Kingdom vs. Empire: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A kingdom is a political realm ruled by a king or queen, while an empire is a large aggregation of territories and peoples often under a single supreme authority.
Key Differences
A kingdom is typically a nation or territory considered a community or political entity led by a monarch, either a king or a queen. Kingdoms are usually defined by their traditional territories and a relatively homogenous people or culture. An empire, by contrast, is a vast dominion that often encompasses different nations and peoples, usually acquired through conquest and maintained through political power and military strength.
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Nov 26, 2023
Kingdoms can exist within empires, acting as semi-autonomous or integrated regions, but the reverse is not true; an empire cannot exist within a kingdom. Empires are expansive, and their influence extends over various regions, which can include multiple kingdoms, republics, and other political entities. Kingdoms tend to have a more centralized governance system based around the royal court and its appointed officials, with a hereditary or sometimes elective monarch at its head.
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Nov 26, 2023
Historically, kingdoms have risen and fallen through lineage, marriage, and local wars, with sovereignty usually defined by clear borders and ethnic or national identity. Empires are often created from the expansionist policies of kingdoms or republics and are marked by their diversity and the complexity of managing far-flung territories and peoples. The legacy of an empire is often its cultural and administrative influence that spreads across different regions, leaving behind a mixture of languages, religions, and customs.
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Nov 26, 2023
The monarch of a kingdom is often considered the embodiment of the state and may have a divine or ceremonial role beyond politics. In contrast, the emperor or empress of an empire may be seen as a more secular figure, although some emperors have also claimed divine status. The concept of an empire often carries with it the idea of a central power exerting control over various subjugated states, which may have their local rulers but owe allegiance to the emperor.
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Nov 26, 2023
In summary, while both kingdoms and empires involve hierarchical leadership, the scope of power, cultural diversity, and the way in which they are formed and sustained differentiate them. A kingdom is more homogenous and localized around a central monarch, whereas an empire is characterized by its size, diversity, and the complexity of its administration.
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Nov 26, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A realm ruled by a king or queen.
A large dominion with diverse territories.
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Leadership
Monarchy at the head.
Emperor or empress, potentially with local rulers.
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Territory
Usually a single nation or culture.
Multiple nations or cultures under one rule.
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Power Scope
Centralized, often within fixed borders.
Wide-reaching, across multiple regions.
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Formation
Often through lineage or local conflicts.
Typically through conquest and amalgamation.
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Nov 26, 2023
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Kingdom and Empire Definitions
Kingdom
A political or territorial unit ruled by a sovereign monarch
The Kingdom of Norway has a rich history.
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Nov 08, 2023
Empire
A major political unit having a territory of great extent or a number of territories or peoples under a single sovereign authority
The Roman Empire once spanned much of the known world.
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Nov 08, 2023
Kingdom
A realm associated with or regarded as being under the control of a particular person or thing
In the animal kingdom, survival is a daily struggle.
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Nov 08, 2023
Empire
A monarchial or imperial sovereignty, supreme power
The emperor ruled his empire with an iron fist.
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Kingdom
The spiritual reign or authority of God
They prayed for God's kingdom to manifest on earth.
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Empire
A grouping in historical classifications, often above kingdom
In some systems, empire is ranked above kingdom in the taxonomic hierarchy.
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Nov 08, 2023
Kingdom
A classification in biological taxonomy
Fungi constitute a kingdom separate from plants and animals.
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Nov 08, 2023
Empire
An extensive operation or sphere of activity controlled by one person or group
She built a fashion empire spanning several continents.
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Empire
Of, relating to, or characteristic of a neoclassic style, as in clothing or the decorative arts, prevalent in France during the early 1800s.
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Nov 07, 2023
Empire
A political unit having an extensive territory or comprising a number of territories or nations and ruled by a single supreme authority.
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Kingdom
A realm or sphere in which one thing is dominant
The kingdom of the imagination.
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Nov 07, 2023
Kingdom
In the Linnean taxonomic system, the highest taxonomic category into which organisms are grouped, based on fundamental similarities and common ancestry. One widely used taxonomic system designates five or six such groups
Animals, plants, fungi, protists, and prokaryotes (often divided into bacteria and archaea). Other systems divide organisms into domains (eukaryotes, bacteria, and archaea) that replace or rank above kingdoms.
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Nov 07, 2023
Empire
An extensive enterprise under a unified authority:a publishing empire.
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Kingdom
One of the three main divisions (animal, vegetable, and mineral) into which natural organisms and objects have traditionally been classified.
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Empire
Imperial or imperialistic sovereignty, domination, or control:the extension of empire to distant lands.
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Kingdom
A realm having a king and/or queen as its actual or nominal sovereign.
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Empire
A political unit, typically having an extensive territory or comprising a number of territories or nations (especially one comprising one or more kingdoms) and ruled by a single supreme authority.
The Russian empire
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Kingdom
A realm, region, or conceptual space where something is dominant.
The kingdom of thought
The kingdom of the dead
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Empire
A political unit ruled by an emperor or empress.
The Empire of Vietnam was a short-lived client state of Japan governing Vietnam between March 11 and August 23, 1945.
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Kingdom
(taxonomy) A rank in the classification of organisms, below domain and above phylum; a taxon at that rank (e.g. the plant kingdom, the animal kingdom).
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Empire
The group of states or other territories that owe allegiance to an imperial power (foreign to them), when distinguished from the native territory of that power; imperial possessions.
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Kingdom
The rank, quality, state, or attributes of a king; royal authority; sovereign power; rule; dominion; monarchy.
Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
When Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself.
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Empire
An expansive and powerful enterprise under the control of one person or group.
The McDonald's fast food empire
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Kingdom
The territory or country subject to a king or queen; the dominion of a monarch; the sphere in which one is king or has control.
Unto the kingdom of perpetual night.
You're welcome,Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom.
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Nov 07, 2023
Kingdom
An extensive scientific division distinguished by leading or ruling characteristics; a principal division; a department; as, the mineral kingdom. In modern biology, the division of life into five kingdoms is widely used for classification.
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Nov 07, 2023
Kingdom
A domain in which something is dominant;
The untroubled kingdom of reason
A land of make-believe
The rise of the realm of cotton in the south
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Nov 07, 2023
Empire
Supreme power; sovereignty; sway; dominion.
Over hell extendHis empire, and with iron scepter rule.
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Nov 07, 2023
Empire
The dominion of an emperor; the territory or countries under the jurisdiction and dominion of an emperor (rarely of a king), usually of greater extent than a kingdom, always comprising a variety in the nationality of, or the forms of administration in, constituent and subordinate portions; as, the Austrian empire.
Empire carries with it the idea of a vast and complicated government.
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Nov 07, 2023
Empire
Any dominion; supreme control; governing influence; rule; sway; as, the empire of mind or of reason.
Another force which, in the Middle Ages, shared with chivalry the empire over the minds of men.
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Nov 07, 2023
Kingdom
One of seven biological categories: Monera or Protoctista or Plantae or Fungi or Animalia
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Kingdom
A realm distinguished by a particular characteristic
He was well-known in the kingdom of culinary arts.
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Nov 08, 2023
Empire
A group of diverse companies under common ownership and run as a single organization
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Empire
An eating apple that somewhat resembles a McIntosh; used as both an eating and a cooking apple
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Empire
A powerful and important enterprise or holding of large scope that is controlled by a single entity
His media empire influenced public opinion.
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Nov 08, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can a kingdom become an empire?
Yes, if it expands its rule over additional territories and peoples.
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Nov 26, 2023
Can an empire have democratic elements?
While historically autocratic, some empires have incorporated representative elements.
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Nov 26, 2023
Is the size of an empire always larger than a kingdom?
Typically, yes; empires usually consist of multiple territories or kingdoms.
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Nov 26, 2023
Are all monarchies kingdoms?
Most monarchies are kingdoms, but there are also principalities, duchies, etc.
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Nov 26, 2023
Does a kingdom have to have a king?
Traditionally, yes, but "kingdom" can also denote a realm ruled by a queen.
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Nov 26, 2023
How do kingdoms acquire territory?
Through inheritance, marriage alliances, or local wars.
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Nov 26, 2023
What characterizes an empire's administration?
It's often a complex system managing diverse regions and cultures.
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Nov 26, 2023
Was every empire ruled by an emperor?
Generally, yes, though some had different titles for their sovereign.
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Nov 26, 2023
Can a kingdom be part of an empire?
Yes, kingdoms have often been incorporated into empires as provinces or states.
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Nov 26, 2023
Are there still kingdoms today?
Yes, there are several countries with the official status of a kingdom.
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Nov 26, 2023
Do empires still influence current politics?
The legacies of historical empires can still be seen in modern state borders, languages, and laws.
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Nov 26, 2023
Is the term "empire" always political?
No, it can refer to large business enterprises or spheres of influence.
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Nov 26, 2023
Are there different types of kingdoms?
Yes, including constitutional monarchies, where the monarch has limited powers.
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Nov 26, 2023
What distinguishes a kingdom's government?
It's often centralized around the monarch and their court.
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Nov 26, 2023
Do empires exist today?
The traditional concept of empire has largely disappeared, but the term is sometimes used to describe certain states' influence.
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What’s the difference in the ruling period of emperors and kings?
There's no inherent difference; both can rule for life and be succeeded hereditarily.
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What are the economic systems in empires?
Empires have varied economies, often centralized and extracting resources from regions.
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How did empires traditionally expand?
Through conquest, annexation, and sometimes marriage or inheritance.
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Nov 26, 2023
What's the role of a kingdom's monarch?
The monarch is the ceremonial and actual head of state, embodying the kingdom's sovereignty.
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Nov 26, 2023
Did kingdoms have standing armies?
Most had armies, whether feudal levies or professional soldiers, depending on the period.
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Nov 26, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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