Raj
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article deals with raj as a word. For the fictional cartoon character, see Raj (Camp Lazlo). For the contestant from the TV show "The Apprentice," see Raj Bhakta.
In many Indian languages, Raj literally means Prince or Royalty though is often used to mean something more like the English term of empire and as such is often used in reference to the Mughal Raj and the British Raj: the period of direct colonial rule of India by the British Empire.
[edit] Etymology
Modern Indic Raj is from Sanskrit rājan- (c.f. rashtra, realm; the Sanskrit root noun raj meaning "dominion, rule"). It is derived from a Proto-Indo-European root h3reǵ- with many words related to rulers or ruling in European languages. For example:
- Greek orego "to rule"
- Latin: regalis, regere, rex
- Old High German: richi (Modern German: Reich)
- Old English: rice (Modern English: rich, regent)
- Old Prussian: reiks
- Old Norse: rike (as in medieval Norwegian Gårdarike, Modern Swedish: Rike or Danish: Rige)
