A ruler, from the latin princeps, meaning first in rank. In general, any ruler came to be known as the ‘prince', the ‘ruler', as in Machievelli's Prince. Also a male heir in a Royal household, the ‘Crown' prince was the first in line to the throne. In an SCA context, a prince rules a principality kingdom subdivision. A ‘Crown' prince is the winner of Crown Tournament, the heir to the throne, who will accept the Crown at the end of the reign. A prince ranks above all titled nobility, the dukes, earls, counts, barons and the like, carrying the title ‘your highness'.