Monarchy

Etymology

From Greek monarkhía (μοναρχία): monos meaning "single" and arkhein meaning "to rule" — literally, "rule by one person." The term entered Latin as monarchia and later Middle English by the 14th century.

Historical development

Ancient monarchies

• Egypt: Pharaohs often regarded as divine or semi-divine rulers.
• Mesopotamia: Kings claimed authority granted by the gods.
• China: Emperors ruled under the "Mandate of Heaven" concept.

Classical & Medieval

Classical civilizations experimented with republics and city-state governance. In medieval Europe, monarchs ruled within the feudal system, granting land to nobles in exchange for military and political support.

Early modern period

The idea of divine right helped justify centralized, absolute authority (e.g., Louis XIV). But the 17th–18th centuries saw growing challenges from constitutionalism and revolutionary movements (England, America, France).

Modern era

Today most surviving monarchies are constitutional — the monarch is a symbolic head of state while elected institutions hold political power. A few remain absolute.

Types of monarchy

• Absolute monarchy: Monarch has nearly unrestricted power (e.g., Saudi Arabia).
• Constitutional monarchy: Monarch's role is largely ceremonial (e.g., United Kingdom, Japan).
• Elective monarchy: Monarch is selected rather than strictly hereditary (historical: Holy Roman Empire; modern example: Malaysia's rotational monarchy).

Advantages & disadvantages

Notable historical monarchies & figures

In one sentence

"A monarchy is a system of government where a single ruler — often hereditary — serves as head of state; in modern constitutional monarchies that role is largely ceremonial."