Historically the term "king" has been used for the rulers of very small peoples and territories. Such a king (Sumerian lugal, Semitic sharrum, Latin rex, Greek basileus, Sanskrit raja, Germanic kuningaz) could be a tribal leader or chief, or the tyrant of a city state. Often, the king will not only have a political function, but the same time a religious one, acting as high priest or divine king.

Tribal leaders continue to be referred to as king also into the modern period, e.g. Maquinna, king of perhaps 2000 Nootka people in the early 19th century.

Examples of kings

For examples of kings see the following lists:

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A

List of Kings of Ani
List of kings of the Angles
List of Arakan kings
List of Armenian Kings

B

List of Kings of Babylon
List of rulers of Bithynia
List of Kings of Bohemia
List of British monarchs
List of Kings of Burundi

C

List of Kings of Cambodia
List of Kings of Cappadocia
List of Kings of Cyrene

D

List of Dacian kings
List of Kings of Dál Riata
List of kings of Denmark

E

List of kings of Epirus
List of English monarchs

F

List of Frankish kings

G

List of the Kings of Georgia

H

List of Hittite kings

I

List of Kings of Iraq
List of High Kings of Ireland
King of Italy
List of Irish Kings
List of Kings of India

J

List of Kings of Judea

L

Monarchs of Laos
List of kings of Lesotho
List of Kings of Lydia

M

List of kings of Macedon
King of Mann
List of Kings of Mauretania
List of Meitei kings

N

List of kings of Norway
List of Kings of Numidia

O

List of rulers of the Yoruba state of Oyo

P

List of Paionian kings
List of kings of Persia
List of Kings of Pontus
List of Kings of Poland
List of Kings of Portugal

R

List of kings of Rwanda

S

List of kings of Saudi Arabia
List of Kings of Strathclyde
List of kings of Swaziland
List of kings of Sweden

T

List of Kings of Thailand
List of Tripuri Kings
List of kings of Tyre

U

List of Kings of Urartu

V

List of Kings of the Visigoths

Z

List of Zulu kings