[Ansteorra] "Autocrat" (was: found keys at BG30)

[Chris Zakes]

At 08:49 PM 10/25/2009, you wrote:
>On Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 8:14 PM, Chris Zakes <dontivar at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > But "autocrat" is a perfectly valid word, not something made up. (Although
> > it's post-period; the Oxford English Dictionary only dates it to 1803.)
>
>Maybe it's post period in English, but to me it's a perfectly good
>Anglicization of the period word Autokrator, which is the Greek
>translation of the Latin title Imperator.  Literally, 'self-ruler' or
>'one who rules alone'.
>
>In fact, by the 8th Century, the Emperor of the Romans was formally
>styled Basileus kai Autokrator, or "Emperor and Autocrat".  It was
>also used to designate a general with independent command, as a
>strategos autokrator.
>
>It was also adopted as part of the style of Tsars of Russia at some
>point during period.
>
>Ioannes Dalassenos


Interesting. I'm a little surprised that the OED didn't mention the 
earlier roots.

And speaking of autocrats, I'd wanted to sing "God Rest Ye, Frantic 
Autocrat" to Laszlo at the Bardic Circle, but we were too tired to 
stick around after court. <sigh> What happened to the days when we 
could do bardic circles until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning?

Anyway, here it is, enjoy: 
http://moondragon.info/wiki/Bardic_stuff#God_Rest_Ye_Frantic_Autocrat

         -Tivar Moondragon