This article is about the Monarchic or divine title. For other uses of the term, see King of Kings (disambiguation).

King of Kings or some literal parallel in various languages is a lofty title that has been used by several monarchies (usually empires in the informal sense of great powers) throughout history, and in many cases the literal title meaning "King of Kings", i.e. Monarch elevated above other royal rulers in a vassal, tributary or protectorate position, especially in the case of Semitic languages, is conventionally (usually inaccurately) rendered as "Emperor".

Historical

Titles of this relative type have been in use from the most ancient times in Aryan and other monarchies.

• The rulers of Persia, at various times (under Zoroastrian as well as Muslim dynasties), have been titled Shâhanshâh, the
  
  
  
  commonly used informal shortening Shah being the standard Persian term for King.
• Whereas the most literal Hindu equivalent is Rajdhiraja, this is not of equal 'imperial' rank (compare Samraj) because of current use on the subcontinent of other lofty titles ranking above Raja, such as Maharaja (literally Great King, also greatly devaluated by title inflation) and Maharajadhiraja (Bahadur) 'Great King of kings';
• Nevertheless, the ancient Sanskrit title Rajadhiraja has been maintained in some formerly Hindu monarchies, such as in Buddhist Cambodia (as one of the secondary titles often used by the true reigning Sovereign, distinguishing him from several other Princes of the reigning dynasty who could simultaneously hold a kingly rank or even concurrent authority).
• The Turkish Ottoman dynasty, rivals of the Persians from the opposing Sunni branch of Islam, used, like the Shâhanshâh, the analogous style of Sultan of Sultans amongst other titles, including Padishah and Hakan, the Turkish form of:
• the Mongolian Khagan 'Khan of Khans'.
• In orthodox Georgia, the style Mepe-Mepeta was meant
  
  
  
  literally, as supreme among various 'true' Caucasian Christian kings, especially rivalling Armenia, where the analogous style prince of princes had been used (635 - 885AD).
• The native Coptic Orthodox Emperor of Ethiopia's title was Nəgusä Nägäst (transliterations vary, e.g. Negus negast; or latinized Negus Negorum), with Negus being the standard Amharic term for King, at the head of a complex semi-feudal pyramid; not to be confused with the Italian King's short-lived secondary colonial title of Imperatore d'Etiopia.
• The Zulu conqueror Shaka adopted such a title after establishing total control over many Bantu neighbour tribes in southern Africa.

Supernatural

• Jesus Christ is sometimes termed King of Kings in the Bible, particularly in the Book of Revelation- although he clearly states in the New Testament that his realm is not of this earth, a messianistic tradition within the Jewish faith, founded its Zionist ambitions of political independence (as from Rome, see Sicarii, while Christ preached a moral 'kingdom' instead) on its version that the Messiah would (re)establish the promised land of Israel as a mighty temporal kingdom; in Christianity, it is rather God the Father who thrones in heaven as ultimate ruler of the universe, high above all mortal monarchs,
• Similarly, in Islam, the absolute use (the definite article is thus obligatory) of al-Malik, as #4 of the 99 known names of Allah, "The King", taken to imply 'The Sovereign Lord, The One with the complete Dominion, the One Whose Dominion is clear from imperfection' singles the only god out as supreme ruler over all earthly powers; another of these attributes, #84, is Malik Al-Mulk "King of the Realm", taken to mean 'The Eternal Owner of Sovereignty, The One who controls the Dominion and gives dominion to whoever He willed'.
• Buddha is referred to as "king of kings" in the Pali Tripitaka.

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