Also 6–9 knes, 9 knias. [A Slavonic word: Servian, Slov. knez, Boh. knĕz, Sorbian knjez, Russ. князь knjazь:—Old Slav. къназь. kŭneṅzĭ, prehistoric a. OTeut. *kuning- KING. From Slov., also Romanian knêz, Alban. knez, Magyar kenez.] A title among Slavonic nations = ‘prince’; sometimes implying sovereignty, as in Montenegro and formerly in the various Danubian Principalities; sometimes merely rank, as now in Russia: often rendered in western langs. by ‘duke’: cf. the title великій князь velikiĕ knjazь ‘great prince,’ usually englished ‘grand duke.’
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. (1594), 596. The great Knes, or duke of Moscovia.
1642. Howell, For. Trav., xi. (Arb.), 57. Mosco, the court of the great Knez. Ibid. (1650), Lett., II. To Rdr. The Knez of them may know, what Prester John Doth with his Camells in the torrid Zone.
1698. A. Brand, Emb. Muscovy to China, 41. These three Women … were the Wives of so many Knezes or Dukes of the Ostiacky.
1710. Whitworth, Acc. Russia (1758), 31. They are divided into three ranks, the Nobility, called Kneas; the Gentry … and the Peasants.
1847. Mrs. A. Kerr, Hist. Servia, 45. After consultation with the Kneses, the tax was imposed proportionably on the respective districts. Ibid., 409. It was of advantage to the enemies of the Knias, that neither Russia nor the Porte was satisfied with his political administration.
