Son of the Roman
Scribe
The term means “the male ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth.”
This term is most often associated with European monarchies, but is occasionally used for ancient Levantine and Mediterranean rulers of nations and city-states. Conversely many places had specific terms for their rulers that we still use, such as Pharaoh, Shah, and Sultan.
In a fantasy setting, (especially a non-western European one) should the European-associated term “king” be used, or would it be best to create an entirely new fantasy term to describe rulers? Would the term “king” feel out of place in say, a Precolumbian American setting? Does it give it too much of a European feel?
This term is most often associated with European monarchies, but is occasionally used for ancient Levantine and Mediterranean rulers of nations and city-states. Conversely many places had specific terms for their rulers that we still use, such as Pharaoh, Shah, and Sultan.
In a fantasy setting, (especially a non-western European one) should the European-associated term “king” be used, or would it be best to create an entirely new fantasy term to describe rulers? Would the term “king” feel out of place in say, a Precolumbian American setting? Does it give it too much of a European feel?