absolute monarchies
Kings without constraints
Absolute monarchies is the plural of absolute monarchy—a system of government where a single ruler holds complete, unrestricted power over the state.
Unlike constitutional monarchies, absolute monarchies place no legal limits on the sovereign's authority: France under Louis XIV and Russia under the tsars were absolute monarchies.
The term now often describes remaining states where kings or emirs rule without elected legislatures.
- sovereignSupreme in power
- divine rightGod-granted ruling authority
- kingsMale hereditary rulers
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- autocracyRule by one
hereditary · tyranny · despot · kneel before · serfdom · Mughal Empire · Romanov dynasty · Ottoman Empire · palaces · palace intrigue · noble court · court culture · Tsar Nicholas II · Louis XIV · crown · emperor · blood line · centralized power
absolute monarchiesconstitutional monarchies
Realms with ceremonial sovereigns
absolute monarchiesdemocracies
Governments elected by people
representative democracies · popular sovereignty · republics · direct democracies · self-governance
absolute monarchiesfederal republics
States with elected leaders and autonomous regions
federations · anarchies · confederations · direct democracies
absolute, monarchies, monarchy, monarch, monarchs, monarchic, monarchical, monarchist, monarchism