What is the difference between a King and an Emperor?

Question: What is the difference between a King and an Emperor!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

King derives from the English "Cyning" - literally "tribal leader" so a king is a particularly grandiose chieftain of sorts!. The implication is the leader of a nation state, though certainly not limited to that!. Across cultures there are many titles that have the same literal origin e!.g!. Khan, but have been used by persons who we would think of as emperors!. Likewise many terms of very different origin e!.g!. "dux princeps" & "rex" (both old French, the former being literally closer to emperor) imply the same role as "King" but owe their origins to Roman offices and don't mean "tribal leader!." By modern understanding a King would be the traditional, hereditary ruler of a "nation state" - a people alike in culture, social institutions and language!.

The semantic origin (and breadth of usage, hence variety of national terms) for emperor is far greater!. The original term is the Roman "Imperator", which simply implies a general or (any other) field commander of particular note!. By implication an Emperor is not inherently as legitimate as a King and their power is not limited to any single nation of people!. By implication they rule wider & more diverse people; the term gives basis to other titles, Kaiser & Czar (from Caesar) that we are familiar with, both which demonstrate the rather lax & far reaching nature of this title!. Further-to Emperor is deemed to be a title with primacy over kings - Kaiser being a good demonstration as though Germany was a nation state there already existed Kings who desired to remain so, hence a title was sought to imply superiority over these!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

The emperor rules a group of nations, peoples or kingdoms, so a king can be to subjet of a emperor

A king generally rules only one nation or people

Example:

Carlo Magno was king of the Franks and was emperor of the Lombards, Saxons, Burgundians, and other peoples!.

Victoria was queen of United Kingdom and was empress of the peoples and british colonists from Indian and some territories of Africa, Australia and Canada!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Kings generally justify their dominance as being representatives of God on people they rule - that is why the relationship between secular churches which legitimate that link is so important - Rome and kings in Europe is not the least annoying chapter of History

That's why all the revolutions which were aimed at destroying kings, had also to fight against official churches -

The problem is different with protestant kings - they are self-determined, just like emperors in Germany who are elected by Kurfürsten -

an Emperor is anything possible, except representatives of God on the earth - they are elected, they are self nominated ( Napoleon ) - or plebiscited -Www@QuestionHome@Com

King Rules Nation, and Emperor Rules Bigger Nation!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

a King is ruler of a nation; an Emperor of an empireWww@QuestionHome@Com

King - kingdom, emperor - empire !.!.!.!.!.!. easy!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Size of hat!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

just go with your first answer!Www@QuestionHome@Com