autokrator

Autokrator (Greek αὐτοκράτωρ, autokrátōr) is a term meaning "self ruler" and is the basis for the English word autocrat. It derives from Greek autos (“self”) and krátēs (“ruler”) and was used in Byzantine Greek to denote a ruler who held supreme authority.

In the Byzantine Empire, autokratōr was a formal imperial title signaling absolute sovereignty. It was typically used in conjunction with other titles, such as basileus, to emphasize that the emperor wielded ultimate authority over state and church. The title appears in official titulature and inscriptions and reflects the centralization of power in the emperor.

In modern usage, autocrat denotes a ruler who exercises centralized and unchecked power within a state, often with little or no constitutional accountability. The Greek term survives primarily in historical and philological contexts, while the English word autocrat is common in political science and journalism as a descriptor of centralized rule.

Beyond scholarly discussion, autokrator appears in translations of Byzantine texts and in fantasy or game settings as a title for a supreme ruler. The term thus traces the concept of sovereign power from ancient Byzantium to contemporary discussions of autocracy and sovereignty.