monarchy
Crown-based government
A monarchy is a system of government in which a single person—king, queen, emperor—holds supreme authority, typically by hereditary succession.
The term also refers to a state governed this way: the British monarchy, the fall of the French monarchy.
Modern monarchies range from absolute (the ruler holds real power) to constitutional (the monarch is largely ceremonial while elected officials govern).
Ceremony installing a sovereign
- pageantryElaborate ceremonial display
- regaliaCeremonial emblems of authority
- scepterCeremonial staff of sovereignty
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
crown · robes · procession · fanfare · jubilee · investiture · anointment · banquet
Health-promoting walk
- absoluteTotal, without qualification
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- statecraftArt of government
governance · realm · dominion · nation-state · administration · decree · edict · royal assent
Male crowned ruler
- queenMost powerful chess piece
- emperorMale ruler of empire
- empressFemale ruler of empire
- sultanMuslim royal ruler
czar · pharaoh · regent · potentate · prince · princess · rajah · caliph
Titled ruling class
- peerageSystem of noble ranks
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- gentryHighborn but not noble
- eliteSuperior select group
courtiers · duke · baron · earl · viscount · marquess · count · landowner
Absolute one-person rule
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- autocracyRule by one
- totalitarianismState controls everything absolutely
authoritarianism · repression · absolute power · domination · coercion · subjugation · tyrannical · draconian
Following in order
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
- ancestryFamily line of descent
- genealogyStudy of family descent
- lineageDescent from progenitors
pedigree · primogeniture · inheritance · birthright · heir apparent · scion · forebears · progeny
coronation
Ceremony installing a sovereign
- pageantryElaborate ceremonial display
- regaliaCeremonial emblems of authority
- scepterCeremonial staff of sovereignty
throne · crown · robes · procession · fanfare · jubilee · investiture · anointment · banquet · heraldry
constitutional
Health-promoting walk
- absoluteTotal, without qualification
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
statecraft · governance · realm · dominion · nation-state · administration · decree · edict · royal assent · privy council
king
Male crowned ruler
sultan · czar · pharaoh · regent · potentate · prince · princess · rajah · caliph · khan
nobility
Titled ruling class
- peerageSystem of noble ranks
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- gentryHighborn but not noble
elite · courtiers · duke · baron · earl · viscount · marquess · count · landowner · lord
despotism
Absolute one-person rule
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- autocracyRule by one
totalitarianism · authoritarianism · repression · absolute power · domination · coercion · subjugation · tyrannical · draconian · iron fist
succession
Following in order
lineage · pedigree · primogeniture · inheritance · birthright · heir apparent · scion · forebears · progeny · royal house
- governancegovernance, government, democracy, vote, parliament
- governmentsdemocracy, autocracy, oligarchy, republic, tyranny
- history termsempire, dynasty, colonialism, Renaissance, Enlightenment
- social systemspolitical systems, capitalism, feudalism, economic systems, socialism
- British thingstea, cricket, pub, ale, fish and chips
- English influenceEnglish language, common law, parliamentary system, cricket, English literature
monarchyrepublic
State with elected leaders
democracy · republicanism · democratic republic · constitutional republic · representative democracy
monarchydemocracy
Rule by the people
anarchy · oligarchy · plutocracy · mob rule
monarchyegalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
classless society · republicanism · communitarianism · meritocracy · communism
- absolute monarchsRulers with unconstrained authority
- monarch butterfliesMigratory orange-and-black lepidopterans
- monarch butterflyMigratory orange-winged insect
- limited monarchyThrone restrained by law
- fallen monarch
- absolute monarchyUnrestricted single-ruler government
monarch, monarchs, monarchical, monarchist, monarchies, monarchic, monarchism, monarchists, antimonarchy