What is the difference between a sultan, a king and a sheikh?

Question

i am writing a story that takes place in the middle east. just came up with the idea now, actually. i want in it a sultan, a king and a sheikh... i just need to know if there is a difference between the three and what they are.

Answer 1

A sultan or a king would rule a country.  they would collect taxes and have an army.  A sheik would be more like a prince or nobleman in ancient France. Ruling a smaller area but allied with a king or sultan.

Answer 2

Technically, a Sultan is the ruler of a Sultanate - like H.M. Sultan Qaboos of the Sultanate of Oman. A King is the ruler of a Kingdom, like H.M. King Abdullah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a Sheikh is the ruler of a Sheikhdom like H.H. Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai.

The difference is harder to specify. Usually a King is higher than the rest. But an H.M. (ie Sultan) is equal to the King's title. So I suppose Kings and Sultans are equal, a Sheikh is lower in rank.