Knyaz

Knit or Knyaz ( Slavonic: kъnędzь, East Slavonic knjaz, South Slavonic knez ) is one of the oldest Slavic ruler title and was used in all Slavic peoples. The title is usually translated as prince or duke, but in fact put both terms do not sufficiently correct translation is because Knesset was derived from the Proto-Germanic kuningaz (king). In Latin sources the title is translated as comes or princeps. The ruler title was common for Slavic nobles to the early 20th century.

The now familiar male title " Mr. " is in the two Sorbian languages ​​knjez or Kněz ( feminine form: kněni ) according to the Czech and Polish pan.

History

Knit presented to the 9th century, the Slavic form of the Germanic and Anglo-Saxon word for king dar. From the reign of Charlemagne in the 9th century formed for the Latin rex the word kralь ( from the German Karl ) or kъralь ( from the Latin Carolus ), which was initially only used for the Frankish kings. In the further development, however, it displaced in Central and Southeastern Europe, the Knesset title to the second place of the ruling hierarchy. In contrast, remained in Eastern Europe, the original meaning of the Knesset track during the Middle Ages preserved and was afterwards used ( see Grigori Aleksandrovich Potemkin, lover of Empress Catherine the Great).

A Knesset, who commanded knjaževi over several other Knezi and was mostly veliki knjaz ( Grand Duke, Grand Duke or Great King ) called.

In the South Slavic area of the title knez first appeared in the early 12th century in the Glagolitic inscription of the Tablet of Baska on Krk Island to:

"I abbot Držiha wrote this about this piece of land, which Zvonimir, King [ kralj ] Croatia, gave in his day, of St. Lucia. [ ...] I, abbot Dobrovit built this church with my nine brethren in the days of Kosmat Knez who ruled this country. "

In medieval Croatia, the leaders of the powerful noble families wore (eg Šubići ) and the Dalmatian coastal towns (such as Dubrovnik) the title. At the time of Ottoman rule the title lost its importance and became the title of the head of the local Christian self-government and the village mayor Christian communities. After the regained independence it became the title of the Serbian ( until 1882 ) and Montenegrin ( 1851-1910 ) ruler (see Miloš Obrenović ).

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