From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There are and have been throughout recorded history a great many
monarchies in the world.
Tribal kingship and
Chiefdoms have been the most widespread form of social organisation from the
Neolithic , and the predominance of monarchies has declined only with the rise of
Republicanism in the modern era.
A monarchical form of government can be combined with many different kinds of political and economic systems, from
absolute monarchy to
constitutional monarchy and from a
market economy to a
planned economy . Some examples for certain forms of monarchy are:
Extant monarchies are listed in bold type .
Antiquity
Middle Ages and Renaissance
Enlightenment and later
Dates of the latest abolitions of monarchies in
Europe and the territories nearby. A green rectangle indicates that the monarchy was restored afterwards and is currently functioning. If a country has no date, it means that either it has never had a monarchical government (e.g.
Switzerland ) or it has been functioning throughout the country's modern history (e.g.
Sweden ,
Denmark and
Norway ). Note that the dates do not necessarily mark the end of the national independent monarchy but the territory it covered (e.g.
Ukraine ).
Constitutional monarchies
A
constitutional monarchy is a form of
monarchical
government established under a
constitutional system which acknowledges an elected or hereditary
monarch as
head of state .
Unitary constitutional monarchies
Unitary constitutional monarchies are
unitary states which are governed constitutionally as one single unit, with a single constitutionally created legislature.
Kingdom of England (1660–1707; merged with
Kingdom of Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain)
Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918)
Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800, became United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland)
Kingdom of France (
1791–1792 ), monarchy overthrown during the
French Revolution ; (
1814–1815 ), monarchy deposed at the beginning of the
Hundred Days ; (
1815–1830 ), monarchy overthrown during the
July Revolution ; (
1830–1848 ), monarchy overthrown during the
French Revolution of 1848
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1800–1921; became
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland )
Kingdom of Bohemia (1806–1918; dissolved after
World War I )
Kingdom of Hungary (1867–1918; part of
Austro-Hungarian Empire )
Kingdom of Spain (1812–1873;
First Spanish Republic , 1873–1874;
Restoration , 1874–1931;
Second Spanish Republic , 1931–1939;
Spanish Civil War , 1936–1939;
dictatorship and regency under Franco , 1939–1975;
provisional absolute monarchy 1975–1978, constitutional monarchy restored 1978–present)
Kingdom of Norway (1814–present,
Swedish Sovereign as King 1814–1905, independent in 1905)
Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815–present)
French Empire (1815 during the
Hundred Days )
First Mexican Empire (1821–1823); ended by forced abdication
Kingdom of Portugal (1822–1910; ended by coup)
Empire of Brazil (1822–1889; ended by coup)
Kingdom of Belgium (1830–1980; became
federal constitutional
monarchy )
Kingdom of Hawaii (1840–1894; ended by coup)
Kingdom of Greece (1843–1924; republican interregnum; 1935–1974; ended by referendum)
Kingdom of Denmark (1848–present)
French Empire (1852–1870; became republic)
Imperial State of Iran (1935–1979; ended by revolution)
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946; ended by referendum)
Principality of Liechtenstein (1862–present)
Kingdom of Sweden (1866–present)
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (1867–present)
Japan (660 BC–present)
Principality of Romania (1859–1881; transformed into a Kingdom)
Second Mexican Empire (1864–1867); ended by execution
Kingdom of Romania (1881–1947; ended by forced abdication)
Principality of Serbia (1817–1882; transformed into a Kingdom)
Kingdom of Serbia (1882–1918; merged into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes)
Principality of Frickgau (1802–1803; 364 Days under French, merged with Switzerland)
Newfoundland (1907–1949)
New Zealand (1907–present)
Kingdom of Bulgaria (1908–1946; ended by referendum)
Union of South Africa (1910–1961; ended by referendum)
Princedom of Montenegro (1852–1910); transformed into a Kingdom
Kingdom of Montenegro (1910–1918; merged into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes)
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (1918–1929, transformed into Yugoslavia)
Kingdom of Finland (1918; ended by parliamentary vote after The Apparent abdicated willingly before entering on the throne)
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1921–present)
Kingdom of Jordan (1921–present)
Irish Free State (1922–1937)
Kingdom of Egypt (1922–1953; ended by military coup)
Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1929–1941; transformed into a Communist state in 1945)
Kingdom of Iraq (1932–1958;
Ended by coup )
Kingdom of Thailand (1932–present)
Ceylon (1948–1972)
Kingdom of Laos (1949–1975, became socialist republic after the
Laotian Civil War )
Kingdom of Libya (1951–1969; become socialist republic)
Kingdom of Cambodia (1953–1970;
Khmer Republic , 1970–1975;
Democratic Kampuchea , 1975–1979;
People's Republic of Kampuchea , 1979–1989;
State of Cambodia , 1989–1993; constitutional monarchy restored 1993–present)
Kingdom of Tunisia (1956–1957; became republic)
Ghana (1957–1960)
Nigeria (1960–1963)
Tanganyika (1961–1962)
Sierra Leone (1961–1971)
Trinidad and Tobago (1962–1976)
Uganda (1962–1963)
Kingdom of Morocco (1962–present)
Jamaica (1962–present)
Kenya (1963–1964)
Malawi (1964–1966)
Malta (1964–1974)
The Gambia (1965–1970)
Rhodesia (1965–1970)
Guyana (1966–1970)
Barbados (1966–2021)
Kingdom of Lesotho (1966–present)
Mauritius (1968–1992)
Fiji (1970–1987)
The Bahamas (1973–present)
Kingdom of Bahrain (1971–1975; constitution abrogated; 2002–present)
Grenada (1974–present)
Papua New Guinea (1975–present)
Solomon Islands (1978–present)
Tuvalu (1978–present)
Saint Lucia (1979–present)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1979–present)
Antigua and Barbuda (1981–present)
Belize (1981–present)
Saint Kitts and Nevis (1983–present)
Kingdom of Nepal (1990–2008; transformed into a republic)
Principality of Andorra (1993–present)
Kingdom of Bhutan (2008–present; unitary absolute monarchy from 1907 and transformed to constitutional monarchy in 2008)
Federal constitutional monarchies
Federal constitutional monarchies are
federal states in which a number of
federated entities are unified under a
federal government and a single monarch, who acts as ceremonial
head of state .
Elective constitutional monarchies
Absolute monarchies
An
absolute monarchy is a
monarchical
form of government where the ruler has the power to rule his or her land or
country and its citizens freely, with no
laws or legally-organized direct opposition in force.
Unitary absolute monarchies
Unitary absolute monarchies are
unitary states which are governed as one single unit by a single hereditary or elected leader. Some had or have a single legislature, which may or may not be constitutionally created.
Subnational monarchies
A subnational monarchy is a territory governed by a hereditary leader, but which is subordinate to a higher national government, either monarchical or republican in form.
Sultanate of Kelantan (c. 2nd century – present; within
Funan ,
Khmer Empire ,
Srivijaya ,
Siam ,
British Empire ,
Federation of Malaya , and
Malaysia )
Sultanate of Kedah (c. 7th century – present; within
Malacca ,
Siam ,
British Empire ,
Federation of Malaya , and
Malaysia )
Sultanate of Pahang (c. 8th century – present; within
Srivijaya ,
Siam ,
Sultanate of Malacca ,
Aceh ,
Johor , the
British Empire , the
Federated Malay States , the
Federation of Malaya , and
Malaysia )
Principality of Perlis (c. 8th century – present; within
Kedah ,
Siam , the
British Empire , the
Malayan Union , and
Malaysia )
Kingdom of Bohemia (c. 9th century – 1806; within
Holy Roman Empire ; became constitutional monarchy)
Kingdom of Germany (c. 11th century – 1806; within
Holy Roman Empire ; became Austrian Empire)
Luxembourg (963 – 1867; within the
Holy Roman Empire ,
Bohemia , the
Netherlands ,
Austria ,
France and
Belgium ; became constitutional monarchy)
Kingdom of Pattani (c. 11th century – 1909; within
Srivijaya ,
Kingdom of Ayutthaya ,
Siam , dissolved between
Thailand and
Malaysia )
Murcia (1243–1304; within the
Kingdom of Castile ,
Kingdom of Aragon ; absorbed into
Castile )
Vaduz (1342 – 1806; within the
Holy Roman Empire ; became absolute monarchy of
Liechtenstein )
Sultanate of Selangor (1740–present; within the
Netherlands , the
British Empire ,
Federated Malay States , the
Federation of Malaya , and
Malaysia )
Sultanate of Yogyakarta (1755–present; within
Netherlands Indies ,
Japanese Empire ,
United States of Indonesia (1945–1951), and
Republic of Indonesia
Sultanate of Terengganu (c. 15th century – present; within
Malacca ,
Siam , the
British Empire ,
Federation of Malaya , and
Malaysia )
Sultanate of Sulu (1405–present; within
Philippines )
Grand Duchy of Finland (1809–1918; within
Russian Empire ; ended when The Grand Princely Throne became vacant at the Russian Revolution; became constitutional monarchy,
Kingdom of Finland )
Barotseland (1845–present); within
Zambia
Māori Kingship (1865–present; within
Dominion of New Zealand )
Kingdom of Lesotho (1868–1966); within the
British Empire ; became an independent constitutional monarchy)
Machame (late 17th century-present; within
Machame ,
Tanzania )
Kingdom of Bavaria (1871–1918); held a privileged status (Reservatrechte ) within the
German Empire
Kingdom of Saxony (1871–1918); held a privileged status (Reservatrechte ) within the
German Empire
Kingdom of Württemberg (1871–1918); held a privileged status (Reservatrechte ) within the
German Empire
Negeri Sembilan (1873–present; within the
British Empire , the
Federation of Malaya , and
Malaysia )
Sultanates of Lanao (c. 16th century – present; within
Philippines )
Sultanate of Perak (1511-present; within the
British Empire ,
Federated Malay States ,
Federation of Malaya , and
Malaysia )
Principality of Bulgaria (1879–1908; within the
Ottoman Empire ; became constitutional monarchy)
Wogodogo Monarchy (1896–present; within
France and
Burkina Faso )
Bunyoro (1899–1966; within the
British Empire , and
Uganda ; abolished; 1993–present; within
Uganda )
Ashanti (1900–present; within
Ghana )
Ankole (1901–1966; abolished; 1993–present; within
Uganda )
Kingdom of Egypt (1917–1922; within the
British Empire , became constitutional monarchy)
Sultanate of Johor (1946–present; within the
Malayan Union , the
Federation of Malaya ,
Malaysia )
Buganda (1961–1966; abolished; 1993–present; within
Uganda )
Busoga (1961–1966; abolished; 1993–present; within
Uganda )
Emirate of Abu Dhabi (1971–present; within the
United Arab Emirates )
Emirate of Ajmān (1971–present; within the
United Arab Emirates )
Emirate of Dubai (1971–present; within the
United Arab Emirates )
Emirate of Fujairah (1971–present; within the
United Arab Emirates )
Emirate of Sharjah (1971–present; became subnational monarchy of the
United Arab Emirates )
Emirate of Umm al-Quwain (1981–present; within the
United Arab Emirates )
Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah (1973–present; within the
United Arab Emirates )
Gullah/Geechee Nation (2000-present; within the
United States )
[2]
[3]
[4]
Shared monarchies
A monarch may reign over multiple kingdoms,
dominions or
realms in various forms of
political ,
dynastic ,
personal union or association.
Between 925 and 1035 the
Kingdom of Aragon shared a monarchy with the
Kingdom of Navarre .
From 1150 to 1319, the
Kingdom of Aragon and the
County of Barcelona (actually the
Principality of Catalonia ) formed a dynastical union named
Crown of Aragon ; from 1319 to 1479, the Crown was a federation of these two countries and the
Kingdom of Valencia .
The Kingdoms of
León and
Castile were united three times under the same monarch, first between 1037 and 1078, again from 1072 to 1157, and finally between 1230 and sometime in the 16th century.
Between 1072 and 1095 León, Castile, and Galicia were united under a common monarch, whereafter Portugal separated under a different dynasty, and the others were absorbed by
Spain .
The
Kalmar Union was a period between 1397 and 1536 in which
Denmark ,
Norway and
Sweden shared the same monarch as three independent countries.
Norway and
Denmark continued to share a monarchy from 1536 to 1814.
Norway was then united under a common monarchy with Sweden from 1814 to 1905.
From 1490 to c. 1740
Hungary and
Bohemia (part of the
Holy Roman Empire ) shared a monarchy. These kingdoms shared a monarch from the
Habsburgs who were Archdukes of Austria and Holy Roman Emperors. Briefly
Naples and
Sardinia in 1707, and
Sicily in 1714 to their departure in 1735, 1720 and 1734, respectively. The
Habsburgs declared themselves Emperors of Austria in 1804. The three countries remained in this situation until the union was ended in the aftermath of
World War I , in 1918. The
Austro-Hungarian Empire was the union of the
Austrian Empire and the
Kingdom of Hungary between 1867 and 1918 under a new constitution, the
Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 , or Ausgleich.
From 1541,
King
Henry VIII of England was declared King of
Ireland , after being excommunicated by the pope and losing the title of
Lord of Ireland .
England and Ireland were joined in a personal union until 1603, when the
James VI of Scotland became king of England and Ireland. All three crowns remained in personal union until 1707 when England and Scotland were united by the
Acts of Union 1707 to become the
Kingdom of Great Britain . The two crowns remained under personal union until the
Acts of Union 1800 when the kingdoms became the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . This union lasted until
Irish Independence in 1921 when with the departure of the 26 southern counties of Ireland, the UK officially became the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .
From 1580 to 1640,
Portugal was under a united monarchy with
Spain , in the period known as the
Iberian Union .
Between 1867 and 1890
Luxembourg and the
Netherlands shared the same monarch.
Charles III currently reigns over 15
Commonwealth realms .
The King of France was also the co-prince of Andorra. After the abolition of the French monarchy the co-prince is now the president of the French Republic.
See also
References