Empress vs. Queen: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 5, 2023
Empress vs. Queen: An "Empress" is a female monarch of an empire, while a "Queen" is a female monarch of a kingdom.
Key Differences
Both "Empress" and "Queen" are titles given to female sovereigns, but they differ in rank and dominion. An Empress typically reigns over an empire, which might consist of multiple nations or territories. Meanwhile, a Queen reigns over a singular kingdom, which is usually smaller in scope than an empire.
The title "Empress" often conveys a sense of greater power and prestige than that of "Queen". This is because empires historically had broader territories, encompassing diverse cultures and regions, whereas kingdoms were generally more homogenous and limited in territorial expanse.
While "Empress" always indicates sovereignty over an empire, "Queen" can have varied implications. A Queen can be a reigning monarch, as in the case of Queen Elizabeth II of the UK, or a consort (wife of a king) without ruling powers, such as Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.
Historically, the establishment of empires has often been the result of conquest, colonization, or amalgamation of different kingdoms and territories. Hence, an Empress would have played a significant role in governance and diplomacy across vast regions. In contrast, a Queen's influence, although substantial, was typically restricted to her kingdom.
In summary, while both "Empress" and "Queen" are titles for female rulers, their realms of influence differ in size and scope. An Empress is at the helm of an empire, while a Queen reigns over a kingdom.
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Comparison Chart
Dominion
Empire
Kingdom
Geographic Reach
Multiple nations/territories
Usually one nation
Rank
Often higher than a Queen
Below an Empress
Historical Context
Empires often formed by conquest or amalgamation
Kingdoms are singular territorial entities
Variance in Role
Almost always a sovereign ruler
Can be a reigning monarch or a consort without ruling powers
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Empress and Queen Definitions
Empress
A female sovereign of an empire.
Catherine the Great was a renowned Empress of Russia.*
Queen
A woman regarded as excellent or outstanding in a specified domain.
She was the queen of pop music in her era.*
Empress
A woman holding a rank equivalent to emperor in certain organizations.
In the spiritual hierarchy, she was known as the Empress.*
Queen
The most powerful chess piece.
He moved his Queen to the opposing side for a checkmate.*
Empress
Symbolic representation of power in tarot cards.
The Empress card signifies abundance in a tarot reading.*
Queen
A mature female insect, especially a bee or ant, that can lay eggs.
The bee colony is organized around the Queen.*
Empress
A woman of great power or influence.
In the corporate world, she was often referred to as an Empress due to her unmatched influence.*
Queen
The wife or widow of a king.
Empress
The female ruler of an empire.
Queen
A female sovereign.
Empress
The wife or widow of an emperor.
Queen
A woman considered preeminent in a particular field
The reigning queen of hip-hop.
Empress
The female monarch (ruler) of an empire.
Queen
A woman chosen as the winner of a contest or the honorary head of an event
A beauty queen.
The queen of the prom.
Empress
The wife or widow of an emperor or equated ruler.
Queen
Something having eminence or supremacy in a given domain and personified as a woman
Paris is regarded as the queen of cities.
Empress
(tarot) The third trump or major arcana card of most tarot decks.
Queen
The most powerful chess piece, able to move in any direction over any number of empty squares in a straight line.
Empress
(rare) A female chimpanzee.
Queen
A playing card bearing the figure of a queen, ranking above the jack and below the king.
Empress
A deciduous tree, Paulownia tomentosa
Queen
The sole reproductive female, or one of several such females, in a colony of eusocial insects, such as bees, wasps, ants, or termites.
Empress
Rare form of impress
Queen
The reproductive female in a colony of naked mole rats.
Empress
The consort of an emperor.
Queen
A mature female cat, especially one kept for breeding purposes.
Empress
A female sovereign.
Queen
Offensive Slang Used as a disparaging term for a gay man.
Empress
A sovereign mistress.
Queen
A queen-size bed.
Empress
A woman Emperor or the wife of an Emperor
Queen
To make (a woman) a queen.
Queen
(Games) To raise (a pawn) to queen in chess.
Queen
To become a queen in chess.
Queen
Of or relating to a queen-size bed
Queen sheets.
A queen bed skirt.
Queen
The wife, consort, or widow of a king.
The divorced king was looking for a new queen.
Royal family
Queen
A female monarch.
Royal family
Queen
A woman whose pre-eminence, power, or forcefulness is comparable to that of a queen.
Queen
(Christianity) The Virgin Mary (especially in formulations such as Queen of Heaven, Queen of Glory).
Queen
An excellent woman.
Queen
A woman pre-eminent in a particular group or field.
Queen
An attractive woman; a female partner in a romantic relationship.
Queen
Something regarded as the greatest of its kind or as having pre-eminence or power comparable to that of a queen over a given area.
Queen
Playing card) of all four suits in the English pattern |image2=Carromboard.JPG |width2=3264 |height2=2448 |alt2= |caption2=A carrom board with the red queen (carrom piece) in the centre}} Referring to one of several items used in tabletop games:
Queen
A chess piece that, under contemporary rules, is the most powerful, able to move any number of spaces horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
Chess set
Queen
A playing card with a depiction of a queen on it, generally ranking next below the king and above the jack in a given suit.
Queen Bess
Queen
A red disk that is the most valuable piece in the Asian game of carrom.
Queen
[[File:Apis mellifera scutellata 1355021.jpg|thumb|upright|Worker bees around the queen (reproductive female insect in a hive) of the hive, marked with a pink dot]] A reproductive female insect in a hive, such as an ant, bee, termite or wasp.
Queen bee
Queen
(obsolete) A type of flatfish, specifically the lemon sole.
Queen
(rare) A queen apple.
Queen
A queen scallop.
Queen
Senseid|en|queen post}} {{ellipsis of queen post
Queen
A type of large roofing slate.
Queen
A homosexual man, especially one regarded as effeminate.
Queen
An adult female cat capable of breeding.
Queen
Senseid|en|queen olive}} {{ellipsis of queen olive
Queen
Senseid|en|drag queen}} {{ellipsis of drag queen
Queen
Pertaining to a queen-size bed or queen-size bedding.
Queen
A monarch butterfly (Danaus spp., especially Danaus gilippus).
Queen
To act the part of a queen; to behave imperiously; to queen it.
Queen
(transitive) To make a queen or (figuratively) to give the status of a queen.
Queen
(chess) To promote a pawn to a queen.
Queen
(beekeeping) To be the queen bee of a colony.
Queen
(beekeeping) To provide with a new queen bee.
Queen
To sit on a person’s face to receive oral sex, typically while straddling the person’s head.
Queen
The wife of a king.
Queen
A woman who is the sovereign of a kingdom; a female monarch; as, Elizabeth, queen of England; Mary, queen of Scots.
In faith, and by the heaven's quene.
Queen
A woman eminent in power or attractions; the highest of her kind; as, a queen in society; - also used figuratively of cities, countries, etc.
Queen
The fertile, or fully developed, female of social bees, ants, and termites.
Queen
The most powerful, and except the king the most important, piece in a set of chessmen.
Queen
A playing card bearing the picture of a queen; as, the queen of spades.
Queen
A male homosexual, esp. one who is effeminate or dresses in women's clothing.
Queen
To act the part of a queen.
Queen
To make a queen (or other piece, at the player's discretion) of by moving it to the eighth row; as, to queen a pawn.
Queen
The only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
Queen
A female sovereign ruler
Queen
The wife or widow of a king
Queen
Something personified as a woman who is considered the best or most important of her kind;
Paris is the queen of cities
The queen of ocean liners
Queen
A competitor who holds a preeminent position
Queen
Offensive terms for an openly homosexual man
Queen
One of four face cards in a deck bearing a picture of a queen
Queen
(chess) the most powerful piece
Queen
Especially large and only member of a colony of naked mole rats to bear offspring sired by only a few males
Queen
Female cat
Queen
Promote to a queen, as of a pawn in chess
Queen
Become a queen;
Her pawn queened
Queen
A female ruler of a kingdom.
Queen Victoria ruled over the British Empire during its zenith.*
FAQs
Can an Empress also be a Queen?
Yes, if she reigns over both an empire and a specific kingdom within.
Are "Empress" and "Queen" equal in rank?
No, an Empress typically has a higher rank than a Queen.
Can "Empress" be used symbolically?
Yes, it can symbolize female power, such as in tarot cards.
Is "Queen" used in games?
Yes, for instance, in chess, the Queen is a powerful piece.
Is "Queen" used outside of royal contexts?
Yes, "Queen" can refer to a top-ranking female in various fields or even organisms like bees.
Who has more influence, an Empress or a Queen?
Generally, an Empress due to her vast domain, but influence can vary based on individual reigns.
Does every Queen rule a country?
No, while some Queens are sovereign rulers, others are consorts without ruling powers.
Is an Empress' domain always larger than a Queen's?
Historically, empires often had broader territories than kingdoms, but there can be exceptions.
Is "Queen" a term used in popular culture?
Yes, it can denote a leading or influential female figure in a specific domain.
Can a Queen have her own empire?
Rarely, but if she does, she might be addressed as Empress.
Can the title "Empress" exist without an Emperor?
Yes, an Empress can rule without a reigning Emperor.
Are there cultural differences in the roles of Empresses and Queens?
Yes, roles and influence can vary based on cultural and historical contexts.
Is every King's wife a Queen?
Typically, yes, but her role may vary from a reigning monarch to a consort.
How is an Empress different from an Emperor's wife?
An Empress can be a sovereign ruler, while an Emperor's wife, also titled Empress, may not rule.
Do all countries have Queens or Empresses?
No, only monarchies have Queens or Empresses.
Who typically inherits the throne after a Queen?
Usually her eldest child, but inheritance rules vary by monarchy.
Does every empire have an Empress?
Not necessarily, it can have an emperor or neither, depending on its governance.
How is the role of a Queen Consort different from a Queen Regnant?
A Queen Consort is the wife of a King, while a Queen Regnant is a reigning monarch.
Is the term "Queen Mother" equivalent to Queen?
No, "Queen Mother" refers to the widow of a King and the mother of a reigning monarch.
Can "Empress" be used figuratively?
Yes, it can denote a woman of great power or influence in a specific area.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
