Monarchy
The word monarch first appeared in the mid-15th century as monark, meaning a supreme governor for life. It comes from the Old French monarche of the 14th century and directly from the Late Latin monarcha. This term derives from the Greek monarkhēs, which means one who rules alone. The concept dates back to ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, and the Indus Valley civilization. Chiefdoms provided the initial concept of state formation before evolving into full monarchies. Some of the oldest recorded monarchies belonged to Narmer, Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, and Enmebaragesi, a Sumerian King of Kish. In these early societies, monarchs held sacral functions connected to sacrifice and were sometimes identified with divine ancestry.
Nearly half of all independent states at the start of the 19th century were monarchies. After reaching a peak in the middle of the 19th century, the proportion of monarchies in the world has steadily declined. Republics replaced many monarchies notably at the end of World War I and World War II. By the 17th century, monarchy was challenged by evolving parliamentarism through regional assemblies. Modern anti-monarchism emerged during events like the English Revolution of 1649 and the American Revolution of 1776. The French Revolution of 1789 further accelerated this trend. A 2020 study suggests monarchy arose as an efficient system for governing large populations when coordination was difficult. Innovations in communications and transportation technology later made monarchy less efficient relative to other regime types.
There are conventionally two types of monarchy: absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy. Absolute monarchies, of which there are approximately twelve, are governed as autocracies. Most modern monarchies are constitutional monarchies retaining under a constitution unique legal and ceremonial roles. These rulers exercise limited or no political power similar to heads of state in a parliamentary republic. Semi-constitutional monarchies exhibit fewer parliamentary powers or simply monarchs with more authority. In nations such as Morocco, Qatar, Liechtenstein, and Thailand, the hereditary monarch holds more political influence than any other single source of authority. The Principality of Liechtenstein gained the power to veto laws passed by its Landtag parliament after a 2003 Constitution referendum.
Different systems of hereditary succession have been used including proximity of blood, primogeniture, and agnatic seniority. Primogeniture is the most common system where the eldest child of the monarch is first in line to become monarch. Historically agnatic primogeniture favored inheritance according to seniority of birth among sons to the total exclusion of females. Sweden became the first monarchy to declare equal full cognatic primogeniture in 1980 meaning the eldest child whether female or male ascends to the throne. Other kingdoms like the Netherlands in 1983 and Norway in 1990 followed suit. The United Kingdom adopted absolute equal primogeniture on the 25th of April 2013 following agreement by prime ministers of sixteen Commonwealth Realms. Some monarchies use agnatic seniority where succession passes to the monarch's next eldest brother before children.
Currently forty-three sovereign nations in the world have a monarch including fifteen Commonwealth realms that share King Charles III as their head of state. These realms evolved out of the British Empire into fully independent states within the Commonwealth of Nations. European constitutional monarchies include Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden. Andorra stands unique as a diarchy with co-princes shared by the president of France and the bishop of Urgell. Monarchies in the Muslim world generally retain far more powers than their European counterparts. Brunei, Oman, and Saudi Arabia are absolute monarchies while Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are classified as mixed systems. Japan has had an emperor according to legend since Emperor Jimmu who reigned from 660 to 585 BCE making it the world's oldest existing monarchy.
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Common questions
What is the origin of the word monarchy?
The word monarch first appeared in the mid-15th century as monark, meaning a supreme governor for life. It comes from the Old French monarche of the 14th century and directly from the Late Latin monarcha. This term derives from the Greek monarkhēs, which means one who rules alone.
When did the proportion of monarchies in the world start to decline?
After reaching a peak in the middle of the 19th century, the proportion of monarchies in the world has steadily declined. Republics replaced many monarchies notably at the end of World War I and World War II. A 2020 study suggests monarchy arose as an efficient system for governing large populations when coordination was difficult but became less efficient later due to innovations in communications and transportation technology.
How many absolute monarchies exist today and what are some examples?
There are approximately twelve absolute monarchies governed as autocracies. Nations such as Morocco, Qatar, Liechtenstein, and Thailand feature hereditary monarchs with more political influence than any other single source of authority. Brunei, Oman, and Saudi Arabia are also classified as absolute monarchies within the Muslim world.
Which country first adopted equal full cognatic primogeniture for its monarchy?
Sweden became the first monarchy to declare equal full cognatic primogeniture in 1980 meaning the eldest child whether female or male ascends to the throne. Other kingdoms like the Netherlands in 1983 and Norway in 1990 followed suit. The United Kingdom adopted absolute equal primogeniture on the 25th of April 2013 following agreement by prime ministers of sixteen Commonwealth Realms.
What is the oldest existing monarchy in the world and how long has it existed?
Japan has had an emperor according to legend since Emperor Jimmu who reigned from 660 to 585 BCE making it the world's oldest existing monarchy. Currently forty-three sovereign nations in the world have a monarch including fifteen Commonwealth realms that share King Charles III as their head of state. European constitutional monarchies include Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden.