Editing Monarch

{{short description|Person at the head of a monarchy}}
{{other uses}}
{{dist|Nomarch}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2021}}{{Monarchism|expanded=concepts}}{{politics}}
A '''monarch''' ({{IPAc-en|'|m|Q|n|@r|k}}) is a [[head of state]]<ref>{{cite web | title=monarch | website=Oxford Dictionaries | url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/monarch?q=monarch | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517153238/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/monarch?q=monarch | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 17, 2014 | year=2014}}</ref><ref name="webster">Webster's II New College Dictionary. "Monarch". Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. {{ISBN|0-395-96214-5}}</ref> [[Life tenure|for life]] or until [[abdication]], and therefore the head of state of a [[monarchy]]. A monarch may exercise the highest authority and power in the [[Sovereign state|state]], or others may wield that power on behalf of the monarch. Usually, a monarch either personally [[inheritance|inherits]] the lawful right to exercise the state's sovereign rights (often referred to as ''the [[throne]]'' or ''[[the Crown|the crown]]'') or is [[elective monarchy|selected by an established process]] from a family or cohort eligible to provide the nation's monarch. Alternatively, an individual may [[self-proclaimed monarchy|proclaim oneself]] monarch, which may be backed and [[Legitimacy (political)|legitimated]] through [[acclamation]], [[right of conquest]] or a combination of means.

If a young child is crowned the monarch, then a [[regent]] is often appointed to govern until the monarch reaches the requisite adult age to rule. Monarchs' actual powers vary from one monarchy to another and in different eras; on one extreme, they may be [[autocracy|autocrats]] ([[absolute monarchy]]) wielding genuine [[sovereignty]]; on the other they may be [[Ceremony|ceremonial]] [[head of state|heads of state]] who exercise little or no direct power or only [[reserve power]]s, with actual [[authority]] vested in a [[parliament]] or other body ([[constitutional monarchy]]).

A monarch can [[reign]] in multiple monarchies simultaneously. For example, the 15 [[Commonwealth realm]]s are all separate sovereign states, but share [[Charles III|the same monarch]] through [[personal union]].

==Characteristics==
Monarchs, as such, bear a variety of titles – [[king]] or [[Queen regnant|queen]], [[prince]] or [[princess]] (e.g., [[Sovereign Prince of Monaco]]), [[emperor]] or [[Emperor|empress]] (e.g., [[Emperor of China]], [[Emperor of Ethiopia]], [[Emperor of Japan]], [[Emperor of India]]), [[archduke]], [[duke]] or [[grand duke]] (e.g., [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]), [[emir]] (e.g., [[Emir of Qatar]]), [[sultan]] (e.g., [[List of rulers of Oman|Sultan of Oman]]), or [[pharaoh]].

[[Monarchy]] is political or sociocultural in nature, and is generally (but not always) associated with [[hereditary monarchy|hereditary rule]]. Most monarchs, both historically and in the present day, have been born and brought up within a [[royal family]] (whose rule over a period of time is referred to as a [[dynasty]]) and trained for future duties. Different systems of [[Order of succession|succession]] have been used, such as [[proximity of blood]] (male preference or absolute), [[primogeniture]], [[agnatic seniority]], [[Salic law]], etc. While traditionally most monarchs have been male, female monarchs have also ruled, and the term [[queen regnant]] refers to a ruling monarch, as distinct from a [[queen consort]], the wife of a reigning king.

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<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Holy Roman Empire - Qualifications |url=https://www.heraldica.org/topics/national/hre.htm#Qualifications|access-date=2021-04-23|website=Heraldica |archive-date=2017-12-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229151544/http://www.heraldica.org/topics/national/hre.htm#Qualifications|url-status=live}}</ref> (chosen by [[prince-elector]]s, but often coming from the same dynasty) and the [[royal elections in Poland|free election]] of kings of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]. Modern examples include the [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]] (lit. "He Who is Made Lord') of [[Malaysia]], who is appointed by the [[Conference of Rulers]] every five years or after the king's death,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-03|title=Explained: Malaysia is the world's only monarchy of its kind. Here's why|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-malaysia-is-the-worlds-only-monarchy-of-its-kind-heres-why-5874995/ |url-access=subscription |first1=Om |last1=Marathe |access-date=2021-04-23|website=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=2021-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423161942/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-malaysia-is-the-worlds-only-monarchy-of-its-kind-heres-why-5874995/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[pope]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], who serves as sovereign of the [[Vatican City|Vatican City State]] and is elected to a life term by the [[College of Cardinals]].

In recent centuries, many states have abolished the monarchy and become [[republic]]s. Advocacy of government by a republic is called [[republicanism]], while advocacy of monarchy is called [[monarchism]]. A principal advantage of hereditary monarchy is the immediate continuity of national leadership,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nicolson|first=Harold|author-link = Harold Nicolson | title=King George the Fifth: his life and reign.|publisher=Constable|year=1952|location=London}}</ref> as illustrated in the classic phrase "[[:The King is dead. Long live the King.|The [old] King is dead. Long live the [new] King!]]". In cases where the monarch serves mostly as a ceremonial figure (e.g., most modern constitutional monarchies), real leadership does not depend on the monarch.

A form of government may, in fact, be hereditary without being considered a monarchy, such as a family dictatorship.

==Classification==
Monarchies take a wide variety of forms, such as the two [[List of Co-Princes of Andorra|co-princes of Andorra]], positions held simultaneously by the Roman Catholic bishop of Urgel (Spain) and the elected [[president of France]] (although strictly Andorra is a [[diarchy]]). Similarly, the [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]] of [[Malaysia]] is considered a monarch despite only holding the position for five years at a time.

==Succession==
[[File:European monarchies by succession.svg|upright=0.85|left|thumb|Contemporary European monarchies by type of succession {{legend|#018571|[[Absolute primogeniture]]}}
{{legend|#dfc27d|[[Male-preference cognatic primogeniture]]}}{{legend|#000000|[[Agnatic primogeniture]]}}
{{legend|#f5f5f5|[[Elective monarchy|Elective/appointed]]}}]]
[[File:The Nine Sovereigns at Windsor for the funeral of King Edward VII.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.15|The Nine Sovereigns at [[Windsor Castle|Windsor]] for the funeral of King [[Edward VII]], photographed on 20 May 1910. Standing, from left to right: King [[Haakon VII of Norway]], Tsar (King) [[Ferdinand of Bulgaria|Ferdinand of the Bulgarians]], King [[Manuel II of Portugal|Manuel II of Portugal and the Algarve]], Kaiser (Emperor) [[Wilhelm II, German Emperor|Wilhelm II of Germany]], King [[George I of Greece|George I of the Hellenes]] and King [[Albert I of Belgium|Albert I of the Belgians]]. Seated, from left to right: King [[Alfonso XIII of Spain]], King [[George V|George V of the United Kingdom]] and King [[Frederik VIII of Denmark]].]]
[[File:Ruling Monarchs in 1908 Postcard Print.png|thumb|right|upright=1.15|Postcard from 1908 showing nineteen of the world's reigning monarchs: (left to right) King [[Chulalongkorn|Rama V/Chulalongkorn of Siam]] (modern [[Thailand]]), King [[George I of Greece]], King [[Peter I of Serbia]], King [[Carol I of Romania]], Emperor and King [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary]], Tsar (King) [[Ferdinand I of Bulgaria]], Padishah (Emperor) [[Abdul Hamid II|Abdul Hamid II of the Ottoman Empire]], King [[Victor Emmanuel III of Italy]], Emperor [[Nicholas II|Nicholas II of the Russia]], King [[Edward VII|Edward VII of the United Kingdom]], Emperor [[Wilhelm II, German Emperor|Wilhelm II of Germany]], King [[Gustav V|Gustav V of Sweden]], King [[Haakon VII of Norway]], King [[Frederik VIII of Denmark]], Queen [[Wilhelmina of the Netherlands]], Emperor [[Guangxu Emperor|Guangxu of China]], Emperor [[Emperor Meiji|Meiji of Japan]], King [[Manuel II of Portugal]] and King [[Alfonso XIII of Spain]].]]

Hereditary succession within one [[Patrilineality|patrilineal]] family has been most common (but see the [[Rain Queen]]), with a preference for children over siblings, and sons over daughters. In Europe, some peoples practiced equal division of land and regalian rights among sons or brothers, as in the Germanic states of the Holy Roman Empire, until after the [[medieval era]] and sometimes (e.g., [[Ernestine duchies]]) into the 19th century. Other European realms practiced one or another form of [[primogeniture]], in which a [[lord]] was succeeded by his eldest son or, if he had none, by his brother, his daughters or sons of daughters.

The system of [[tanistry]] practiced among Celtic tribes was semi-elective and gave weight also to ability and merit.<ref>{{Cite book|editor-last=BROWNE|editor-first=J.|title=History of the Highlands & of the Highland Clans.|year=1838|location=Glasgow}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Hadfield|first1=Andrew|title=Edmund Spenser. A View of the State of Ireland. From the first printed edition (1633).|last2=Maley|first2=Willy|publisher=Oxford|year=1997}}</ref>

The [[Salic law]], practiced in France and in the Italian territories of the [[House of Savoy]], stipulated that only men could inherit the crown. In most [[fief]]s, in the event of the demise of all legitimate male members of the [[patrilineality|patrilineage]], a female of the family could succeed (semi-Salic law). In most realms, daughters and sisters were eligible to succeed a ruling kinsman before more distant male relatives (male-preference primogeniture), but sometimes the husband of the heiress became the ruler, and most often also received the title, ''[[jure uxoris]]''. Spain today continues this model of succession law, in the form of [[cognatic primogeniture]]. In more complex medieval cases, the sometimes conflicting principles of [[proximity of blood|proximity]] and [[primogeniture]] battled, and outcomes were often idiosyncratic.

As the average life span increased, the eldest son was more likely to reach majority age before the death of his father, and primogeniture became increasingly favored over proximity, tanistry, seniority, and election.

In 1980, [[Sweden]] became the first monarchy to declare ''equal primogeniture'', ''absolute primogeniture'' or ''full cognatic primogeniture'', meaning that the eldest child of the monarch, whether female or male, ascends to the throne.<ref>[[Statens offentliga utredningar|SOU]] 1977:5 ''Kvinnlig tronföljd'', p. 16.</ref> Other nations have since adopted this practice: [[Netherlands]] in 1983, [[Norway]] in 1990, [[Belgium]] in 1991, [[Denmark]] in 2009, and [[Luxembourg]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-15489544|title=Overturning centuries of royal rules|date=28 October 2011|work=BBC News|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308070830/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-15489544|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://luxtimes.lu/archives/29500-new-ducal-succession-rights-for-grand-duchy|title=New Ducal succession rights for Grand Duchy|website=luxtimes.lu|date=11 December 2017|access-date=16 December 2018|archive-date=15 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215022256/https://luxtimes.lu/archives/29500-new-ducal-succession-rights-for-grand-duchy|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[United Kingdom]] adopted absolute (equal) primogeniture on April 25, 2013, following [[Perth Agreement|agreement by the prime ministers of the sixteen Commonwealth Realms]] at the 22nd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Emma.Goodey|date=2016-03-17|title=Succession|url=https://www.royal.uk/succession|access-date=2021-04-23|website=The Royal Family|language=en|archive-date=2016-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513014456/https://www.royal.uk/succession|url-status=live}}</ref>

In some monarchies, such as [[Saudi Arabia]], succession to the throne usually first passes to the monarch's next eldest brother and so on through his other brothers, and only after them to the monarch's children (''agnatic seniority''). In some other monarchies (e.g., [[Jordan]]), the monarch chooses who will be his successor within the royal family, who need not necessarily be his eldest son.

Lastly, some monarchies are [[Elective monarchy|elective]] ([[United Arab Emirates|UAE]], [[Malaysia]], [[Holy See]] and [[Cambodia]]), meaning that the monarch is elected instead of assuming office due to direct inheritance. Rules and laws regarding election vary country to country.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Louis |first=chevalier de Jaucourt (biography) |date=2011-01-01 |title=Elective monarchy |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2027/spo.did2222.0001.691 |journal=Encyclopedia of Diderot & d'Alembert - Collaborative Translation Project|hdl=2027/spo.did2222.0001.691 }}</ref>

Whatever the rules of succession, there have been many cases of a monarch being overthrown and replaced by a usurper who would often install his own family on the throne.

==History==

===Monarchs in Africa===
{{Further|Monarchies in Africa}}
[[File:RamsesIIEgypt.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Ramesses II]] ([[Reign|r.]] 1279–1213 BC), the third [[pharaoh]] of the [[Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt]]]]

A series of [[pharaoh]]s ruled [[Ancient Egypt]] over the course of three millennia ({{circa|3150 BC}} to 31 BC) until it was conquered by the [[Roman Empire]]. In the same time period several kingdoms flourished in the nearby [[Nubia]] region, with at least one of them, that of the so-called [[A-Group]] culture, apparently influencing the customs of Egypt itself. From the 6th to 19th centuries, Egypt was variously part of the [[Byzantine Empire]], Islamic Empire, [[Mamluk]] Sultanate, [[Ottoman Empire]] and [[British Empire]] with a distant monarch. The [[Sultanate of Egypt]] was a short-lived protectorate of the [[United Kingdom]] from 1914 until 1922 when it became the [[Kingdom of Egypt]] and Sultan [[Fuad I of Egypt|Fuad I]] changed his title to King. After the [[Egyptian Revolution of 1952]], the monarchy was dissolved and Egypt became a republic.

[[West Africa]] hosted the [[Kanem Empire]] (700–1376) and its successor, the [[Borno Emirate|Bornu]] principality which survives to the present day as one of the [[List of Nigerian traditional states|traditional states]] of [[Nigeria]].

[[File:Sultan Mohamoud Ali Shire 2.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Mohamoud Ali Shire]], the 26th Sultan of the [[Somali aristocratic and court titles|Somali]] Warsangali Sultanate]]

In the [[Horn of Africa]], the [[Kingdom of Aksum]] and later the [[Zagwe dynasty]], [[Ethiopian Empire]] (1270–1974), and [[Aussa Sultanate]] were ruled by a series of monarchs. [[Haile Selassie]], the last Emperor of Ethiopia, was deposed in a [[communist]] [[coup]]. Various [[Somali aristocratic and court titles|Somali Sultanates]] also existed, including the [[Adal Sultanate]] (led by the [[Walashma dynasty]] of the [[Ifat Sultanate]]), [[Sultanate of Mogadishu]], [[Ajuran Sultanate]], Warsangali Sultanate, [[Geledi Sultanate]], [[Majeerteen Sultanate]] and [[Sultanate of Hobyo]].

[[Central Africa|Central]] and [[Southern Africa]] were largely isolated from other regions until the modern era, but they did later feature kingdoms like the [[Kingdom of Kongo]] (1400–1914).

The [[Zulu people]] formed a powerful [[Zulu Kingdom]] in 1816, one that was subsequently absorbed into the [[Colony of Natal]] in 1897. The [[List of Zulu kings|Zulu king]] continues to hold a hereditary title and an influential cultural position in contemporary South Africa, although he has no direct political power. Other tribes in the country, such as the [[Xhosa people|Xhosa]] and the [[Tswana people|Tswana]], have also had and continue to have a series of kings and chiefs (namely the ''[[Inkosi]]s'' and the ''[[Kgosi]]s'') whose local precedence is recognised, but who exercise no legal authority.

As part of the [[Scramble for Africa]], seven European countries invaded and colonized most of the African continent.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Catriona |date=12 August 2010 |title=Colonialism and the 'scramble for Africa' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/08/02/independence.africa.colonialism/index.html |access-date=26 February 2024 |work=CNN |archive-date=26 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226103351/https://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/08/02/independence.africa.colonialism/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Currently, the African nations of [[Morocco]], [[Lesotho]], and [[Eswatini]] are sovereign monarchies under dynasties that are native to the continent. Places like [[St. Helena]], [[Ceuta]], [[Melilla]] and the [[Canary Islands]] are ruled by the [[king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]] or the [[king of Spain]]. So-called "sub-national monarchies" of varying sizes can be found all over the rest of the continent, e.g., the [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] city-state of [[Akure Kingdom|Akure]] in south-western [[Nigeria]] is something of an elective monarchy: its reigning [[Oba (ruler)|Oba]], the ''[[Deji of Akure|Deji]]'', has to be chosen by an electoral college of [[Nigerian chieftaincy|nobles]] from amongst a finite collection of royal princes of the realm upon the death or removal of an incumbent.

===Monarchs in Europe===
{{Further|Monarchies in Europe}}
[[File:European monarchies.svg|thumb|upright=0.9|left|A map of Europe exhibiting the continent's monarchies (red) and republics (blue)]]
[[File:Elizabeth II greets NASA GSFC employees, May 8, 2007 edit.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Elizabeth II]] was the monarch of independent countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.]]

Within the [[Holy Roman Empire]] different titles were used by nobles exercising various degrees of sovereignty within their borders (see below). Such titles were granted or recognized by the emperor or pope. Adoption of a new title to indicate sovereign or semi-sovereign status was not always recognized by other governments or nations, sometimes causing [[diplomacy|diplomatic]] problems.

During the nineteenth century, many small monarchies in Europe merged with other territories to form larger entities, and following [[World War I]] and [[World War II]], many [[Monarchy abolishment|monarchies were abolished]], but of those remaining, all except Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Vatican City, and Monaco were headed by a king or queen.

{{As of|2022}}, in Europe there are twelve monarchies: seven [[monarchy|kingdom]]s ([[Belgium]], [[Denmark]], [[Netherlands]], [[Norway]], [[Spain]], [[Sweden]] and the [[United Kingdom]]), one [[grand duchy]] ([[Luxembourg]]), one [[papacy]] ([[Vatican City]]), and two [[principalities]] ([[Liechtenstein]] and [[Monaco]]), as well as one [[diarchy]] principality ([[Andorra]]).

===Monarchs in Asia===
{{Further|Monarchies in Asia}}
[[File:Crown Prince & Princess & Emperor Showa & Empress Kojun wedding 1959-4.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|From left to right, Japanese [[Hirohito|emperor Hirohito]], [[Akihito|crown prince Akihito]], [[Empress Michiko|crown princess Michiko]] and [[Empress Kōjun|empress Nagako]], 1959]]

In China, before the abolition of the monarchy in 1912, the [[emperor of China]] was traditionally regarded as the ruler of "[[Tianxia|All under heaven]]". "King" is the usual translation for the term {{transliteration|zh|wang}} ({{lang|zh|王}}), the sovereign before the [[Qin dynasty]] and during the [[Ten Kingdoms]] period. During the early [[Han dynasty]], China had a number of kingdoms, each about the size of a [[province]] and subordinate to the Emperor.

In Korea, {{transliteration|ko|Daewang}} (great king), or {{transliteration|ko|Wang}} (king), was a Chinese royal style used in many states rising from the dissolution of [[Gojoseon]], [[Buyeo kingdom|Buyeo]], [[Goguryeo]], [[Baekje]], [[Silla]], [[Balhae]], [[Goryeo]], and [[Joseon]]. The legendary [[Dangun]] Wanggeom founded the first kingdom, Gojoseon. Some scholars maintain that the term {{transliteration|ko|Dangun}} also refers to a title used by all rulers of Gojoseon and that {{transliteration|ko|Wanggeom}} is the proper name of the founder. {{transliteration|ko|Gyuwon Sahwa}} (1675) describes The Annals of the {{transliteration|ko|Dangun}} as a collection of nationalistic legends. The monarchs of Goguryeo and some monarchs of Silla used the title {{transliteration|ko|[[Taewang]]}}, meaning "Greatest King". The early monarchs of Silla used the titles of {{transliteration|ko|Geoseogan}}, {{transliteration|ko|Chachaung}}, {{transliteration|ko|Isageum}}, and finally {{transliteration|ko|Maripgan}} until 503. The title {{transliteration|ko|Gun}} (prince) can refer to the dethroned rulers of the Joseon dynasty as well. Under the [[Korean Empire]] (1897–1910), the rulers of Korea were given the title of {{transliteration|ko|Hwangje}}, meaning the "emperor". Today, Members of the [[Korean Imperial family]] continue to participate in numerous traditional ceremonies, and groups exist to preserve Korea's imperial heritage.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}}

The [[Imperial House of Japan|Japanese monarchy]] is now the only monarchy to still use the title of emperor.

In modern history, between 1925 and 1979, Iran was ruled by two emperors from the [[Pahlavi dynasty]] that used the title of "Shahanshah" (or "King of Kings"). The last Iranian Shahanshah was King [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]], who was forced to abdicate the throne as a result of a revolution in Iran. In fact the Persian (Iranian) kingdom goes back to about 2,700 BC (see [[Kings of iran#Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BC)|list of kings of Persia]]), but reached its ultimate height and glory when King [[Cyrus the Great]] (known as "The Great Kourosh" in Iran) started the [[Achaemenid Empire|Achaemenid dynasty]]. Under his rule, the empire embraced all the previous civilized states of [[Ancient Near East|the ancient Near East]], expanded vastly and eventually conquered most of [[Southwest Asia]] and much of [[Central Asia]] and the Caucasus. From the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and [[Hellespont]] in the west to the [[Indus River]] in the east, Cyrus the Great created the largest empire the world had yet seen.

[[Thailand]] and Bhutan are like the United Kingdom in that they are constitutional monarchies ruled by a king. [[Jordan]] and many other Middle Eastern monarchies are ruled by a [[Malik]] and parts of the [[United Arab Emirates]], such as [[Dubai]], are still ruled by monarchs.

[[File:Sultan Mehmet III of the Ottoman Empire.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Sultan [[Mehmed III]] of the [[Ottoman dynasty]]]]

[[Saudi Arabia]] is the largest Arab state in Western Asia by land area and the second-largest in the Arab world (after Algeria). It was founded by [[Ibn Saud|Abdul-Aziz bin Saud]] in 1932, although the conquests which eventually led to the creation of the kingdom began in 1902 when he captured [[Riyadh]], the ancestral home of his family, the [[House of Saud]]; succession to the throne was limited to sons of Ibn Saud until 2015, when [[Muhammad bin Nayef|a grandson]] was elevated to Crown Prince. The Saudi Arabian government has been an absolute monarchy since its inception, and designates itself as [[Islamic]]. The King bears the title "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" in reference to the two holiest places in Islam: [[Masjid al-Haram]] in [[Mecca]], and [[Masjid al-Nabawi]] in [[Medina]].

[[Oman]] is led by Sultan [[Haitham bin Tariq Al Said]]. The [[Kingdom of Jordan]] is one of the [[Middle East]]'s more modern monarchies is also ruled by a [[malik]]. In Arab and Arabized countries, [[malik]] (absolute King) is the absolute word to render a monarch and is superior to all other titles. [[Nepal]] abolished their monarchy in 2008. [[Sri Lanka]] had a complex system of monarchies from 543 BC to 1815. Between 47–42 BC, Anula of Sri Lanka became the country's first female head of state as well as Asia's first head of state.{{dubious|date=September 2010}}

In [[Malaysia]]'s constitutional monarchy, the [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]] (the supreme lord of the federation) is ''de facto'' rotated every five years among the nine rulers of the Malay states of Malaysia (those nine of the thirteen states of Malaysia that have hereditary royal rulers), elected by ''Majlis Raja-Raja'' ([[Conference of Rulers]]).

Under [[Brunei]]'s 1959 constitution, the [[sultan of Brunei]] is the head of state with full executive authority, including emergency powers, since 1962. Prime Minister of Brunei is a title held by the sultan. As the prime minister, the sultan presides over the cabinet.

[[File:Norodom Sihanouk Coronation Regalia 1941.png|thumb|upright|King [[Norodom Sihanouk]] of Cambodia]]

[[Cambodia]] has been a kingdom since the 1st century. The power of the absolute monarchy was reduced when it became the [[French Protectorate of Cambodia]] from 1863 to 1953. It returned to an absolute monarchy from 1953 until the establishment of a republic following the [[Cambodian coup of 1970|1970 coup]]. The monarchy was restored as a constitutional monarchy in 1993 with the king as a largely symbolic figurehead.

[[File:The Sinhalese Royal Family of King Devanampiya Tissa and Prince Uththiya.JPG|thumb|upright=1.15|left|Sri Lankan [[Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura|King Devanampiya Tissa]], Queen consort Anula, and [[Uttiya of Anuradhapura|Prince Uththiya]], {{c.|307 BC}}]]

In the [[Philippines]], the [[History of the Philippines (900–1521)|pre-Colonial]] [[Filipino people|Filipino]] nobility, variously titled the ''harì'' (today meaning "king"), ''[[Lakan]]'', ''[[Raja]]'' and ''[[Datu]]'' belonged to the caste called ''Uring [[Maharlika]]'' (Noble Class). When the islands [[Spanish colonization of the Philippines|were annexed]] to the [[Spanish Empire]] in the late 16th century, the [[Monarchy of Spain|Spanish monarch]] became the sovereign while local rulers often retained their prestige as part of the [[Christianity in the Philippines|Christianised]] nobility called the ''[[Principalía]]''. After the [[Spanish–American War]], the country was ceded to the United States of America and made into a territory and eventually a [[Commonwealth of the Philippines|commonwealth]], thus ending monarchism. While the Philippines is currently a republic, the [[Sultanate of Sulu|Sultan of Sulu]] and [[Sultanate of Maguindanao|Sultan of Maguindanao]] retain their titles only for ceremonial purposes but are considered ordinary citizens by the [[1987 Constitution]].

[[Bhutan]] has been an independent kingdom since 1907. The first [[Druk Gyalpo]] (''Dragon King'') was elected and thereafter became a hereditary absolute monarchy. It became a constitutional monarchy in 2008.

[[Tibet]] was a monarchy since the [[Tibetan Empire]] in the 6th century. It was ruled by the [[Yuan dynasty]] following the Mongol invasion in the 13th century and became an effective [[diarchy]] with the [[Dalai Lama]] as co-ruler. It came under the rule of the Chinese [[Qing dynasty]] from 1724 until 1912 when it gained de facto independence. The [[Dalai Lama]] became an absolute temporal monarch until the [[annexation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China]] in 1951.

[[Nepal]] was a monarchy for most of its history until becoming a federal republic in 2008.

===Monarchs in the Americas===
{{Further|Monarchies in the Americas}}
[[File:Jean Jacques Dessalines.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[Jacques I of Haiti|Jacques I]], [[Emperor of Haiti]], 1804]]
[[File:Delfim da Câmara - D. Pedro II. 1875.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[Pedro II of Brazil|Pedro II]], [[Emperor of Brazil]], by [[Delfim da Câmara]]]]
[[File:Atawallpa Pizarro tinkuy.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Francisco Pizarro meets with the Inca emperor [[Atahualpa]], 1532]]

The concept of monarchy existed in the Americas long before the arrival of European colonialists.<ref>[http://www.carsten-rex.de/History/history.html Canada: History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219053336/http://www.carsten-rex.de/History/history.html |date=2007-02-19 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.macleans.ca/switchboard/article.jsp?content=20031027_68038_68038 Ferguson, Will; ''The Lost Kingdom''; ''Macleans'', October 27, 2003] {{dead link|date=August 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> When the Europeans arrived they referred to these tracts of land within territories of different aboriginal groups to be kingdoms, and the leaders of these groups were often referred to by the Europeans as Kings, particularly hereditary leaders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.angelfire.com/mi4/polcrt/4Chiefs.html|title=Courtly Lives - Four Indian Kings|website=Angelfire |access-date=2007-01-30|archive-date=2019-08-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809102218/http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/polcrt/4Chiefs.html|url-status=live |author=Margaret Knight Sypniewska}}</ref>

Pre-colonial titles that were used included:
* [[Cacique]] – Aboriginal [[Hispaniola]] and [[Borinquen]]
* [[Tlatoani]] – [[Nahua peoples|Nahua]]s
* [[Ajaw]] – [[Maya civilization|Maya]]
* [[Qhapaq Inka]] – [[Inca Empire|Tawuantin Suyu]] (Inca Empire)
* Morubixaba – [[Tupi people|Tupi]] tribes
* Sha-quan – King of the world used in some Native American tribes

The first local monarch to emerge in North America after colonization was [[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]], who declared himself [[First Haitian Empire|Emperor of Haiti]] on September 22, 1804.<ref>{{Cite web|last=TiCam|date=27 September 2006|title=17 October: Death of Dessalines.|url=haitiwebs.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928222734/http://www.haitiwebs.com/emagazine/content/view/318/155/1/0/lang%2Cen/|archive-date=28 September 2007|website=haitiwebs.com}}</ref> Haiti again had an emperor, [[Faustin I of Haiti|Faustin I]] from 1849 to 1859. In South America, Brazil<ref>L Gomes. 1889: como um imperador cansado, um marechal vaidoso e um professor injustiçado contribuíram para a o fim da monarquia e programação da republica no Brasil. Globo Livros. 2013.</ref> had a royal house ruling as emperor between 1822 and 1889, under emperors [[Pedro I of Brazil|Pedro I]] and [[Pedro II of Brazil|Pedro II]].

Between 1931 and 1983, nine other previous British colonies attained independence as kingdoms. All, including Canada, are in a [[personal union]] relationship under a shared monarch. Therefore, though today there are legally ten American monarchs, one person occupies each distinct position.

In addition to these sovereign states, there are also a number of sub-national ones. In [[Bolivia]], for example, the [[Afro-Bolivian monarchy|Afro-Bolivian king]] claims descent from an African dynasty that was taken from its homeland and sold into slavery. Though largely a ceremonial title today, the position of ''king of the Afro-Bolivians'' is officially recognized by the government of Bolivia.

{| class="wikitable"
! Male title
! Female title
! [[Realm]]
!Examples
|-
|[[Emperor]]
|Empress
|[[Empire]]
|[[Empire of Haiti (1804–1806)|Haiti (1804–1806)]] & [[Empire of Haiti (1849–1859)|1849–1859)]], [[Empire of Brazil|Brazil (1822–1889)]], [[First Mexican Empire|Mexico (1821–1823)]] & [[Second Mexican Empire|1864–1867)]], [[Sapa Inca]]
|-
|King
|[[Queen regnant|Queen]]
|[[Monarchy|Kingdom]]
|[[Kingdom of Haiti|Haiti (1811–1820)]], [[Kingdom of Brazil|Brazil (1815–1822)]], [[Canada]], [[Jamaica]], [[the Bahamas]], [[Grenada]], [[Saint Lucia]], [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]], [[Antigua and Barbuda]], [[Belize]], [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]]
|}

===Monarchs in Oceania===
{{Further|Monarchies in Oceania}}
[[File:King Kamehameha IV painted by William Cogswell, Bishop Museum.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[Kamehameha IV]], King of [[Kingdom of Hawaii|Hawaii]]]]

[[Polynesia]]n societies were ruled by an ''[[ariki]]'' from ancient times. The title is variously translated as "supreme chief", "paramount chief" or "king".

The [[Kingdom of Tahiti]] was founded in 1788. Sovereignty was ceded to [[France]] in 1880 although descendants of the [[Pōmare dynasty]] claim the title of King of Tahiti.

The [[Kingdom of Hawaii]] was established in 1795 and overthrown in 1893.

An independent [[Kingdom of Rarotonga]] was established in 1858. It became a protectorate of the [[United Kingdom]] at its own request in 1893.

[[Seru Epenisa Cakobau]] ruled the short-lived [[Kingdom of Fiji]], a constitutional monarchy, from 1871 to 1874 when he voluntarily ceded sovereignty of the islands to the [[United Kingdom]]. After independence in 1970, the [[Dominion of Fiji]] retained the British monarch as head of state until it became a republic following a [[1987 Fijian coups d'état|military coup in 1987]].

[[Australia]], [[New Zealand]] (including the [[Cook Islands]] and [[Niue]]), [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Solomon Islands]] and [[Tuvalu]] are sovereign states within the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] that currently have [[Charles III]] as their reigning constitutional monarch.

The [[Pitcairn Islands]] are part of the [[British Overseas Territories]] with [[Charles III]] as the reigning constitutional monarch.

[[Tonga]] is the only remaining sovereign kingdom in Oceania. It has had a monarch since the 10th century and became a constitutional monarchy in 1875. In 2008, King [[George Tupou V]] relinquished most of the powers of the monarchy and the position is now largely ceremonial.

In [[New Zealand]] the position of [[Māori King Movement|Māori King]] was established in 1858. The role is largely cultural and ceremonial and has no legal power.

[[Wallis Island|Uvea]], [[Alo (Wallis and Futuna)|Alo]], and [[Sigave]] in the [[France|French]] territory of [[Wallis and Futuna]] have non-sovereign elective monarchs.

==See also==
{{Portal|Politics|Royalty}}
* [[Lists of monarchs]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

'''Sources'''
* {{cite book|first=Philippe R.|last=Girard|year=2011|title=The Slaves Who Defeated Napoleon: Toussaint Louverture and the Haitian War of Independence 1801–1804|location=Tuscaloosa, Alabama|publisher=The University of Alabama Press|isbn=978-0-8173-1732-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Schutt-Ainé|first=Patricia|title=Haiti: A Basic Reference Book|publisher=Librairie Au Service de la Culture|year=1994|location=Miami, Florida|pages=33–35, 60|isbn=978-0-9638599-0-7}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|monarch|kingship}}
* [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/odegard/titlefaq.htm A Glossary of European Noble, Princely, Royal and Imperial Titles] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502203049/http://www.heraldica.org/topics/odegard/titlefaq.htm|date=2019-05-02}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071114075322/http://starnarcosis.net/obsidian/regindex.html Regnal Chronologies] King lists worldwide (archived 14 November 2007)
* [http://www.archontology.org Archontology] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113012109/http://www.archontology.org/|date=2015-11-13}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20181225130229/http://imperialafrica.net/ African Kingdoms Imperial Throne Leadership and Enthronements] (archived 25 December 2018)

{{Monarchies}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Monarchy|^]]
[[Category:Monarchs| ]]
[[Category:Positions of authority]]
[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Noble titles]]