A Raja (sometimes spelled Rajah) is a king, or princely ruler from the Kshatriya lineages. The female equivalent is Rani (sometimes spelled Ranee). Raja comes from the Sanskrit word rājan, and is cognate to the Latin rex, regnum, regis and the Irish rí.

The title has a long history in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Some rulers would give themselves the title as a means to increase prestige among their subjects. The word maharaja connotes a raja who has conquered other rajas, thus becoming a great ruler. Variants include Rana, Rao, Raol Rawal, and Rawat.

In South India, the title of the Hindu emperor of Vijayanagar, instead

The ruler of the Malaysian state of Perlis is to this day known as the Raja of Perlis while the White Rajahs of Sarawak in Borneo were James Brooke and his dynasty. A number of medieval rulers in Southeast Asia used variants such as Buddharaja, devaraja and lingaraja.

In Pakistan, Raja is used by the Chibhs, Dhunds and Janjua tribes.

See also

• White Rajahs of Sarawak
• Janjua Raja

Râja Raja רג'ה Раджа ラージャ