Monarchy
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List of forms of government
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A Monarchy, from the Greek μονος, "one," and αρχειν, "to rule," is a form of government in which a monarch, usually a single person, is the head of state.
In most monarchies, the monarch holds control and their position for life (in a few republics, the head of state, often styled president, might remain in office for life, but most are elected for a term of office, after which he or she must step down). There are currently 31 monarchs reigning over 45 extant sovereign monarchies in the world; the disconnect in numbers between monarchs and countries is explained by the fact that the sixteen Commonwealth realms - vast geographic areas including the trans-continental realms of Canada and Australia - are separately debated over in personal union by one Sovereign, and one other monarchy, Andorra, by two non-resident foreign (French and Spanish) co-monarchs.
The term monarchy is also used to refer to the people (especially the dynasty, also known as royalty) and institutions that make up the royal or imperial establishment, or to the realm over which the monarch reigns. Monarchs serve as symbols of continuity and statehood. Today, the extent of a monarch's actual powers varies from monarchy to monarchy. In constitutional monarchies, wherein sovereignty rests formally with the crown but politically with 'the people' (usually the electorate, as represented by a parliament), the monarch now usually serves largely ceremonial functions, except in times of crisis. Many monarchies are constituted by tradition or by codified law, so that the monarch has little real political power; in others the monarch holds some power but is limited from exercising it by popular or precedential opinion; in still others the monarch holds substantial power and may exercise it without limit.
Monarchy is one of the oldest forms of government, with echoes in the leadership of tribal chiefs. Many monarchs once claimed to rule by divine right, or at least by divine grace, ruling either by the will of the god(s) or even claiming to be (incarnated) gods themselves; cfr. theocracy. Monarchs have also been selected by election (either in a broad popular assembly, as in Germanic tribal states; or by a small body, such as in the Holy Roman Empire; or by dynastic succession; or by conquest as in Malaysia and the UAE; or a combination of any number of ways). In some early systems the monarch was overthrown or sacrificed when it became apparent that divine sanction had been withdrawn.
Since 1800, most of the world's monarchies have been abolished by dismemberment or annexation, or have been transformed into republics; most current countries that are monarchies are constitutional ones. Among the few states that retain a rather absolute monarchy are Bhutan, Brunei, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland and the Vatican City (the papal city-state, an electoral theocracy). In Jordan and Morocco, the monarch also retains considerable power. There are also recent (2003) developments in Liechtenstein, wherein the regnant prince was given the constitutional power to dismiss the government at will. Nepal had several swings between constitutional rule and direct rule related to the Maoist rebel movement and killings by a suicidal crown prince. The oldest monarchy in the world is the Japanese monarchy.
Types of Monarchy
In an absolute monarchy, the monarch has absolute power over every aspect of the state, if not of social life in general, and has the power to grant or withdraw a constitution; a constitutional monarch is subject to the constitution like other citizens, though in some cases he has certain constitutional privileges such as inviolability.
An elected monarchy was popular in various states of Northern Europe even up until the Middle Ages. When Charlemagne was a child, his father was elected King of the Franks. Stanislaw of Poland was an elected king, as was Frederick I of Denmark. The tradition of an elected monarchy is very ancient and still exists today in the office of the Pope.
In Antiquity, there were various traditions of elected monarchs of various titles, usually rendered as king, especially in not fully sedentary societies such as the Germanic tribes (before they established a sedentary kingdom in territories of the former Roman empire). Often there was a mix of conflicting principles and interests, the ruling house tending to reserve succession for itself, with the nobility rivaling it. Actual succession often depended on popular assent and/or the support of the armed forces, which could take their role of king-maker as far as deposing an incompetent or 'criminal' ruler- or even pure mutiny to seize the throne. The Hellenistic kings of Macedon and of Epirus were elected by the army (a body that was very close 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. In Macedon this tradition continued until the kingdom was dissolved by the Romans after the Third Macedonian War.
Most of today's hereditary monarchs serve as living national symbols of their nation-state. Most constitutional monarchs retain reserve powers, and other constitutionally defined roles and responsibilities. Many are also constitutional monarchs who can dissolve parliament and call for new elections (usually at the request of the prime minister). Though the latter may technically still propose legislation, the conventions of constitutional monarchy disallow them from doing so, as well as from wielding power in the unlimited manner of ancient monarchies, unless in the face of a constitutional, governmental, or some other crisis.
In some ancient hereditary monarchies, power often resided with the military, as often has been the case in Thailand and Japan (where its eventually hereditary military chief, the Shogun, developed into a de facto monarch, nominally under the Emperor), with an (at least) nominally 'prime ministerial' office (separate Head of government), which may tend to become hereditary itself, in the Hindu kingdom of Nepal even formally styled a hereditary Maharajah. In Fascist Italy a monarchy coexisted with a fascist party for longer than such co-existences occurred in Romania or Greece. 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 Bourbon heir to the throne, King Juan Carlos I.
There have also been situations in which a dictator proclaimed himself monarch of a previous republic, thus starting a self-proclaimed monarchy with no historical ties to a previous dynasty. The most famous example of this was general Napoleon I Bonaparte, who crowned himself first Emperor of the French after legally assuming political control of the French Republic (which in his lifetime has succeeded to the absolutist kingdom) as First Consul for life; a blatant operetta-imitation of his empire was that of dictator Bokassa I in the very poor Central African Empire. Also, Yuan Shikai crowned himself Emperor of the short-lived "Empire of China," a few years after the Republic of China was founded.
On several occasions throughout history, the same person has served as monarch of separate independent states, in a situation known as a personal union. An empire was traditionally ruled by a monarchy whose leader may have been known by different, traditional or self-assumed titles in his different realms. Several former colonies of the British Empire, such as Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand etc., are now independent realms, which, along with the United Kingdom, continue to recognize one person as their respective sovereign head of state, with a distinctive title in each nation (King/Queen of Canada, Jamaica and so forth); these countries, including the UK, are known as Commonwealth Realms. In other cases, such as England and Scotland, a personal union was the precursor to a merger of the states. Often a personal union between nation states ends in complete separation, e.g. Norway, first in union with Denmark and later with Sweden, then finally opting for its own monarchy again. Similar to that after 816 years of personal union with Hungary, Croatia had in 1918 opted for separation and entry into the kingdom of Yugoslavia.
Some republics can be called 'virtual monarchies' as they appear to have introduced de facto inheritance for the Head of state, usually establishing a 'dynasty' by making his son (informally) designated heir, without constitutionally declaring themselves monarchies. These nations may be republics in theory, but dynastic monarchies in practice. The 'Roman Empire' in Latin existed only in the territorial sense, legally it was always a republic, theoretically the Principate was not hereditary monarchy, and even the Byzantine Empire had republican features. In the twentieth century, de facto monarchies existed in Nicaragua and Haiti. Today, formal constitutional republics like North Korea (communist single-party state) and Syria have been called de facto monarchies; however, one father-son succession without a constitutional mechanism is more an appearance than an actual de facto monarchy, the next succession may just as well be determined otherwise by the real king makers (a dead dictator ceases to dictate) and democratic republics too have produced de facto successions -albeit often not along strict lines such as primogeniture- and even three or more generation 'dynasties' (as India's Gandhi family), except that these only rule when their party is in power. See also family dictatorship.
Although in theory a monarch is the sovereign ruler of a state, historical developments often produced more complicated realities: when a state loses its true sovereignty, while internally retaining its monarchic constitution, its monarchy will often become similarly dependent on the greater power, e.g. as a feudal vassal under a suzerain, or in the colonial era become redefined as an actor in indirect rule, under a paramount power (such as each princely state in the British raj). Successions in such dependent states were often subject to the assent of the dominant power, which then often reserved the right to dethrone (and replace) a 'disloyal' incumbent.
Succession
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.
Elective monarchies, distinguished by the monarchs being appointed for life, have in most cases been succeeded by hereditary monarchies, but both secular sovereign nation cases at present - those of Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates - are 20th-century creations. In the hereditary system, the position of monarch involves inheritance according to an order of succession, usually within one royal family tracing its origin back to a historical dynasty or bloodline. In some cases the ruling family may claim to hold authority by virtue of the associated god's choosing, as reflected in the style-phrase "by the Grace of God," or other religion-based authority.
The order of succession in most European monarchical states of the 21st century is by primogeniture, meaning that either the eldest child of the monarch or the eldest son of the monarch is first in line. Currently, there is some controversy over the succession laws of some monarchies such as that of the United Kingdom (UK), Canadian, or the Scandinavian monarchies, which require their monarch to be of a certain faith (in the Commonwealth Realms under the Act of Settlement 1701). This has been challenged as violating European Union rules that prohibit religious disqualification for positions of state authority, as well as a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Historically, successions in dependent states could be subject to the assent of the (colonial or other) dominant power, which then often reserved the right to dethrone (and replace) a 'disloyal' incumbent.
Titles as Political Statements
Official styles and titles of monarchs often reflect the ambitions and ideals of the governments they head or represent and actual historical ties or claims to territories no longer under their administration or even extinguished as political units.
Some titles are specifically designed to express a relative rank, usually higher if self-assumed, as in the case of King of Kings and various equivalents, or Tipu Sultan who assumed the rank Padshah Bahadur when declaring his new Muslim empire Khudadad independent from the Mughal Padshah, it has no other meaning then 'in rank above Padhsah'. Some monarchic titles suggest a unique exalted rank, even universal supremacy, such as the Caliph, and yet there may be parallel dynasties, e.g. a branch of the Umayyad in Cordoba while the Oriental caliphate had been take over by the Abassids (in Baghdad). Other titles are perceived as carrying a protocolary rank, so granting (often as a reward for a loyal vassal) or assuming (as an assertion) a higher title can mean a 'promotion' regardless of political reality.
Additional elements in the full style may refer to the legitimation of the throne, either directly as by a phrase like "by the Grace of God," or indirectly by referring to a legitimating function, such as protecting the official religion, e.g. for a Muslim ruler by the style Commander of the faithful. The Protestant Successors to Henry VIII of England have all retained the "Defender of the Faith" originally granted by the Pope to Henry VIII before the 'annulment crisis' led to the Anglican Schism.
Thus Queen Elizabeth II is "by the Grace of God, Queen" in fifteen of her sixteen realms, only Papua New Guinea omitting this phrase from her title there. During Spain's transition to a constitutional monarchy under Isabella II, her Style was changed from the 'Long Form' which included "by the Grace of God" and some 20 states to "By divine grace and the constitution, queen of the Spains."
The kings and queens of England and Great Britain retained the title King of France until the union with Ireland to form the United Kingdom in 1801, during the reign of King George III. The kings and queens of Spain retained a long list of kingdoms, that didn't include Spain until Isabella II in 1837. The Council of Ministers authorized in 1987 Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, to also use "historical titles," presumably including the crusader relict King of Jerusalem, which passed through several dynasties, none of which actually had any authority in the obliterated former realm.
Demise of monarchies
Monarchies can come to an end in several ways. There may be a revolution in which the monarchy is overthrown; or, as in Italy, the electorate decides to form a republic by constitutional referendum. In some cases, as with England and Spain, the monarchy has been overthrown and later restored. After the abdication of Napoleon I, which ended the First Empire, the French restored the royal Bourbon dynasty which had been abolished by the republic within which Napoleon had established the Empire. At the same time, his emperorship was "revived" outside France, as a "golden cage" principality was created for him on the island of Elba, so in a sense the empire was succeeded by a kingdom and an emperor without an empire.
Dependent monarchies have been abolished by their dominant power, often for the purposes of being fully annexed, split or merged with another. In Uganda, for example, local tribal monarchies were abolished when the country became a unitary state.
The most recent monarchy to be abolished was the former Commonwealth Realm monarchy of Mauritius in 1992. In 1999 Australians voted to keep their status as a monarchy under Queen Elizabeth II.
Countries may regard themselves as monarchies even without an actual monarch on the vacant throne, as Spain did from 1947 to 1975, and Hungary from 1920 to 1946.
A person who can be taken into consideration as future monarch in case of restoration of monarchy (or who even claims to be the legitimate heir to the throne of a deposed or in the royalist view suspended monarchy) is called a pretender, but that term also applies to a rival claimant of a filled throne, such as the several Russians who claimed to be a Tsar simultaneously.
See also abolished monarchy for a list of recently-abolished monarchies and the Republican Monarchist Debate.
Unusual Monarchies
Sometimes, component members of federal states are monarchies, even though the federal state as a whole is not; for example each of the emirates that form the United Arab Emirates has its own monarch (an emir). Another unique situation is Malaysia, in which the federal king, called the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or Paramount Ruler, is elected for a five year term from and by the hereditary rulers (mostly sultans) of nine of the federation's constitutive States, all on the Malay peninsula.
In addition to his ecclesiastical role as Supreme Pontiff of all Christians worldwide in communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope is ex officio the absolute monarch of Vatican City, the last truly sovereign Prince of the Church. He is elected by (and customarily from among) the College of Cardinals. (Since the Catholic episcopate is celibate, naturally there can be no official hereditary succession to the papal throne.) Notwithstanding this, the papacy has at times been under the control of powerful Italian families. Several popes have been succeeded by near relatives (officially described as Nepotes, literally 'nephews').
Andorra is the world's only co-principality: it had two co-princes: the Bishop of Urgell in Spain (thus a Prince-Bishop), and the President of France—a unique case where an independent country's Monarch is democratically elected by the citizens of another country, which is not even in full personal union.
Since 1947, the Emperors of Japan have reigned as neither sovereign, nor the de jure head of state. Emperor Hirohito having ceded sovereignty to the people shortly after World War II, the Japanese monarchy is bound by supreme law as opposed to constitutional convention under the provisos of the Constitution of Japan.
Samoa was often disputably described as a monarchy. The Constitution designated the o le Ao o le Malo, rendered as Head of State for life with a royal style, but the last incumbent, Malietoa Tanumafili II, a past member of one of the three princely families, died and has been succeeded by an elected leader for a five year term. It has since been stated as a constitutional presidency.[1]
Monarchy and Oligarchy
Early societies may become oligarchies as an outgrowth of an alliance between rival tribal chieftains or as the result of a caste system. Oligarchies can often become instruments of transformation, by insisting that monarchs or dictators share power, thereby opening the door to power-sharing by other elements of society (while oligarchy means "the rule of the few," monarchy means "the rule of the one"). One example of power-sharing from one person to a larger group of persons occurred when English nobles banded together in 1215 to force a reluctant King John of England to sign the Magna Carta, a tacit recognition both of King John's waning political power and of the existence of an incipient oligarchy (the nobility). As English society continued to grow and develop, the Magna Carta was repeatedly revised (1216, 1217, and 1225), guaranteeing greater rights to greater numbers of people, thus setting the stage for English constitutional monarchy.
Oligarchies may also evolve into more autocratic or monarchist forms of government, sometimes as the result of one family gaining ascendancy over the others. Many of the European monarchies established during the late Middle Ages began in this way.
Arguments for and against monarchies
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Arguments for monarchies
Monarchists make the following arguments, among others, in support of monarchy:
- They claim that a hereditary monarch is likely to be a more competent head-of-state than is an elected president, because the former may have been prepared, from childhood, to serve as such.
- They claim that a monarchy may be less costly to maintain than a republic because it spares the state the expense of holding presidential elections, and because the royal family's private fortune may be enough for its own support, as against the public expenditures, in a republic, for the accommodations, pensions and other maintenance of incumbent and former presidents.
- They claim that the competition and criticism to which republican presidents typically are exposed, as elected officials and especially during the election campaigns themselves, damages the reputation and dignity of the head of state.
- They claim that because republican presidents are typically members of a political party, while monarchs typically stand outside of politics, a president is less well able to serve as a neutral representative of a country and its people.
- They claim, likewise, that presidents are obliged to act in accord with the policies and ideas of their political parties, while monarchs can reign more independently political considerations.
- They claim that a monarch makes a better visible symbol of national identity and unity than does a president.
- They claim that in a republic the continual changes of head-of-state create political uncertainty, which they contrast with the symbolic continuity of having a monarch. Some monarchists even argue that monarchy not only symbolises continuity, but actually guarantees of political stability, and instance, to support this view, historical cases where the abolition of monarchy has been followed by civil wars and the rise of totalitarian systems, such as Jacobinism in France, Nazism in Germany, and Communism in Russia and China.
Arguments against monarchies
Republicans generally argue that hereditary monarchy is the ultimate symbol of unfairness and elitism. According to them, in a modern democratic society no one should be expected to defer to another simply because of their birth. Such a system is not seen as compatible for a society which is at ease with itself. Further, republicans argue that 'the people', should be sovereign itself.
- Republicans argue that it should be a fundamental right of the people of any nation to elect their Head of State and for every citizen to be eligible to hold that public office, and that such a Head of State is more accountable to the people.
- According to critics of monarchy, monarchical prerogative powers could be used to circumvent normal democratic process with no accountability.
- Republicans argue that a hereditary system condemns each heir to the throne to an abnormal childhood that produces an abnormal individual as Head of State.
- Republicans argue that monarchy is a very expensive system.
- In some specific cases monarchy has been questioned because it became associated with fascism, occupation and/or dictatorship. In Italy the monarchy was dissolved via referendum in 1946 because then King Victor Emmanuel had endorsed the Fascist regime of Mussolini. In Belgium a similar referendum was held in 1950, concerning the Monarchy of Belgium. Here only 43% of the population rejected the monarchy which had become discredited after King Leopold III had decided to remain in occupied Belgium instead of joining the Belgian government in exile in London. Supported 57 percent of the population, however, the Belgian Monarchy remained, although Leopold gave up his duties in favour of his son Baudouin, who became 'regent'. Leopold III, abdicated the following year (1951), being succeeded by Baudouin I.
Current monarchies of the world
Currently 45 nations in the world have monarchs as heads of state, 16 of which are Commonwealth Realms that formally recognize Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state and Prince Charles as heir.
| State | Title | Extent | Currently | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Andorra
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Co-Princes | Constitutional Monarchy | Nicolas Sarkozy and Joan Enric Vives Sicília | Political structure in place since 1278. |
 Antigua and Barbuda
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, presently Sir James Carlisle |
 Australia
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King/Queen | Federal Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, presently Michael Jeffery, and six Governors |
 Bahamas
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, presently Dame Ivy Dumont |
 Bahrain
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King, styled Malik | Semi-Constitutional Monarchy | Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifah | Known as "emir" until 2002. |
 Barbados
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, presently Sir Clifford Husbands |
 Belgium
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King/Queen of the Belgians | Constitutional Monarchy | Albert II | Ruled by the king of the Netherlands until 1830. At the 1830 independence the constitution was a model of how to limit royal power. |
 Belize
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, presently Sir Colville Young |
 Bhutan
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Druk Gyalpo 'Dragon King' | Absolute Monarchy | Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck | Buddhist monarchy. |
 Brunei
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Sultan | Absolute sultanate | Hassanal Bolkiah | |
 Cambodia
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King; individual throne styles, but most Kings include the titles of Brhat Pada, Samdach Brhat, Varman, Rajadhiraja, Parama, and Adipati | Constitutional Monarchy | Norodom Sihamoni | Reinstituted in 1993. |
 Canada
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor General, presently Michaëlle Jean, and by ten Lieutenant Governors, one in each province. |
 Denmark
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Margrethe II of Denmark | Also queen of Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Act of Succession revised in 1953 to allow for female monarchs. |
 Grenada
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, presently Sir Daniel Williams |
 Jamaica
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, presently Kenneth Hall |
 Japan
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Emperor, styled Tennō | Constitutional Monarchy/Empire | Akihito | World's only remaining emperor. |
 Jordan
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Hashemite King, styled Malik | Semi-constitutional Hashemite monarchy | Abdullah II | Monarchy established by United Kingdom in 1921. |
 Kuwait
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Emir, styled Amir ad-Dawlat al-Kuwayt "Emir of the State of Kuwait" | Semi-constitutional emirate | Sabah Al-Sabah | Was Hakim al-Kuwayt "Ruler of Kuwait" until 1961; still prefixed "sheikh," as every member of a Gulf dynasty). |
 Lesotho
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King | Constitutional Monarchy | Letsie III | Known as Paramount Chief until 1965. Regarded as a symbol of national unity, the King does not exercise any executive or legislative powers. |
 Liechtenstein
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Prince, styled Fürst | Semi-constitutional principality | Hans-Adam II | Some powers delegated to Prince Alois. |
 Luxembourg
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Grand Duke/Duchess | Constitutional grand duchy | Henri | Only remaining Grand Duchy. Ruled by the king of the Netherlands until 1890. |
 Malaysia
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Yang di-Pertuan Agong or "Paramount Ruler" | Constitutional federation | Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin | Position electoral amongst -de facto tends to rotate between- the nine hereditary rulers of the pensinsular Malay states, only for 5 years. |
 Monaco
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Sovereign Prince/Princess | Semi-constitutional principality | Albert II | Last sovereign monarchy under (French, amical) protection |
 Morocco
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King, styled Malik | Semi-Constitutional Monarchy | Mohammed VI | Morocco currently administers the disputed region of Western Sahara. |
 Nepal
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King, styled Raja | Constitutional Monarchy | Gyanendra | Parliament stripped the king every power in 2006. According to the Interim Constitution of 2007 the king was replaced with an Interim Head of State. The fate of the monarchy is waiting to be decided in the future. |
 Netherlands
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King/Queen, styled Koning(in) | Constitutional Monarchy | Beatrix | Also Koning(in) of both colonies: Aruba and Netherlands Antilles. |
 New Zealand annex Cook Islands and Niue
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by Governor-General Anand Satyanand |
 Norway
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King, styled Norges Konge | Constitutional Monarchy | Harald V | |
 Oman
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Sultan | Absolute sultanate | Qaboos | |
 Papua New Guinea
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, presently Sir Paulias Matane |
 Qatar
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Emir | Absolute emirate | Hamad bin Khalifa | Formerly Hakim Qatar "Ruler of Qatar," from 3-9-1971: Amir Dawlat Qatar "Emir of the State of Qatar" |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, presently Sir Cuthbert Sebastian |
 Saint Lucia
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, presently Dame Pearlette Louisy |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, presently Sir Frederick Ballantyne |
 Saudi Arabia
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King styled Malik but also The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (خادم الحرمين الشريفين), i.e. Protector of the Holy Cities | Absolute Monarchy | Abdullah | Saudi Arabia was unified in 1932. |
 Solomon Islands
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King/Queen | Commonwealth Realm | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, presently Sir Nathaniel Waena |
 Spain
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Juan Carlos I | Monarchy was restored in 1975; and holds the title King of Jerusalem. |
 Swaziland
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King (also Indovuzaki -lit. She-Elephant- or Queen Mother) | Absolute Monarchy | Mswati III (and Ntombi) | Currently democratizing. |
 Sweden
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King/Queen, styled Konung/Drottning | Constitutional Monarchy | Carl XVI Gustaf | Act of Succession revised in 1979 to allow for female monarchs (full cognatic primogeniture). |
 Thailand
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King | Constitutional Monarchy | Bhumibol Adulyadej | The world's longest-serving current head of state. Known as Rama, the throne name with numeral officially used by every king of the present Chakri dynasty, presently Rama IX; Buddhist monarchy. |
 Tonga
|
King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | George Tupou V | The traditional Polynesian style of Tu'i Tonga, still the dynasty's birthright, was superseded by the western royal style in 1865, i.e. before the British protectorate |
 Tuvalu
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. The Monarch is represented by a Governor-General, presently Filoimea Telito |
 United Arab Emirates
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President | Constitutional federation | Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan | Position formally elected amongst the seven rulers of the Trucial states, de facto always from premier state Abu Dhabi. |
 United Kingdom
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King/Queen | Constitutional Monarchy | Elizabeth II | Commonwealth Realm. Also Sovereign of Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, and the non-sovereign states Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension Island, Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands. |
 Vatican City (Holy See)
|
Supreme Pontiff, more commonly as "Pope" | Absolute theocracy | Benedict XVI | Electoral (by Cardinals in conclave), sovereign Prince of the church |
Current subnational traditional monarchies
Not only are the Monarchs of constitutive monarchies part of the federal establishment of both present elective monarchies (Malaysia, mainly sultanates, and the UAE, so named after its emirates), in many other modern states -often republics- tribal and other traditional states persist, with a dynasty that retains a court and often local prestige and influence; some are officially installed with the consent of the official government (as some of the many in Indonesia- waiting for the go-ahead can mean years of vacancy on the throne), others are merely condoned, or even in exile.
| State | Title | Ruler | Part of | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ankole | Omugabe | Ntare VI |  Uganda
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Due to constitutional reform in 1993, the government of Uganda restored several traditional monarchies. |
| Ashanti | Asantehene (King) | Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II |  Ghana
|
The succession is decided by a series of councils of local notables and other royal family members. |
| Buganda | Kabaka and Nnabagereka | Muwenda Mutebi II and Queen Sylvia of Buganda | Uganda
|
Due to constitutional reform in 1993, the government of Uganda restored several traditional monarchies. |
| Bunyoro | Omukama | Iguru | Uganda
|
Due to constitutional reform in 1993, the government of Uganda restored several traditional monarchies. |
| Busoga | Kyabazinga | Henry Wako Muloki | Uganda
|
Due to constitutional reform in 1993, the government of Uganda restored several traditional monarchies. |
| Dagbon | Yaa Naa | Kampakuya Naa Abdulai Yakubu Andani (title) | Ghana
|
The Yaa Naa is selected by a group of Kingmakers led by the Kuga Naa who is the embodiment of the customs and traditions of the Dagbon people. The King is selected after consulting the oracles and soothsayers. The current occupier is the prince and elder son of the immediate past Yaa Naa, Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani II who died in 2002. He is the Regent of Dagbon and acts as Yaa Naa until a new Yaa Naa is selected. The Regent is also qualified to be selected. |
| Māori | Ariki (Kiingi or Kuini) | Tuheitia Paki | New Zealand
|
Holding no constitutional but ceremonial roles. |
| Sigave | Tu'i (King or chief) | Visesio Moeliku |  Wallis and Futuna
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The Council of the Territory of Wallis and Futuna consists of three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly. |
| Tibet | Dalai Lama | Tenzin Gyatso |  PRC
|
Absolute theocracy. The Dalai Lama is chosen as a tulku by high lamas. |
| Toro | Omukama | Rukidi IV | Uganda
|
Due to constitutional reform in 1993, the government of Uganda restored several traditional monarchies. |
| Tu'a (Alo) | Tu`i Agaifo (king) | Soane Patita Maituku | Wallis and Futuna
|
The Council of the Territory of Wallis and Futuna consists of three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly. |
| Uvea | Tui `Uvea (King, also styled Hau and Lavelua) | (currently none) | Wallis and Futuna
|
The Council of the Territory of Wallis and Futuna consists of three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly. |
| Special Region of Yogyakarta | Sultan | Hamengkubuwono X |  Indonesia
|
The sultan is de facto governor of the province of Yogyakarta Special Region. It is the only monarchy in Indonesia that is officially recognized by the central government. |
| Zululand | King | Goodwill Zwelethini kaBhekuzulu |  South Africa
|
Although the king does not hold any direct political power, he is provided a stipend by the government of South Africa, and holds considerable sway over more traditionalist Zulu people in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. |
In many countries that are legally republics, an heir to the throne is recognized by the royalist part of the nation. A list of such countries is available in the pretender article.
See also
- List of monarchies
- List of monarchs by nickname
- List of living former sovereign monarchs
- List of usurpers
- Abolished monarchies
- Family as a model for the state
- Feudalism
- Monarch
- Monarchism
- Regent
- Theocracy
Specific monarchies
- Australian Monarchy
- Belgian monarchy
- British Monarchy
- Monarchies of Burma
- Canadian Monarchy
- List of Danish monarchs
- Monarchies of Ethiopia
- Cokossian Monarchy
- Dutch monarchy
- Emperor of Japan
- Indonesian Monarchies
- King of Ireland
- Kotokolian Monarchy
- New Zealand Monarchy
- List of Nigerian traditional states
- Norwegian monarchy
- Datus of the Philippines
- Monarch of Sweden
- Tenkodogo Monarchy
- Wogodogo Monarchy
Sources, References and External links
All links retrieved November 1, 2007.
- The Legitimist
- The Monarchist
- The International Monarchist League
- The Monarchist League of Canada
- Theodore's Royalty and Monarchy Site
- WorldStatesmen- by present country
| Monarchies | |
|---|---|
| African | |
| Asian | |
| Commonwealth Realms | |
| European | Andorra · Belgium · Denmark · †Liechtenstein · Luxembourg · †Monaco · Netherlands · Norway · Spain · Sweden · Vatican City (Holy See) |
| |||||||||||||
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