereign)
   In some states (e.g., Monaco, Liechtenstein), a prince is the ruler  (Below king, above duke when sovereign)

High Nobility (Peers)

4. Archduke / Archduchess
   Rare (mainly Habsburg lands); above duke
   
   

5. Grand Duke / Grand Duchess
   Ruler of a grand duchy (e.g., Luxembourg)
   
   

6. Duke / Duchess
   Highest rank of the regular nobility

Middle Nobility

7. Marquess / Marquis / Margrave
   Historically ruled border territories (marches)
   
   

8. Count / Earl
   Earl is the English equivalent of Count
   
   

9. Viscount / Viscountess
   Deputy or subordinate to a count
   
   

10. Baron / Baroness
    Lowest rank of the peerage
    
    

Lesser Nobility & Gentry (Not Peers)

11. Baronet
    
    

• Hereditary title
  
  

• Uses “Sir”
  
  

• Not nobility, no seat in the peerage
  
  

12. Knight / Dame
    
    

• Non-hereditary
  
  

• Honorific, not noble rank

Below the Nobility

13. Esquire
    Gentleman rank (historical/legal)
    
    

14. Gentleman / Lady (courtesy use)
    Social class, no title

Important Clarifications

• Clergy titles (bishop, cardinal, pope) are not noble ranks