ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the ways Roma kings struggle for recognition as legitimate leaders and it explains why, in spite of these efforts, they remain largely illegitimate among Roma and non-Roma alike. Their struggle needs to overcome the negative perceptions both Roma and non-Roma have about them. On one hand, the general perception of the kings among the Roma is that of a unrepresentative group of rich Kalderash Roma that attracts a lot of negative media attention to the detriment of other Roma groups that consider themselves different or more integrated into the larger society. While all who claim to represent the Roma beyond local levels suffer from legitimacy deficits, the Roma kings seem to attract more negative attention than other representatives. On the other hand, despite their different degree of legitimacy, all Roma representatives use a similar strategy of legitimization in front of non-Roma that emphasizes a discourse of integration and similarity with the majority.
