vládce

Vládce is a Czech noun that designates a person who holds power and governs a political entity, territory, or organization. It denotes a sovereign, ruler, or master of authority. The term is generic and can describe kings, emperors, presidents, or any individual exercising supreme control, especially in historical, literary, or colloquial contexts. It is not an official title in modern constitutional settings; formal titles such as kral, císař, or prezident are used for specific offices, while vládce emphasizes the act of ruling rather than the office itself. The feminine form is vládkyně, and the plural is vládci.

Etymology: vládce derives from the verb vládnout “to rule, govern,” with the agentive suffix -ce. It has cognates in other Slavic languages, such as Polish władca and Russian vladyka, though usage varies between languages.

Historically and literarily, vládce commonly refers to the ruler of a state or realm, including dynastic monarchs or usurpers. In contemporary political discourse, the term may be used descriptively or rhetorically to denote a person with de facto power, sometimes carrying a critical nuance.

In culture and media, vládce appears in fantasy, mythology, and historical fiction to label rulers who wield central authority, or occasionally as a designation for tyrants or benevolent leaders.

See also: panovník, monarchie, vláda, diktátor, vládcovství.