In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, what is the name of the ruling prince of Verona?

The ruling prince of Verona in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is Prince Escalus.

Escalus represents Verona’s civil authority while the Montagues and Capulets maintain their long-running feud. He appears at moments when the private violence between the families threatens public order, including the opening street brawl and the aftermath of Mercutio’s and Tybalt’s deaths.

His judgments show that the feud has consequences beyond the two households. After Romeo kills Tybalt, Escalus does not execute him; instead, he banishes Romeo from Verona. That sentence drives the lovers’ separation and contributes directly to the disastrous final plan.

Readers sometimes confuse Prince Escalus with Paris, the nobleman who seeks to marry Juliet. Paris is a suitor and relative of the prince, but he does not govern Verona. In the final scene, Escalus recognizes the scale of the tragedy and condemns the feud that caused it.