monarchies
Realms with sovereigns
Monarchies is the plural of monarchy, a system of government in which a single person—a king, queen, emperor, or similar sovereign—holds supreme authority.
The term can refer to nations governed this way: Several European monarchies have survived into the modern era.
Monarchies range from absolute, where the ruler holds unchecked power, to constitutional, where the monarch serves largely as a ceremonial figurehead.
Sovereign's ornamental headpiece
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
- scepterCeremonial staff of sovereignty
- orbLuminous celestial body
- tiaraOrnamental feminine headband
diadem · palace · castle · coat of arms · crest · seal · standard · banner
Ceremony installing a sovereign
- pageantryElaborate ceremonial display
- regaliaCeremonial emblems of authority
- processionFormal moving line
- jubileeSpecial anniversary observance
investiture · fanfare · ritual · solemnity · pomp · banquet · gala · robes
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
- edictAuthoritative public command
privy council · royal assent · veto · charter · dominion · realm · commonwealth · protectorate
Rule by hereditary elite
- courtierRoyal household attendant
- dukeHighest-ranking nobleman
- duchessWoman of ducal rank
- earlBritish hereditary noble rank
countess · marquess · baron · baroness · viscount · lord · lady · noble
Following in order
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
- houseResidential building
- heirOne who receives legacy
regent · ascension · abdication · primogeniture · pretender · claimant · interregnum · usurper
crown
Sovereign's ornamental headpiece
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
- scepterCeremonial staff of sovereignty
- orbLuminous celestial body
tiara · diadem · palace · castle · coat of arms · crest · seal · standard · banner · mantle
coronation
Ceremony installing a sovereign
- pageantryElaborate ceremonial display
- regaliaCeremonial emblems of authority
- processionFormal moving line
jubilee · investiture · fanfare · ritual · solemnity · pomp · banquet · gala · robes · orb
constitution
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
edict · privy council · royal assent · veto · charter · dominion · realm · commonwealth · protectorate · vassal
aristocracy
Rule by hereditary elite
earl · countess · marquess · baron · baroness · viscount · lord · lady · noble · peerage
succession
Following in order
heir · regent · ascension · abdication · primogeniture · pretender · claimant · interregnum · usurper · restoration
king
Male crowned ruler
tsar · tsarina · sultan · caliph · pharaoh · kaiser · shah · raja · maharaja · emir
- historyancient civilizations, past events, historian, epochs, era
- European HistoryFrench Revolution, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Holy Roman Empire, Industrial Revolution
- Medieval Europekings, queens, knights, castles, castle
- territoriesprovince, state, region, country, colony
- Old WorldEurope, Asia, Africa, Mediterranean, Middle East
- comparative historycolonialism, imperialism, revolutions, modernization, industrialization
monarchiesrepublics
States with elected governance
democracies · representative governments · meritocracies · technocracies · social contracts
monarchiesdemocracies
Governments elected by people
republics · direct democracies · anarchies · communes · federations
- Fifth MonarchistsEnglish apocalyptic Protestant sect
- absolute monarchiesStates with all-powerful sovereigns
- constitutional monarchiesRealms with ceremonial sovereigns