overking
King of kings
An overking is a king who rules over other kings—a supreme monarch with authority over lesser rulers who retain their own kingdoms.
The term appears mainly in historical contexts, describing hierarchies in medieval Ireland, Anglo-Saxon England, or fantasy fiction: The overking demanded tribute from the seven kingdoms beneath him.
Hereditary supreme ruler
- emperorMale ruler of empire
- suzerainLord over vassals
- pharaohAncient Egyptian ruler
- czarAbsolute ruler or appointee
sultan · kaiser · shah · rajah · caliph · tsar · potentate · imperator
Dominant group's control
- supremacyHighest rank or power
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- ascendancyDominant power or influence
authority · command · control · preeminence · paramountcy · rule · reign · imperium
Land-holding sworn subordinate
- tributaryStream entering larger river
- underkingMonarch under overlord
- fiefdomFeudal territory under lord
- fealtyPledged devotion to authority
allegiance · homage · subordination · dominion · realm · territory · province · client state
Anglo-Saxon paramount ruler
- AgamemnonMycenaean king, war leader
- bronze ageNotable but subprime period
- tribalOf a clan
- confederationAutonomous entities united loosely
sagas · chronicles · mythology · epic · legendary · Celtic · Germanic · Anglo-Saxon
monarch
Hereditary supreme ruler
czar · sultan · kaiser · shah · rajah · caliph · tsar · potentate · imperator · autocrat
hegemony
Dominant group's control
- supremacyHighest rank or power
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
ascendancy · authority · command · control · preeminence · paramountcy · rule · reign · imperium · sway
vassal
Land-holding sworn subordinate
- tributaryStream entering larger river
- underkingMonarch under overlord
- fiefdomFeudal territory under lord
fealty · allegiance · homage · subordination · dominion · realm · territory · province · client state · protectorate
Bretwalda
Anglo-Saxon paramount ruler
- AgamemnonMycenaean king, war leader
- bronze ageNotable but subprime period
- tribalOf a clan
confederation · sagas · chronicles · mythology · epic · legendary · Celtic · Germanic · Anglo-Saxon · Mycenaean