Monarchy
19013
225311166
2008-07-13T01:00:04Z
Huntington
61321
Added Andorra as a current diarchy.
{{For|the documentary series|Monarchy (TV series)}}
{{For|the comic series|Monarchy (comics)}}
{{dablink|Monarch redirects here. For other uses, see [[Monarch (disambiguation)]].}}
[[Image:Louis XIV of France.jpg|300px|thumb|right|[[Louis XIV of France]]]]
A '''monarchy''' is a [[form of government]] in which an individual rules as [[head of state]], often for [[Life tenure|life]] or until [[abdication]], and "is wholly set apart from all other members of the [[state]]."<ref name="Bouvier">"Bouvier, John, and Francis Rawle. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=lWs8AAAAIAAJ Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia]''. 1914. 2237-2238.</ref>The person who heads a monarchy is called a '''monarch'''.
There is no clear definition of monarchy. Holding unlimited [[political power]] in the state is not the defining characteristic, as many [[Constitutional monarchy|constitutional monarchies]] such as the [[United Kingdom]] are considered monarchies. Hereditary rule is often a common characteristic, but [[Elective monarchy|elective monarchies]] are considered monarchies (the [[pope]], [[Sovereignty|sovereign]] of the [[Vatican City|Vatican City State]], is elected by the [[College of Cardinals]]) and some states have hereditary rulers but are not considered republics (such as the [[stadtholder]] of the [[Dutch Republic]]).<ref name="Bouvier"/> A 1914 edition of ''[[Bouvier's Law Dictionary]]'' states that "Monarchy is contradistinguished from [[republic]]," and gives this definition:
{{quote|We cannot find any better definition of monarchy than this: a monarchy is that government which is ruled (really or theoretically) by one man, who is wholly set apart from all other members of the state (called his subjects); while we call republic that government in which not only there exists an organism by which the opinion of the people, or of a portion of the people (as in [[Aristocracy|aristocracies]]), [[Consent of the governed|passes over into public will]], that is, law, but in which also the supreme power, or the [[Executive (government)|executive power]], returns, either periodically or at stated times (where the chief magistracy is for life), to the people, or a portion of the people, to be given anew to another person; or else, that government in which the hereditary portion (if there be any) is not the chief and leading portion of the government, as was the case in the Netherlands.<ref name="Bouvier"/>}}
Currently 44 nations in the world have monarchs as heads of state, 16 of which are [[Commonwealth realm]]s that recognize [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom]] as head of state.
==Etymology==
[[Image:World Monarchies.png|600px|thumb|right|{{legend|#007f00|[[Constitutional monarchy]]}}{{legend|#00ff00|[[Commonwealth realm]]|border=#0d0}}{{legend|#ff7f40|Semi-constitutional monarchy}}{{legend|#ff0000|[[Absolute monarchy]]}}{{legend|#ff00ff|Monarchy in some subnational entities}}]]
The word '''''monarch''''' ({{lang-la|monarcha}}) comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''μονάρχης'' (from ''μόνος'', "one/singular," and ''ἀρχων'', "leader/ruler/chief") which referred to a single, at least nominally absolute ruler. With time, the word has been succeeded in this meaning by others, such as autocrat or ''[[dictator]]''. In modern usage the word ''monarch'' is generally used when referring to a traditional system of hereditary rulership, with elective monarchies often considered as exceptions.
==Characteristics and role==
Today, the extent of a monarch's actual powers varies:
*In an [[absolute monarchy]], the monarch rules as an [[Autocracy|autocrat]], with absolute power over the state and government—for example, the right to [[rule by decree]], promulgate [[law]]s, and impose [[punishment]]s. Absolute monarchies are not necessarily [[Authoritarianism|authoritarian]]; the [[Enlightened absolutism|enlightened absolutists]] of the [[Enlightenment]] were monarchs who allowed various freedoms.
*In a [[constitutional monarchy]], the monarch is largely a [[Ceremony|ceremonial]] [[figurehead]] subject to a [[constitution]]. [[Sovereignty]] rests formally with and is carried out in name of [[The Crown]] but politically rests with the people (electorate), as represented by the [[parliament]] or other [[legislature]]. Constitutional monarchs have little real [[political power]], and are constituted by tradition and precedent, popular opinion, or by [[Code (law)|legal codes]] or [[statute]]s. They serve as [[symbol]]s of continuity and the [[state]] and carry out largely ceremonial functions. Still, many constitutional monarchs retain certain privileges ([[inviolability]], [[sovereign immunity]], an [[official residence]]) and powers (to grant [[pardon]]s, to appoint [[Nobility|titles of nobility]]). Additionally, some monarchs retain [[reserve power]]s, such as to dismiss a [[prime minister]], refuse to dissolve parliament, or withhold [[Royal Assent]] to legislation, effectively [[veto]]ing it.
Most states only have a single monarch at any given time, although two monarchs have ruled simultaneously in some countries ([[diarchy]]), as in the ancient [[Greek city-state]] of [[Sparta]], and there are examples of joint sovereignty of spouses or relatives (such as [[William and Mary]] in the [[Kingdom of England]] and [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]])<ref>Other examples of joint sovereignty include [[Tsar]]s [[Peter I of Russia|Peter I]] and [[Ivan V of Russia|Ivan V]] of [[Russian Empire|Russia]] and [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]] and [[Joanna of Castile]] of the [[Crown of Castile]].</ref>A current example of constitutional diarchy is [[Andorra]]. A [[regent]] may rule when the monarch is a [[Minor (law)|minor]], not present or debilitated.
Monarchy, especially absolute monarchy, is sometimes linked to [[Religion|religious]] aspects; many monarchs once claimed the right to rule by the will of [[God]] ([[Divine Right of Kings]], [[Mandate of Heaven]]), a special connection to God ([[sacred king]]) or even purported to be [[incarnation]]s of gods themselves ([[imperial cult]], [[divine king]]). In [[Islam]], a [[caliph]] is a head of state that is both a temporal leader (of the caliphate, Islamic state) and a religious one (leader of the [[Ummah]], community of believers). Many monarchs have been styled ''[[Fidei defensor]]'' (Defender of the Faith); some hold official positions relating to the [[state religion]] or established church.
Monarchs have various [[title]]s, including [[king]] or [[queen]], [[prince]] or [[princess]] ([[Sovereign Prince of Monaco]]), [[emperor]] or [[empress]] ([[Emperor of Japan]], [[Emperor of India]]), or even [[duke]] or [[grand duke]] ([[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]). Many monarchs are also distinguished by [[Style (manner of address)|styles]], such as [[Royal Highness]] or [[By the Grace of God]].
Monarchs often take part in certain ceremonies, such as a [[coronation]].
Monarchy are associated with political or sociocultural [[Hereditary monarchy|hereditary rule]], in which monarchs rule for life (although the [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]] of [[Malaysia]], who serves a five-year term, and others are considered monarchs although they do not hold lifetime positions) and pass the responsibilities and power of the position to their children or family when they die. Most monarchs, both historically and in the modern day, have been born and brought up within a [[royal family]], the center of the [[royal household]] and [[Noble court|court]]. Growing up in a royal family (when present for several [[generation]]s, called a [[dynasty]]) future monarchs were often trained for future duties.
Different systems of [[Order of succession|succession]] have been used, such as [[proximity of blood]], [[primogeniture]], and [[agnatic seniority]] ([[Salic law]]). While traditionally most monarchs have been male, female monarchs have also ruled in history; the term [[queen regnant]] refers to a ruling monarch, while a [[queen consort]] refers to the wife of a reigning king. Form of governments may be hereditary without being considered monarchies, such as that of [[family dictatorship]]s<ref>Examples include [[Kim il-Sung]] and [[Kim Jong-il]] in [[North Korea]], the [[Somoza family]] in [[Nicaragua]], [[François Duvalier]] and [[Jean-Claude Duvalier]] in [[Haiti]], [[Hafez al-Assad]] and [[Bashar al-Assad]] in [[Syria]], and [[Oliver Cromwell]] and [[Richard Cromwell]] in the [[Commonwealth of England]].</ref> or [[Political family|political families]] in many [[Democracy|democracies]].<ref>For example, the [[Kennedy family]] in the [[United States]], the [[Nehru-Gandhi family]] in [[India]] and the Papandreou family in Greece. See [[list of political families]].</ref>
Some monarchies are non-hereditary. In an [[elective monarchy]], the monarch is [[Election|elected]] but otherwise serves as any other monarch. Historical examples of elective monarchy include the [[Holy Roman Emperor]]s (chosen by [[prince-elector]]s but often coming from the same dynasty) and the [[free election]] of kings of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]. Modern examples include the [[pope]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] (who rules as [[Sovereign]] of the [[Vatican City|Vatican City State]] and is elected to a life term by the [[College of Cardinals]]) and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.
Monarchies have existed throughout the world, although in recent centuries many states have [[Abolished monarchy|abolished the monarchy]] and becomes [[republic]]s. Advocacy of republics is called [[republicanism]], while advocacy of monarchies is called [[monarchism]]. The principal advantage of hereditary monarchy is the immediate continuity of leadership, with a usually short [[interregnum]] (as seen in the classic phrase "[[The King is dead. Long live the King!]]").
In some cases monarchs are dependent on other powers (see [[vassal]]s, [[suzerainty]], [[puppet state]], [[hegemony]]). In the colonial era [[indirect rule]] under a [[paramount power]] existed, such as [[princely state]] under the [[British Raj]].
In other cases the monarch's power is limited not due to constitutional restraits but to effective [[military rule]]. In the late [[Roman Empire]], the [[Praetorian Guard]] several times deposed [[Roman Emperor]]s and installed new emperor. The Hellenistic kings of [[Macedon]] and of [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]] were elected by the arm, which was similar in composition to the ''[[ecclesia]]'' of [[democracies]], the council of all free citizens; military service was often linked with citizenship) among the male member of the royal house. Military domination of the monarch has occurred in modern [[Thailand]] and in [[medieval Japan]] (where an hereditary military chief, the [[shogun]] was the de facto ruler, although the [[Emperor of Japan|Japanese emperor]] nominally ruled. In [[Italian fascism|Fascist Italy]] a monarchy coexisted with a fascist party, as did [[Romania]] or [[Greece]]. [[Spain under Franco|Spain under Francisco Franco]] (was officially a monarchy, even though there was no monarch on the throne. (Upon his death, Franco was succeeded as head of state by the [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]] heir, [[Juan Carlos I of Spain|Juan Carlos I]].
A [[self-proclaimed monarchy]] is established when a person declares himself a monarch and has no historical ties to a previous dynasty. [[Napoleon I of France]] declared himself [[List of French monarchs|Emperor of the French]] and ruled the [[First French Empire]] after previously calling himself [[First Consul]] after seizing power in the coup of [[18 Brumaire]]. [[Jean-Bédel Bokassa]] of the [[Central African Empire]] declared himself "Emperor." [[Yuan Shikai]] crowned himself Emperor of the short-lived "[[Empire of China (1915–1916)|Empire of China]]" a few years after the [[Republic of China]] was founded.
In a [[personal union]], the same person serves as monarch of separate independent states. (In contrast to an [[empire]], in which the monarch may have different titles in different realms but does not rule independent states).
Sometimes titles are used to express claims to territories that are not actually held (for example, [[English claims to the French throne]]) or titles not recognized ([[antipope]]s). A [[pretender]] is a claimant to an abolished throne or to a throne already occupied by somebody else. [[Abdication]] is when a monarch [[Resignation|resigns]].
Unique or unusual situations exist in several countries:
*In [[Malaysia]], the federal king, called the [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]] ("Paramount Ruler") is elected for a five-year term from and by the hereditary rulers (mostly [[sultan]]s) of nine of the federation's constitutive [[States of Malaysia|states]], all on the [[Malay peninsula]].
*[[Andorra]] is the world's sole co-principality. Located in the [[Pyrenees]] between [[Spain]] and [[France]], it has two co-princes: the [[Diocese of Urgell|Bishop of Urgell]] (a [[prince-bishop]]) in Spain and the [[President of France]]. It is the only situation in which an independent country's monarch is [[Democracy|democratically]] elected by the citizens of another country.
==Succession==
{{Forms of government}}
The rules for selection of monarchs varies from country to country. In constitutional monarchies the rule of succession is generally embodied in a law passed by a representative body, such as a [[parliament]].
In an [[elective monarchy]], monarchs being elected or appointed by some body (an [[electoral college]]) for life. For example, [[Pepin the Short]] (father of [[Charlemagne]]) was elected [[List of Frankish kings|King of the Franks]] by an assembly of Frankish leading men; [[Stanisław August Poniatowski]] of Poland was an elected king, as was [[Frederick I of Denmark]]. [[Germanic peoples]] had elective monarchies, and the [[Holy Roman Emperor]]s were elected by [[prince-elector]]s, although this was often merely a formalization of what was in reality hereditary rule. Three elective monarchies exists today. Two ([[Malaysia]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]]) are 20th-century creations, while one (the [[Pope|papacy]]) is ancient.
In a [[hereditary monarchy]], the position of monarch is inherited by one's relatives according to a statutory or customary [[order of succession]], usually within one [[royal family]] tracing its origin back to a historical [[dynasty]] or bloodline.
Sometimes the order of succession is affected by rules on gender. [[Agnatic succession]] bars females, and in oher systems a female may only inherit when the male line dating back to a common ancestor is exhausted. In 1980, [[Sweden]] became the first monarchy to declare equal (full cognatic) primogeniture, meaning that the eldest child of the monarch, whether female or male, ascends to the throne.<ref>SOU 1977:5 ''Kvinnlig tronföljd'', p.16.</ref> Other kingdoms (such as the [[Netherlands]] in 1983, [[Norway]] in 1990, and [[Belgium]] in 1991) have since followed suit. Sometimes [[religion]] is affected; under the [[Act of Settlement 1701]] all [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]] are ineligible to be the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|British monarch]] and are skipped in the order of succession.
[[Primogeniture]], in which the eldest child of the monarch is first in line to become monarch, is the most common system. In the case of the absence of children, the next most senior member of the collateral line (for example, a younger brother) becomes monarch. Other systems include [[tanistry]], which is semi-elective and gives weight to merit and [[Salic law]]. In complex cases, especially in the [[Middle Ages]], the system of primogeniture competed with the sometimes conflicting principle of [[proximity of blood]], and outcomes were idiosyncratic. In some monarchies, such as [[Saudi Arabia]], succession to the throne usually first passes to the monarch's next eldest brother, and only after that to the monarch's children (agnatic seniority).
[[Appointment]] by the current monarch is another system, used in [[Jordan]]. In this system, the monarch chooses his own successor, who may or may not be a relative.
{{seealso|jure uxoris}}
==History==
Monarchy is one of the oldest forms of government, with echoes in the leadership of [[tribe|tribal chiefs]].
Since 1800, most of the world's monarchies have been abolished, and most of the nations that retain monarchs are constitutional monarchies. Among the few states that retain aspects of absolute monarchy are [[Brunei]], [[Oman]], [[Qatar]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Swaziland]] and the [[Vatican City]]. The monarch also retains considerable power in [[Jordan]] and [[Morocco]]. The most recent nation to abolish its monarchy was [[Nepal]], which became a republic in 2008.
===Africa===
{{main|Monarchies in Africa}}
[[Pharaoh]]s ruled [[ancient Egypt]] over the course of three millennia (c. 3150 BCE to 31 BCE) until Egypt was absorbed by the [[Roman Empire]]. In the same time period, several kingdoms flourished in the nearby [[Nubia]] region. In the [[Horn of Africa]], the [[Aksumite Empire]] (4th c. BCE - 1st c. BCE) and later the [[Ethiopian Empire]] (1270-1974) were ruled by a series of monarchs. [[Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia|Haile Selassie]], the last [[Emperor of Ethiopia]], was deposed in a [[coup d'état]]. The [[Kanem Empire]] (700-1376) was in [[central Africa]]. Kingdoms such as the [[Kingdom of Kongo]] (1400–1914) existed in [[southern Africa]].
As part of the [[Scramble for Africa]], Europeans conquered, bought, or established African kingdoms and styled themselves as a monarch.{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
===Europe===
{{main|Monarchies in Europe}}
Dozens of monarchies have existed in [[History of Europe|European history]]. Many no longer have a monarch: Some monarchies dissolved into independent states ([[Austria-Hungary]]), others were dismantled by revolution (the [[Russian Empire]] ended after the [[Russian Revolution (1917)|Russian Revolution of 1917]]), and still others merged into a unified crown (for example, the [[Crown of Aragon]] and [[Crown of Castile]] became the [[Kingdom of Spain]].)
Today in [[Europe]], there remain seven kingdoms, three [[principalities]] ([[Liechtenstein]], [[Wales]] and [[Monaco]]), a [[duchy]] (the [[Channel Islands]], of the [[Duchy of Normandy]]), a [[grand duchy]] ([[Luxembourg]]), and a sovereign city-state ([[Vatican City|Vatican City State]]). Additionally, there is the peculiar case of [[Andorra]] (in which the [[Diocese of Urgell|Bishop of Urgell]] and the elected [[President of France]] are [[List of Co-Princes of Andorra|co-princes]]).
===Asia===
In China, "king" is the usual translation for the term ''wang'' (王), the sovereign before the [[Qin dynasty]] and during the [[Ten Kingdoms]] period. During the early [[Han dynasty]], China had a number of small kingdoms, each about the size of a [[county]] and subordinate to the [[Emperor of China]]. The [[Emperor of Japan|Japanese monarchy]] is now the only monarchy to still use the title of Emperor.
===The Americas===
Monarchies existed among the [[indigenous peoples of the Americas]] long before the [[European colonization of the Americas|European colonization]].
[[Pre-Columbian]] titles used in the [[New World]] included [[Cacique]] (in [[Hispaniola]] and [[Puerto Rico]]) [[Tlatoani]] ([[Nahuatl language|Nahuatl]] term for the ruler of an ''[[altepetl]]'', [[Aztec]] polity), [[Ajaw]] ([[Maya civilization|Maya]]), [[Sapa Inca]] ([[Inca Empire]]), Morubixaba ([[Old Tupi language|Old Tupi]] for "chief")
The [[Age of Discovery]] and European colonization brought extensive territory to European monarchs. Some colonies broke off and declared independence (such as the [[United States]] in the [[American Revolution]] and the [[Hispanic American wars of independence]] in [[Latin America]]). [[Canada]] and most colonies in [[British West Indies]], become self-governing while remaining under the British monarchy as [[Commonwealth realm]]s or [[British overseas territories]]. (See [[Canadian Confederation]]).
Independent monarchs also emerged. [[Agustín I of Mexico|Augustin I]] declared himself [[Mexican Empire|Emperor of Mexico]] in 1822, after colonization. [[Maximilian I of Mexico|Maximilian I]] ruled as Mexican emperor from 1863 to 1867. Two members of the [[House of Braganza]], [[Pedro I of Brazil|Pedro I]] and [[Pedro II of Brazil|Pedro II]], ruled [[Brazil]] as [[List of Brazilian monarchs|emperors]] from 1822 to 1889.
==References==
{{reflink}}
==See also==
{{wikiquote}}
{{wiktionarypar|monarch}}
*[[Abolished monarchy]]
*[[Archontology]]
*[[Family as a model for the state]]
*[[King of Kings]]
*[[List of current monarchs]]
*[[List of living former sovereign monarchs]]
*[[List of monarchies]]
*[[List of monarchs by nickname]]
*[[List of subnational monarchs]]
*[[List of usurpers]]
*[[Maharaja]]
*[[Personal union]]
{{Monarchies}}
{{crowns}}
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