List of monarchies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There are and were a very large number of monarchies in the world. 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:

(Existent monarchies are listed in bold type.)

Contents

[edit] Antiquity

[edit] Middle Ages and Renaissance

[edit] Enlightenment and later

[edit] 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.

[edit] Unitary constitutional monarchies

Unitary constitutional monarchies are unitary states which are governed constitutionally as one single unit, with a single constitutionally created legislature:

[edit] Federal constitutional monarchies

Federal constitutional monarchiess are federal states in which the administrative divisions (states or provinces) retain a degree of autonomy which is constitutionally protected, and cannot be revoked unilaterally by the national government:

[edit] Elected constitutional monarchies

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Elected absolute monarchies

[edit] 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.

[edit] Shared monarchies

At various points throughout history one Monarch has reigned over more than one separate kingdom. These situations are commonly known as personal unions.