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Monarch

Definition: Monarch

Monarch

Noun

1. A nation's ruler or head of state usually by hereditary right.

2. Large migratory American butterfly having deep orange wings with black and white markings; the larvae feed on milkweed.

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

Date "monarch" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1200. (references)

Specialty Definition: Monarch

Domain	Definition
Satire	MONARCH, n. A person engaged in reigning. Formerly the monarch ruled, as the derivation of the word attests, and as many subjects have had occasion to learn. In Russia and the Orient the monarch has still a considerable influence in public affairs and in the disposition of the human head, but in western Europe political administration is mostly entrusted to his ministers, he being somewhat preoccupied with reflections relating to the status of his own head. Source: Devil's Dictionary.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Specialty Definition: British monarchy

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The British monarch or sovereign is the head of state of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and is the source of all executive, judicial and (as the Queen-in-Parliament) legislative power. The monarch is also Supreme Governor of the Church of England as well as Head of the Commonwealth and head of state of 15 other Commonwealth Realms. Although the monarch plays an important ceremonial role, in practice the United Kingdom uses the Westminster system of constitutional monarchy, so the power of the monarch in British politics is greatly limited by convention.

Queen Elizabeth II
There are two situations in which the monarch may have political power. By convention, the monarch dissolves parliament and issues a writ for new elections at the request of the Prime Minister, however it is an open question as to whether the monarch must always grant such a dissolution. Another possible situation is if no party gains a majority in Parliament. The monarch would by convention offer the post of Prime Minister to the head of the party most likely to form a government, but it is possible that this may not be the party with the most seats.
The monarch must formally assent to all acts of Parliament before they can become law. Royal assent is given in Norman French by a representative of the monarch. The last time royal assent was withheld was by Queen Anne. Although there is a popular consensus in support of the continuing existence of the monarchy, there is a wide belief that this would rapidly change were the monarch to exercise power in opposition to the democratically elected government.
The current monarch is Queen Elizabeth II (since February 6 1952) and the Heir Apparent is Charles, Prince of Wales (son of the Queen, born November 14 1948). Although Charles is the formal heir-apparent, there has been continuing speculation that when the Queen dies or abdicates then the crown will pass not to Charles, but to his eldest son. Advocates for this suggest that Charles is unsuitable as a monarch because of his divorce from Diana, Princess of Wales. There is also a large Royal Family made up of the Queen's other children and cousins.
The present monarch's style is Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
Succession to the British throne is restricted to Protestant descendants of Sophia, Electress of Hanover, with male heirs having precedence over females, and those who have married a Roman Catholic excluded, though there have been moves to amend these restrictions in recent years.
Labour minister Lord Williams of Mostyn said in 1998 that the government would like to change the law to give equal precedence regardless of sex. However, the government also believes that such a change would take up a lot of parliamentary time, and would require the approval of the other countries of which the British monarch is head of state. Despite public calls for change by two female cabinet ministers, Patricia Hewitt and Tessa Jowell, no moves have yet been taken.
The Guardian newspaper has campaigned in recent years for an abolition of the restriction on non-Protestants from succeeding to the throne. It argues that the restriction may be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, which is now part of British law. A "ten minute rule" bill to overturn this restriction was introduced in the British House of Commons by Labour MP Kevin McNamara in 2001, and won a symbolic victory when forced to a vote, but did not become law.
Upon the death of a Monarch, an Accession Council meets at St James's Palace. Attending are the members of the House of Lords, Privy Counsellors, the Lord Mayor of London, Aldermen of the City of London, and High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries. The Council makes a proclamation declaring the death of the previous monarch and names the individual who is to succeed to the Crown. The proclamation is then read aloud at various places in London, Edinburgh, Windsor, and York.

See also

Politics of the United Kingdom
List of British monarchs
List of Monarchs of England
List of Succession to the British Throne

External links

Official UK royal website
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "British monarchy."

Canadian monarchy

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Portraits of the Queen can be found in most Canadian government buildings
Canada is a Constitutional Monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as its reigning monarch and head of state.
In Canada, Her Majesty's official title is Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. Such capacity is Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. In common practice Queen Elizabeth II is referred to simply as "The Queen" or "The Queen of Canada" when in Canada.

Constitutional monarchy in Canada
The most notable features of the Canadian constitutional monarchy are:

Although Queen Elizabeth II is also monarch of the United Kingdom, this does not mean that the United Kingdom has any sovereignty over Canada (nor that Canada has any sovereignty over the United Kingdom).

In all matters of state, Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Canada is advised exclusively by her governments in Canada. No British government can advise the Canadian monarch on Canadian matters.

All executive power theoretically reposes in the Queen, who is represented in Canada by the Governor-General of Canada, the lieutenant governors of the provinces, and the territorial commissioners. Royal Assent is required on all acts of Parliament and the legislatures, which sit at her pleasure. Persons swearing allegiance to Canada, such as immigrants, soldiers, parliamentarians and the like, swear allegiance to Her Majesty as Queen of Canada and as the legal embodiment of Canadian sovereignty.

Nevertheless, as in the UK, the Queen's role is nearly entirely symbolic and cultural, and the powers that are theoretically hers are exercised wholly upon the "advice" of the elected government. However, the Queen may act against such advice based upon her reserve powers. In practice, the monarchy functions much like a rubber stamp and a ceremonial symbol of executive authority. It is often explained that the Queen reigns but does not rule. For more explanation of the Queen's role, see Governor-General of Canada.

History
Canada has been independent of the United Kingdom since a combination of the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act, 1927 (which replaced the concept of a singular crown throughout the British Empire with multiple crowns with each dominion as a separate kingdom, all worn by the common shared monarch) and the Statute of Westminster 1931, which granted the dominions of the Commonwealth independence from the British parliament and equality with the United Kingdom. Canada's constitution was repatriated under Prime Minister Trudeau in 1982, becoming a Canadian law rather than an act of the British parliament which required amendment in both jurisdictions. See Canada Act 1982.

The Throne of Canada
Throne Chairs for The Queen of Canada, and the Duke of Edinburgh and the Governor General, in the Canadian Senate, Ottawa. (The front chair is used by the Speaker of the Senate)
However the repatriation of the constitution did not have any impact on the position of Queen Elizabeth as Queen of Canada, though the rules of succession are still laid down in British, not Canadian law.
Occasionally, the Queen's authority is appealed to by Canada's partisan political leaders.
In 1992, Brian Mulroney, then Prime Minister of Canada, appealed to the Queen (through the Governor-General) to temporarily add eight seats to the Senate (a right reserved for the queen). Senators are appointed until the age of 75 in Canada, and it is generally believed that Mulroney made this move in order to secure passage of the controversial Goods and Services Tax, which faced widespread opposition in Canada, and would not have passed there without the votes of the newly appointed Senators.
This was an occasion on which the Queen played a significant role in Canadian government, though as the monarch's advisors made clear, the monarch felt bound to do as advised by Her Prime Minister, who was answerable to cabinet, parliament and the Canadian electorate for whatever advice he gave. They argued that to in effect overrule prime ministerial advice would have involved the Queen directly in controversy; by automatically accepting advice she placed the responsibility on the person giving the advice.

Debate
Throughout Canada's history there has rarely been much discussion or debate on the continued existence of the "Canadian monarchy." Historically, the monarchy has often been touted by Canadians as one of the key differences between the United States and Canada.
In recent years however, some Canadians, such as Deputy Prime Minister John Manley have advocated the abolishment of the Canadian monarchy, and the establishment of a republic with head of state as a fully Canadian (and possibly democratically-elected) office. In contrast to Australian republicanism, there is not much public interest in turning Canada into a republic.
Arguments against the monarchy claim that its abolition would be a blow for democracy and remove an unnecessary expense for the Canadian taxpayer. Many Canadian republicans also say it would remove Canada's last political connection to her colonial past, and thus improve her image as a sovereign nation.
On the other hand, some of the monarchy's defenders have argued that having a Canadian monarchy, with a Queen of Canada and a governor-general, allows Canada to highlight its difference from the United States, whereas a republican president might be seen just another president on the American continent where the most prominent president is the President of the United States.
It is also noted that whereas Canada currently has a female head of state and female governor-general, no woman has ever been president or vice-president in the United States. They also argue that a republican head of state would cost more, not less, than the current monarchy, with additional costs involving in updating the governor-general's residences to full head of state presidential palace level, the costs of state visit, political advisors, increased ceremonial functions, etc, functions that in many cases do not exist for a governor-general, given that they are not a full head of state, but which would be required for a Canadian president. There is also, in large part because of previous long disputes over constitutional issues and reforms, a reluctance to enter into the extensive constitutional renegotiation that would be required to establish a new political system in Canada. At any rate, at this time this issue is not at all high on peoples' minds. A recent poll suggested that only 5% of Canadians are aware that Canada's Queen and Head of State is Elizabeth II. Most Canadians incorrectly regard the Prime Minister as the nation's Head of State.
The Canadian monarchy has a powerful special interest group, known as the Monarchist League of Canada. The republican movement has a smaller, recently-formed group, known as Citizens for a Canadian Republic.

See also

Australian Constitutional History describes the parallel history of the monarchy in another former British dominion.

External Links

The Canadian Monarchy - Official Site

Canadian Monarchist ONLINE - a Canadian website promoting Canada's constitutional monarchy
Res Publica : Canada - an international anti-monarchy Web directory

Canadian Monarchist League
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Canadian monarchy."

List of Belgian monarchs

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Successive Belgian kings:

Leopold I (1831-1865)
Leopold II (1865-1909)
Albert I (1909-1934)
Leopold III (1934-1951)
Baudouin (1951-1993)
Albert II (1993- )

Note that none of these were "King of Belgium": their title is "King of the Belgians". The latter phrase indicates a popular monarchy linked to the people of Belgium, whereas the former would indicate standard constitutional or absolute monarchy linked to territory and a state. Similarly, King Louis Philippe was proclaimed "King of the French" in 1830, not the traditional "King of France". The now abolished Greek monarchy similarly was titled "King of the Hellenes", indicating a personal link with the people, not just the state.
It is also noteworthy that Belgium is the only current European monarchy that does not apply the tradition best described by the slogan "The king is dead, long live the king!". According to the Belgian constitution, the king only accedes to the throne when he takes a constitutional oath. For example, the present king didn't become monarch on the day on July 31, 1993 (the day his brother died) but on August 9 of that same year (when he took the constitutional oath). In all other current monarchies, the monarch becomes a monarch the moment his predecessor dies or abdicates.
Belgium has three official languages, of which Dutch and French are the most important. Many kings and members of the royal family are known under two names: a Dutch and a French one. For example, the current heir apparent is called Philippe in French and Filip in Dutch; the fifth King of the Belgians was Baudouin in French and Boudewijn in Dutch; the three kings who are known as Léopold in French are known to the Dutch speaking Belgians as Leopold (without accent).
In German, which is Belgium's third official language, kings are usually referred to under their French names. The same is true for English. The exception is Leopold, which is probably used this way, not because of the fact that it is used in Dutch, but because many Anglo-Saxon keyboards do not include an "é".
In Belgium, kings are always officially known with a ordinal, even when they are the first of their name. So King Baudouin was officially "King Baudouin I", even though there has not yet been a "King Baudouin II". But within Wikipedia one is expected to apply the Wikpedia naming conventions.
Other members of the Belgian Royal Family:
Astrid of the Belgians
Princess Josphine-Charlotte of Belgium
Mary Lilian Baels, Princess de Rethy

See also: Lists of incumbents
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "List of Belgian monarchs."

List of British monarchs

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

This is a list of British monarchs, that is, the monarchs on the thrones of the various kingdoms that have existed on, or incorporated, the island of Great Britain, namely:

The small kingdoms which existed prior to the formation of England, Scotland or Wales;
England up to 1707;
Scotland up to 1707;
The Kingdom of Great Britain (when England & Scotland merged in 1707);
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (when Great Britain and Ireland merged in 1801)
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (The UK after the Irish Free State was formed and became a separate kingdom in the 1920s).

Complications over Title and Style
Royal titles are also complicated because in some cases, names of kingdoms are used that did not officially come into existence until later, or came into existence earlier without immediate adoption of the royal title.

For example, in October 1604, one year after James VI of Scotland had become king of England, he decreed that the Royal Title would use the term 'Great Britain' to refer to the "one Imperiall Crowne" made up of England and Scotland. However using that title is problematic because the 'state' of Great Britain was only created in the 1707 Act of Union. Nor was the united crown generally referred to as 'imperial'. Furthermore, monarchs continued to use ordinals attached to the two previous kingdoms, for instance James VII/II. To avoid confusion, historians in general thus refer to all monarchs up to 1707 as monarchs of 'England' and 'Scotland' (so explaining their two ordinals where they existed), with the monarch's title at all times accurately following the 'official' name or names of the state or states they reigned over, where it differed from the official royal title. (Hence though many English and British monarchs claimed 'France' as part of their official title, as that had no reality in substance it isn't used.) After the Union, the ordinal has either been the English number, or the greater of the two numbers - the results have been the same and there is no formal rule.

In different documents, the terms 'Kingdom of Great Britain' and 'United Kingdom of Great Britain' feature, even documents as official as the 1707 Act of Union. Most historians presume the 'United' was meant to be descriptive (indicating a union as a form of unity by marriage rather than coercion). For clarity and because the 'United' is far more strongly associated with the later name United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland produced in the 1801 Act of Union, the 1707 kingdom is generally referred to as the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Similarly, though the Irish Free State ceased to be part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1922, neither the full name of the United Kingdom nor the royal title was changed until the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act, 1927. In this instance historians generally retrospectively date the coming into being of the modern United Kingdom to December 1922, even though in this case the formal change did not occur for another five years.

The list of monarchs below cannot be exhaustive. For succession to the many thrones often did not pass smoothly from parent to child; lack of heirs, civil wars, murders and invasions affected the inheritance in ways that a simple list does not show. The relationships that formed the basis for claims to throne are noted where we know them, and the dates of reign indicated.
Scottish monarchs
Prior to the formation of Scotland, Dalriada, Strathclyde, Bernicia and the seven kingdoms of the Picts occupied the northern third of Britain.

Kings of the Picts
Kings of Dalriada
Kings of Strathclyde

The kingdom of Scotland is taken to have begun when Kenneth mac Alpin became king of the Picts and the Dalriadan Scots. However the kingdoms of Strathclyde and Bernicia were still independent of it. Strathclyde became part of Scotland in the reign of Duncan I.

The House of Alpin

Kenneth I (843-858)
his brother, Donald I (858-862)
Kenneth I's son, Constantine I (862-877)
Kenneth I's son, Aedh (877-878)
his nephew, Eochaid and first cousin Giric (878-889) (Joint rule)
Constantine I's son, Donald II (889-900)
Aed I's son, Constantine II (900-943)
Donald II's son, Malcolm I (943-954)
Constantine II's son, Indulf (954-962)
Malcolm I's son, Dubh (962-966)
Indulf's son, Culen (966-971)
Malcolm I's son, Kenneth II (971-995)
Culen I's son, Constantine III (995-997)
Dubh I's son, Kenneth III (997-1005)
Kenneth II's son, Malcolm II (1005-1034)
Malcolm II's grandson, Duncan I (1034-1040)
Malcolm II's grandson, Macbeth (1040-1057)
Kenneth III's grandson, Lulach (1057-1058)

The House of Dunkeld

Duncan I's son, Malcolm III (1058-1093)
Duncan I's son, Donald III (1093-1094 and 1094-1097)
Malcolm III's son, Duncan II (1094)
Malcolm III's son, Edgar (1097-1107)
Malcolm III's son, Alexander I (1107-1124)
Malcolm III's son, David I (1124-1153)
David I's grandson, Malcolm IV (1153-1165)
David I's grandson, William I (1165-1214)
his son, Alexander II (1214-1249)
his son, Alexander III (1249-1286)
his granddaughter, Margaret (1286-1290)

The Wars of Scottish Independence
When Margaret died, there was no clear heir, and King Edward I of England took over, installing a puppet.

David I's great-great-great grandson, John Balliol (1292-1296)

John Balliol rebelled, and Scotland was plunged into war. In the end, independence was secured under a new dynasty.
The House of Bruce

David I's great-great-great-great grandson, Robert I (1306-1329)
his son, David II (1329-1371)
The House of Balliol

John Balliol's son Edward Balliol (1332-1356)

The House of Stewart (Stuart)

Robert I's grandson, Robert II (1371-1390)
his son, Robert III (1390-1406)
his son, James I (1406-1437)
his son, James II (1437-1460)
his son, James III (1460-1488)
his son, James IV (1488-1513)
his son, James V (1513-1542)
his daughter, Mary (1542-1567)
her son, James VI (1567-1625) aka James I of England
his son, Charles I (1625-1649)
his son, Charles II (1651-1685)
Charles I's son, James VII (1685-1688)
his daughter, Mary II (1689-1694) and her husband (and cousin) William II (William III of England) of the House of Orange (1689-1702), reigned together during Mary's life as "William and Mary"
William was succeeded by James VII's younger daughter Anne (1702-1707)

In 1707, with the Act of Union, the thrones of England and Scotland were formally united as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, keeping the numbering system of England. See GB and UK monarchs below.

Rulers of Wales
Prior to 1282, Wales was independent of England, consisting of a number of separate principalities. See List of rulers of Wales for full details.

English monarchs
After the departure of the Romans and prior to the formation of England, various British, Viking and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms existed in the southern two-thirds of Britain. Between 400 and 1000 the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms gradually conquered the others, amalgamating to form England.

Kings of Essex

The Bretwalda
The Bretwalda were chosen from among the rulers of the various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England. There was not always a Bretwalda.

Ælle of Sussex (477-514)
Cerdic of Wessex (519-534)
Ceawlin of Wessex (560-591)
Ethelbert of Kent (591-616)
Raedwald of East Anglia (616-627)
Edwin of Deira (627-632)
Oswald of Bernicia (633-641)
Oswiu of Northumbria (641-670)
Æthelbald of Mercia (c735-757)
Æthelbald's cousin, Offa of Mercia (757-796)
Ceawlin's 7x(great)-grandson, Egbert of Wessex (829-839)
his son, Ethelwulf of Wessex (839-855)
his son, Ethelbald of Wessex (855-860)
Ethelwulf's son, Ethelbert of Wessex (860-866)
Ethelwulf's son, Ethelred of Wessex (866-871)

The Saxon kings
By this time, the kings of Wessex had become established as kings of England.

Ethelwulf's son, Ælfred (Alfred) the Great (871-899)
his son, Edward the Elder (899-924)
his son, Ethelweard (924)
his brother, Athelstan (924-939)
Edward's son, Edmund I (939-946)
Edward's son, Edred (946-955)
Edmund's son, Edwy (955-959)
Edmund's son, Edgar (959-975)
his son, Edward the Martyr (975-978)
Edgar's son, Ethelred II (978-1013)
restored Ethelred II (1014-1016
his son, Edmund II (1016)

The Danelaw
For a period of time, both Danish and Saxon kings claimed the throne of England.

Svein, also King of Denmark (1013-1014)
his son, Canute the Great (1016-1035)
his illegitimate son, Harold I Harefoot (1035-1040)
Canute's son, Hardacanute (1040-1042)

The Saxon restoration

Ethelred II's son and Canute II's half-brother, Edward the Confessor (1042-1066)
his brother-in-law and Sweyn I's grand-nephew, Harold II (1066)
Edmund II's grandson, Edgar Ætheling, uncrowned (1066)

The Norman kings
After the Norman Conquest in 1066, numbering of kings begins anew, although this affects only the Edwards. (This is because the numbering of monarchs was originally a French tradition, brought to England by the Normans. The numbers given to pre-conquest kings were added by later historians.)

Edward the Confessor and Hardacanute's first cousin twice removed, William I (1066-1087)
his son, William II (1087-1100)
William I's son, Henry I (1100-1135)
William I's grandson, Stephen (1135-1154)

The Angevins or Plantagenets

Henry I's daughter, Matilda, uncrowned (1141)
Matilda's son, Henry II (1154-1189)
his son, Richard I (1189-1199)
Henry II's son, John (1199-1216)
his son, Henry III (1216-1272)
his son, Edward I (1272-1307)
his son, Edward II (1307-1327)
his son, Edward III (1327-1377)
his grandson, Richard II (1377-1399)

The House of Lancaster

Edward III's grandson, Henry IV (1399-1413)
his son, Henry V (1413-1422)
his son, Henry VI (1422-1461 and 1470-1471)

The Houses of Lancaster and York fought the Wars of the Roses over the English crown.

The House of York

Edward III's great-great-grandson, Edward IV (1461-1470 and 1471-1483)
his son, Edward V, uncrowned (1483)
Edward IV's brother, Richard III (1483-1485)

The House of Tudor

Edward III's 2x(great)grandson and Edward IV's son-in-law, Henry VII (1485-1509)
his son, Henry VIII (1509-1547)
his son, Edward VI (1547-1553)
Henry VII's great-granddaughter, Lady Jane Grey, uncrowned (1553)
Henry VIII's daughter, Mary I (1553-1558)
Henry VIII's daughter, Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

The House of Stuart

Henry VII's great-great-grandson, James I, also King of Scotland, (1603-1625)
his son, Charles I (1625-1649)

The Commonwealth and Protectorate
There was no king between Charles I's execution in 1649 and the restoration in 1660, but there were two Lords Protector during the Protectorate.

Oliver Cromwell (1653-1658)
his son, Richard Cromwell (1658-1659)

The Stuart restoration

Charles I's son, Charles II (1660-1685)
Charles I's son, James II (1685-1688)
James II's daughter, Mary II (1689-1694) and her husband William III of the House of Orange (1689-1702), reigned together during Mary's life as "William and Mary"
William III was succeeded by James II's younger daughter, Anne (1702-1707)

Monarchs of Great Britain
In 1707, with the Act of Union, the thrones of England and Scotland were formally united as the throne of the Kingdom of Great Britain.

The House of Stuart

The daughter of James (II of England; VII of Scotland), Anne (1707-1714, continued from 1702)

The House of Hanover

James I's great-grandson, George I (1714-1727)
his son, George II (1727-1760)

his grandson, George III (1760-1801)

Monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland

In 1801, the Kingdom of Great Britain and Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (George III's reigns spanned both the separate kingdoms and their merged entity. For clarity and ease of use, Wikipedia has placed George III as 'George III of the United Kingdom')
George III (1801-1820)
his son, George IV (1820-1830)
George III's third son, William IV (1830-1837)
George III's granddaughter, Victoria (1837-1901)

In 1877, Victoria became also Empress of India

The House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

her son, Edward VII (1901-1910)
his son, George V (1910-1936)

The House of Windsor
The name of the Royal house of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was changed to Windsor in 1917 due to anti-German feelings aroused by World War I.

Monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

George V (1910-1936)

The Irish Free State left the United Kingdom in 1922. The name of the UK was changed to reflect that change, becoming the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland' in 1927. Note also: from 1927, each dominion in the Commonwealth became a separate kingdom, with George V as native king in each. Hence, in 1927, he became 'King of Ireland', 'King of Australia,' 'King of Canada', 'King of New Zealand', and 'King of South Africa'

his son, Edward VIII (1936)
George V's son, George VI (1936-1952)

In 1947, India and Pakistan were granted independence, and George VI ceased to Emperor of India, but became King of India and King of Pakistan. (and, in 1948, King of Sri Lanka, also granted independence.) In 1949, Ireland became a Republic, and George ceased to be King of Ireland. India did the same in 1950

his daughter, Elizabeth II (1952-)

Mnemonics
A useful rhyme for memorising the names of the English and UK monarchs since the Norman Conquest in chronological order:
Willy Willy Harry Steve,
Henry Dick John Henry three;
Then three Edwards Richard two,
Henry Four, Five Six then who?
Edward four five, Dick the bad,
Two more Henries, Ned the lad;
Bloody Mary she came next,
Then we have our Good Queen Bess.
From Scotland we got James the Vain;
Charlie one, two, James again.
William and Mary, Anna Gloria,
Four Georges, William, and Victoria.
Edward, George, the same again,
Now Elizabeth - and the end.
(Compare with Chinese history mnemonics.)

See also

Wikipedia's other lists of incumbents
UK topics
Kings of England family tree
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "List of British monarchs."

List of Danish monarchs

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

This is a list of Danish monarchs, that is, the Kingss and ruling Queens of Denmark, including Regents of the Kalmar Union, up until the present time. This includes:

The Kingdom of Denmark (up to 1396)
Personal union of Denmark and Norway (1380-1396)
The Kalmar Union (1397-1536)
Kings of Denmark claiming (sometimes successfully) the Crown of Sweden (1397-1523)
Kings of Denmark claiming (mostly successfully) the Crown of Norway (1397-1536)
The Kingdom of Denmark (1536 to present)
The Kingdom of Denmark and Norway (1536-1814)
With Iceland (1536-1918, then in personal union 1918-1944)
With Greenland
With the Faroe Islands

The kingdom was elective until 1660.
Gorm the Old was the first trustworthy Danish monarch. All reigns before him are dubious. Denmark has one of the longest running unbroken lines of succession in the world, second only to that of the Japanese emperors.
Different branches of Oldenburg have held the Crown of Denmark since 1448, until 1864 in personal union with the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein.
Danish name forms are given in parenthesis.

List of Dubious Danish Kings

794-803 : Sigfred (Sigurd) Snogoje of South Jutland
a Harald before Godfred
798?-800 : Godfred (Godfrid?)
810-812 : Hemming, nephew of Godfred reigned 2 years after Godfred's death
813 : Sigfred, another nephew of Godfred
813 : Anulo, a nephew of the Harald before Godfred
812,813,814, 819-826 : Harald Klak, brother of Anulo and nephew of Godfred
813-814 : Reginfrid, another brother of Anulo
814-827, sole ruling 827-854, died 854 : Eric I the Old, 1 of 4 corulers and sons of Godfred
854- after 864 : boderson of Eric the Old, Eric II the Child, whose daughter married Harald I of Norway
803-850: Canute I (Knud I)
died ca 863 : Harold I (Harald I)
before 873-? : the 2 corulers, Halfdan and Sigfrid
a Swedish "Olof Dynasty" from ca. 850 with Olof as its first king, he was boderson of Sigfrid.
at least 934 : Chnuba
after 934 - memtioned with Gorm the Old in 936 : Sigtryg, last king of the "Olof Dynasty"

''Note: Above list of dubious kings affected the numbering of subsequent Danish monarchs:
Harold Bluetooth is sometimes accounted as Harald II and hence Harald II Svendsen as III and Harald Hen as IV.

Canute the Great as Knud II.''

The continuous list of Danish monarchs

mentioned 936, died 958 : Gorm the Old (Gorm den Gamle)
died 987 at the latest : Harold Bluetooth (Harald I Blåtand)
died 1014 : Sweyn I Forkbeard (or maybe Svein I Doublebeard) (Svend I Tveskæg)
1014-1018 : Harold II (Harald II Svendsen)
1018-1035 : Canute the Great (Knud II den Store)
1035-1042 : Canute the Hardy (Knud III Hardeknud)
1042-1047 : Magnus I (Magnus den Gode)
1047-1074 : Sweyn Estridson (Svend II Estridsen)
1074-1080 : Harald III (Harald III Hen)
1080-1086 : Canute the Saint (Knud IV den Hellige)
1086-1095 : Olaf I (Oluf I Hunger)
1095-1103 : Eric I (Erik I Ejegod)
1104-1134 : Niels (Niels)
1134-1137 : Eric II (Erik II Emune)
1137-1146 : Eric III (Erik III Lam)
1140-1143 : Olaf II (Oluf II)
1146-1157 : Sweyn III (Svend III Grathe), Canute V(Knud V) and Valdemar the Great (Valdemar I den Store)
1157-1182 : Waldemar the Great (Valdemar I den Store)
1182-1202 : Canute VI(Knud VI)
1202-1241 : Waldemar the Victorious(Valdemar II Sejr)
1241-1250 : Eric IV (Erik IV Plovpenning)
1250-1252 : Abel (Abel)
1252-1259 : Christopher I (Christoffer I)
1259-1286 : Eric V (Erik V Glipping)
1286-1320 : Eric VI (Erik VI Menved)
1320-1326 : Christopher II (Christoffer II)
1326-1329 : Valdemar III (Valdemar III)
1329-1332 : Christopher II (Christoffer II)
1332-1340 : (nobody)(Interregnum)
1340-1376 : Waldemar Atterdag(Valdemar IV Atterdag)
1376-1387 : Olaf III (Oluf III)
1387-1412 : Margaret I (Margrete I)
1412-1439 : Eric of Pomerania (Erik VII af Pommern)
1440-1448 : Christopher III (Christoffer III af Bayern)
1448-1481 : Christian I (Christian I)
1481-1513 : John (Hans)
1513-1523 : Christian II (Christian II)
1523-1533 : Frederick I (Frederik I)
1534-1559 : Christian III (Christian III)
1559-1588 : Frederick II (Frederik II)
1588-1648 : Christian IV (Christian IV)
1648-1670 : Frederick III (Frederik III)
1670-1699 : Christian V (Christian V)
1699-1730 : Frederick IV (Frederik IV)
1730-1746 : Christian VI (Christian VI)
1746-1766 : Frederick V (Frederik V)
1766-1808 : Christian VII (Christian VII)
1808-1839 : Frederick VI (Frederik VI)
1839-1848 : Christian VIII (Christian VIII)
1848-1863 : Frederick VII (Frederik VII)
1863-1906 : Christian IX (Christian IX)
1906-1912 : Frederick VIII (Frederik VIII)
1912-1947 : Christian X (Christian X)
1947-1972 : Frederick IX (Frederik IX)
Since 1972 : Margaret II (Margrethe II)

See also: List of Icelandic rulers, List of Norwegian monarchs, List of Swedish monarchs, lists of incumbents
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "List of Danish monarchs."

List of monarchs of England

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

England was first unified as a state by Alfred the Great of Wessex. It ceased to exist as a separate kingdom following unions with Scotland (1707) and Ireland (1801). Today, England exists as one of the regions of the United Kingdom, alongside Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, "Her (or His) Majesty's Peculiars", and a number of colonial holdings. Thus from 1707, the terms "King of England" and "Queen of England" are incorrect. Hence, this list runs up to 1707; for monarchs after that date, see List of British monarchs
See also: Kings of England family tree

The Saxon kings

Ælfred (Alfred) the Great (871-899)
Edward the Elder (899-924)
Athelstan (924-939)
Edmund I (939-946)
Edred (946-955)
Edwy (955-959)
Edgar (959-975)
Edward the Martyr (975-978)
Ethelred II (978-1016)
Edmund II (1016)

The Danelaw
For a period of time, both Danish and Saxon kings claimed the throne of England.

Svein, also King of Denmark (1013-1014)
Canute I (1014-1035)
Harold I (1035-1040)
Canute II (1040-1042)

The Saxon restoration

Edward the Confessor (1042-1066)
Harold II (1066)
Edgar Ætheling, uncrowned (1066)

The Norman kings
After the Norman Conquest in 1066, numbering of kings began anew; this affected only the Edwards.

William I (1066-1087)
William II (1087-1100)
Henry I (1100-1135)
Stephen (1135-1154)

The Angevins or Plantagenets

Henry II (1154-1189)
Richard I (1189-1199)
John (1199-1216)
Henry III (1216-1272)
Edward I (1272-1307)
Edward II (1307-1327)
Edward III (1327-1377)
Richard II (1377-1399)

The House of Lancaster

Henry IV (1399-1413)
Henry V (1413-1422)
Henry VI (1422-1461 and 1470-1471)

The House of York

Edward IV (1461-1470 and 1471-1483)
Edward V, uncrowned (1483)
Richard III (1483-1485)

The House of Tudor

Henry VII (1485-1509)
Henry VIII (1509-1547)
Edward VI (1547-1553)
Lady Jane Grey (1553)
Mary I (1553-1558)
Elizabeth I (1558-1603)
The House of Stuart

James I, (1603-1625), also from an earlier date King James VI of Scots
Charles I (1625-1649), also King of Scots

Interregnum
There was no crowned king between Charles I's execution in 1649 and the restoration in 1660.

The Stuart restoration

Charles II (1660-1685), also King of Scots
James II (1685-1688), also King James VII of Scots
William III and Mary III (1689-1694), as co-monarchs, also King and Queen of Scots
William III (1694-1702), continued as single monarch, also King of Scots
Anne (1702-1707), also Queen of Scots, then Queen of Great Britain after 1707 until her death in 1714
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "List of monarchs of England."

List of Swedish monarchs

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

This is a list of Swedish monarchs, that is, the Kingss and ruling Queenss of Sweden with Regents and Viceroys of the Kalmar Union up until the present time.
There are lists of Swedish (pagan) monarchs with dates far older than these. These records contain the early kings and gives an explanation to the numbering of the monarchs, particularly the names Erik and Karl (Eric and Charles). However these records are in many cases dubious and includes kings who supposedly reigned for 150 years. Because of this, lists of succession traditionally start with the first baptized christian king of Sweden, Olof Skötkonung and his father Erik Segersäll.

Monarchs, Regents and Viceroys of Sweden
The House of Yngling

985- 995 : Eric the Victorius (Erik Segersäll)
995-1022 : Olof of Sweden (Olof Skötkonung)
1022-1050 : Anund Jacob (Anund Jakob)
1050-1060 : Emund the Old (Emund den gamle)

1060-1066 : Stenkil of Sweden (Stenkil Ragnvaldsson)
1066-1067 : Eric VII of Sweden (Erik (VII) Stenkilsson)
1066-1067 : Eric VIII of Sweden (Erik (VIII) Hedningen)
1067-1070 : Halsten (Halsten)
1070-1079 : Haakon the Red (Håkan Röde)
1079-1084 : Halsten and Ingold I (Halsten and Inge (I) den äldre)
1084-1087 : Blot-Sweyn (Blot-Sven)
1087-1105 : Ingold I (Inge (I) den äldre)
1105-1118 : Philip Halsten (Filip Halsten)
1105-1125 : Ingold II (Inge (II) den yngre)
1125-1130 : Magnus the strong (Magnus den Starke Nilsson)

The Houses of Sverker and Eric

1130-1156 : Sverker I of Sweden (Sverker den äldre) - The House of Sverker
1156-1160 : Eric the Saint (Erik den helige) - The House of Eric
1160-1167 : Charles VII of Sweden (Karl Sverkersson) - The House of Sverker
1167-1195 : Canute I of Sweden (Knut Eriksson) - The House of Eric
1196-1208 : Sverker II of Sweden (Sverker den yngre) - The House of Sverker
1208-1216 : Eric X of Sweden (Erik Knutsson) - The House of Eric
1216-1222 : John I of Sweden (Johan Sverkersson) - The House of Sverker
1222-1229 : Eric XI of Sweden (Erik Eriksson) - The House of Eric
1229-1234 : Canute II of Sweden (Knut Långe)
1234-1250 : Eric XII of Sweden (Erik Eriksson) - The House of Eric

The House of Folkung

1250-1275 : Valdemar I of Sweden (Valdemar Birgersson)
1275-1290 : Magnus I of Sweden (Magnus Ladulås)
1290-1318 : Birger of Sweden (Birger Magnusson)
1319-1364 : Magnus II of Sweden (Magnus Eriksson)
1363-1395 : Albert of Mecklenburg (Albrekt av Mecklenburg)

Regents of the Kalmar Union and Viceroys (Riksföreståndare)

1389-1412 : Margaret I of Sweden (Margareta)
1396-1439 : Eric of Pomerania (Erik av Pommern)
1438-1440 : Charles VIII of Sweden (Karl Knutsson Bonde)
1441-1448 : Christopher of Bavaria (Kristoffer av Bayern)
1448-1448 : Viceroys Bengt and Nils Jönsson Oxenstierna
1448-1457 : Charles VIII of Sweden
1457-1457 : Viceroys Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna and Eric Axelsson Tott
1457-1464 : Christian I of Sweden (Kristian I)
1464-1465 : Charles VIII of Sweden
1465-1465 : Viceroy Kettil Karlsson Vasa
1465-1466 : Viceroy Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna
1466-1467 : Viceroy Eric Axelsson Tott
1467-1470 : Charles VIII of Sweden
1470-1497 : Viceroy Sten Sture the elder (Sten Sture den äldre)
1497-1501 : John II of Sweden (Hans)
1501-1503 : Viceroy Sten Sture the elder
1504-1511 : Viceroy Svante Sture (Svante Nilsson Sture)
1512-1512 : Viceroy Eric Trolle
1512-1520 : Viceroy Sten Sture the younger (Sten Sture den yngre)
1520-1521 : Christian II of Sweden (Kristian II Tyrann))

The House of Vasa

1521-1560 : Gustav I of Sweden (Gustav Vasa)
As Gustav Vasa, viceroy 1521-1523
1560-1568 : Eric XIV of Sweden (Erik XIV)
1568-1592 : John III of Sweden (Johan III)
1592-1599 : Sigismund of Sweden (Sigismund)
1599-1611 : Charles IX of Sweden (Karl IX)
As Duke Charles, viceroy 1599-1604
1611-1632 : Gustav Adolphus the great (Gustaf II Adolf den store)
1632-1654 : Christina of Sweden (Kristina)

The House of Palatinate

1654-1660 : Charles X Gustav of Sweden (Karl X Gustav)
1660-1697 : Charles XI of Sweden (Karl XI)
1697-1718 : Charles XII of Sweden (Karl XII)
1719-1720 : Ulrike Eleonora of Sweden (Ulrika Eleonora)

The House of Hesse

1720-1751 : Frederick I of Sweden (Fredrik I)

The House of Holstein-Gottorp

1751-1771 : Adolf Frederick of Sweden (Adolf Fredrik)
1771-1792 : Gustav III of Sweden (Gustav III)
1792-1809 : Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden (Gustav IV Adolf)
1809-1818 : Charles XIII of Sweden (Karl XIII)

The House of Bernadotte

1818-1844 : Charles XIV of Sweden (Karl XIV Johan)
1844-1859 : Oscar I of Sweden (Oskar I)
1859-1872 : Charles XV of Sweden (Karl XV)
1872-1907 : Oscar II of Sweden (Oskar II)
1907-1950 : Gustav V of Sweden (Gustav V)
1950-1973 : Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden (Gustav VI Adolf)
Since 1973 : Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden (Carl XVI Gustav)

See also

History of Sweden
Royal mottos of Swedish monarchs

Realm of Sweden
Lands of Sweden
Provinces of Sweden
Dominions of Sweden

Politics of Sweden
Government of Sweden
Constitution of Sweden
Parliament of Sweden, Riksdag, Riksdag of the Estates

King of Sweden
Prime Minister of Sweden
List of Swedes
List of Swedish politicians
List of Swedish military commanders

Finnish rulers
Estonian rulers
Danish monarchs
Norwegian monarchs
Icelandic rulers
Pomeranian rulers
Lists of incumbents
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "List of Swedish monarchs."

Monarch

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

A monarch is a hereditary ruler, figure-head or head of state, except in certain states like the former Kingdom of Poland, the various Irish kingdoms before english rule, and current-day Malaysia which feature or featured elected monarchs. A nation or state that is ruled by a monarch is called a kingdom. A system of governance involving a monarch is known as a monarchy.

Kings and Queens
"King" designates a male monarch (when he does not use another title such as emperor or tsar). A female monarch is called queen, or in full "reigning queen" or "queen regnant", to distinguish from "queen consort," the wife of a king. In some countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and the Pacific, a "King" is the hereditary head of a nation-state, except when a queen or other head of state fills the role.
In China, "king" is the usual translation for the term wang, which designated the sovereign before the Qin dynasty and during the Ten Kingdoms period. During the early Han dynasty, China had a number of small kingdoms, each about the size of a county and subordinate to the Emperor of China.
Other Monarch Titles
Where there is a difference, male titles are left of the slash and female titles are to the right.

By Region

Americas
cacique - Aboriginal Hispaniola

Asia
huangdi - Imperial China
maharaja/maharanee - India
tenno or mikado - Japan
wang - pre-Imperial China

Europe (and Russia)
czar/czarina - alternate spelling of Tsar (emperor)
imperator/imperatrix - Rome (emperor)
kaiser - Germany, Austria (emperor)
Konig - Hungary, Prussia, etc (king)
pope - Holy See (Vatican)
rí (sometimes ríoch) - king of local Irish states. Chief overlord king was called the Árd Rí, meaning High King
tsar/tsarina - Russia (emperor)

Middle East
emir - Arabic holy title
khan - Mongol Emperor or Arabic leader
shah - Persia/Iran, Afghanistan
shaikh - Arabic leader
sultan/sultana - Arabic King
pharaoh - Ancient Egypt

General monarch titles

autocrat - General term for absolute monarch.
emperor/empress - Empire
king/queen - Kingdom
grand duke/grand duchess - Grand Duchy
prince/princess - Sovereign Principality

Monarchs Today
Few monarchs today exercise absolute authority. Although there are a number of hereditary monarchies still existing in the world, many countries with hereditary royalty are de facto ruled by a democratically elected leader such as a prime minister, while the monarchy continues to hold a symbolic or ceremonial position (eg. United Kingdom; see also constitutional monarchy).
In a few cases a monarch is associated with a particular group (or nation) within a state, such as Te Arikuini Te Atairangikaahu of the Maori (the Maori Queen) and Osei Tutu II of the Ashanti. Malaysia provides an example of a monarch-rich state.
The system for succession to the throne varies from monarchy to monarchy. Traditionally, succession to the eldest son of the monarch has been most common; if the monarch had no sons, the throne would pass either to the eldest daughter, or to the nearest male relative, depending on whether the monarchy accepted female rulers and/or descent in the female line. Some monarchies have abolished this preference for males, and the eldest child of the monarch ascends to the throne, be that child male or female, e.g. some European monarchies such as Sweden. There are also elected monarchs of elected monarchies, and dictators who proclaim themselves rulers of a self-proclaimed monarchy.
In some monarchies, e.g. Saudi Arabia, succession to the throne has passed to the monarch's next eldest brother, and only to the monarch's children after that. In some other monarchies, the monarch chooses who will be his successor, who need not necessarily be his eldest son, e.g. Jordan.
See also: dauphin, regent, queen consort

Reigning Monarchs
There are thirty reigning sovereign monarchs in the world:

The two co-princes of Andorra
The King of Bahrain
The King of the Belgians
The King of Bhutan
The Sultan of Brunei
The King of Cambodia
The Queen of Denmark
The Pope (of the Holy See)
The Emperor of Japan
The King of Jordan
The Emir of Kuwait
The King of Lesotho
The Prince of Liechtenstein
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg
The King of Malaysia
The Prince of Monaco
The King of Morocco
The King of Nepal
The King of Norway
The Sultan of Oman
The Emir of Qatar
The Queen of the Netherlands
The Queen of the United Kingdom and of 15 other Commonwealth Realms
The King of Saudi Arabia
The King of Spain
The King of Swaziland
The King of Sweden
The King of Thailand
The King of Tonga

Some countries have reigning monarchs who are not head of state, for example the individual emirs of the United Arab Emirates and the kings of the Wallis and Futuna islands.

A monarch is also a type of butterfly.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Monarch."

Monarch butterfly

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Monarch butterfly

Scientific classification

Domain: Eukarya

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Sub-phylum: Uniramia

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Superfamily: Papilionoidea

Family: Nymphalidae

Subfamily: Danainae

Genus: Danaus

Species: plexippus

The Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a well-known North American butterfly. Its wings feature an easily recognizable orange and black pattern.
The butterfly is especially noted for its lengthy annual migration. Monarch butterflies make massive southward migrations during August through October. A northward migration takes place in the Spring. Female Monarch butterflies deposit eggs for the next generation during these migrations. The population east of the Rocky Mountains overwinters in Mexico, and the Western population overwinters in various sites in central coastal California, notably in Pacific Grove, California and Santa Cruz, California. The length of these journeys far exceeds the lifetime of any given butterfly. How the species manages to return to the same overwintering spots over a gap of several generations remains a mystery.
This is one of the few insects to manage transatlantic crossings. A few Monarchs turn up in the far southwest of Great Britain in any year when the wind conditions are right.
The life cycle of a Monarch butterfly includes a complete change of form called complete metamorphosis. This process goes through four radically different stages: First, as mentioned above, the eggs are laid by the females during migration. Second, the eggs hatch, revealing a worm-like larva, (or caterpillar). The caterpillars consume their egg case, then feeds on milkweed, and sequesters substances called cardenolides, related to the cardiac glycoside digitalis: the amount accumulated depends on the level present in the milkweed. This accumulation makes the adult butterfly distasteful and poisonous to Blue Jays and other would-be predators, and many such animals avoid consuming it: this has resulted in the evolution of mimics, which are colored like the monarch to ward off animals but are not themselves poisonous. During the caterpillar stage, the Monarchs store energy in the form of fat, and nutrients to carry them through the non-feeding pupa stage. The third stage of the Monarch life cycle is as a pupa, (or chrysalis). The caterpillar attaches itself to a lump of material secreted on a twig or leaf. It hangs upside down in the shape of a ‘J’ and in a molting, encases itself in an articulated green exoskeleton. At this point, hormonal changes occur, leading to the development of a butterfly. Fourth, the mature butterfly emerges after about two weeks.
The species was described by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758.
The monarch butterfly is the state insect of Texas.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Monarch butterfly."

Monarchy

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

A monarchy, (from the Greek "monos arkhein" -- "one ruler") is an absolutist form of government, ruled by a monarch. A distinguishing characteristic of modern monarchies is that the position of monarch often involves inheritance in some form - although this is not always the case. (The Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy are examples of elective monarchies). The term monarchy is also used to refer to the people and institutions that make up the royal establishment, or to the realm in which the monarchy functions.
In most countries with monarchies, the monarch serves as a symbol of continuity and statehood. Many states have a strong convention against the monarch becoming involved in partisan politics. In some cases, the symbolism of monarchy alongside the symbolism of a republic cause the combination to be divisive. For example, there is the case of Australia where the question of retaining a monarch as head of state touches on divisive and controversial questions of national identity.
Monarchies are one of the oldest forms of government, with echoes in the leadership of tribal chiefs. Many monarchies began as absolute monarchies, in a society with technologies that allow the concentration and organization of power but not enough for education and rapid communication to flourish. The economic structure of such monarchies is that of concentrated wealth, with the majority of the population as agricultural serfs. Other monarchies, notably among the Germanic peoples, began as ad-hoc coalitions between clans, forming the natural basis for elective monarchies, the elections often taking place at the Thing. In such a system territorial magnates (and free men) could have more influence.
Since 1800, many of the world's monarchies have become republics. Most countries which retain monarchy have limited the monarch's power, with most having become constitutional monarchies. England's monarchy was famously limited by the Magna Carta of 1215. Swaziland is the only country that retains an absolute monarchy, although the Middle Eastern monarchies certainly lean further in that direction than those in Europe; however we should also note recent (2003) developments in Liechtenstein.
In some cases, a hereditary monarchy exists, but actual power resides in the military. This has often historically been the case in Thailand and Japan. In Fascist Italy a monarchy coexisted with a fascist party for longer than such coexistences occurred in Romania, Hungary, Greece and Yugoslavia.
On several occasions throughout history, the same person has served as monarch of separate independent states. An Empire was traditionally ruled by a monarchy whose leader may have been known by different titles in his different realms. Several of former colonies of the British Empire, such as Australia, Canada, Jamaica, and New Zealand, continue to recognize the British Monarch as their own king or queen. In other cases, such as England and Scotland a personal union was the precursor to a merger of the states.
The rules for selection of monarchs varies from country to country. In constitutional monarchies the rule of succession is generally embodied in a law passed by parliament. The order of succession in most European monarchical states of the 21st century is by primogeniture. In earlier times, the succession was often unclear and this lead to a number of wars.
Monarchies can come to an end in several ways. There may be a revolution in which the monarchy is overthrown; or, as in Italy, there may be a referendum in which the electorate decides to form a republic. In some cases, as with England and Spain, the monarchy has been overthrown and then restored. Countries may regard themselves as monarchies without a named monarch, as Spain did in 1947-1975.
Sometimes, component members of federal states are monarchies, even though the federal state as a whole is not; for example each of the emirates that form the United Arab Emirates has its own monarch (an emir).
Another unique situation is Malaysia, in which the national king is elected for a five year term from and by the nine sultans who are the hereditary rulers of the states of the Malay peninsula.
Note that monarchy also has echoes of autocratic executives in commercial enterprises, especially private or family-controlled companies.
Some autocratic states can appear to have introduced inheritance for the head of state without declaing themselves to be monarchies, such as Syria and North Korea.
Monarchical states today (2003) include :
Andorra (official title is "co-prince")
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Coral Sea Islands Territory, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island and the Northern Territory.
The Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Bhutan (traditional title is "druk gyalpo")
Brunei Darussalam (official title is "sultan")
Cambodia
Canada, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon Territory
Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands
Grenada
Jamaica
Japan (official title is "emperor")
Jordan
Kuwait (official title is "emir")
Lesotho
Liechtenstein (official title is "prince")
Luxemburg (official title is "grand duke")
Malaysia (official title is "paramount ruler")
Monaco (official title is "prince")
Morocco
Nepal
The Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba
New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue
Norway, Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen and Svalbard
Oman (official title is "sultan")
Papua New Guinea
Qatar (official title is "emir")
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa (official title is "chief," traditional title is "o le Ao o le Malo")
Saudi Arabia
Solomon Islands
Spain
Swaziland
Sweden
Thailand
Tibet (in exile; the Dalai Lama enjoys monarch-like status)
Tonga
Tuvalu
United Arab Emirates (ruler is a monarch, yet is "president" of the Union)
United Kingdom, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena and Her Dependencies, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands
Vatican City (official title is "pope")
Compare: theocracy, democracy, oligarchy, feudalism, empire
See also: British monarchy, Dutch monarchy, Canadian monarchy, Emperor of Japan, Abolished monarchies

External link
Res Publica : an international anti-monarchy Web directory
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Monarchy."

Synonyms: Monarch

Synonyms: crowned head (n), milkweed butterfly (n), monarch butterfly (n), sovereign (n). (additional references)

Synonyms within Context: Monarch

Context	Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).
Master	Potentate; liege, liege lord; suzerain, sovereign, monarch, autocrat, despot, tyrant, oligarch.
Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

Crosswords: Monarch

English words defined with "monarch": allegiant ♦ -arch ♦ beefeater ♦ Chamber of paraments, consort, coronation, czar ♦ Danaidae, Danaus, dethrone, Divine right, Divine right of kings ♦ enthrone, enthronement, enthronisation, enthronization ♦ family Danaidae ♦ genus Danaus ♦ Hirohito ♦ incarnate, investiture ♦ King's Counsel ♦ Limenitis archippus ♦ Michinomiya Hirohito, monarchal, Monarchess, monarchial, monarchic, monarchical, Monarchize, monarchy ♦ national ♦ Padishah, Poverty grass, presence chamber, Privy purse ♦ Queen's Counsel ♦ regent, Regnal, reign, republic, royal ♦ shah, sovereignty, subject ♦ throne, tsar, tzar ♦ viceroy ♦ Walloon guard, War of the Roses, Wars of the Roses, Weak ♦ yeoman, yeoman of the guard, Yezdegerdian. (references)

Specialty definitions using "monarch": Bt ♦ Carmelite, COLE ♦ Editor ♦ Fashion ♦ GREAT ♦ HEAD ♦ -head ♦ Hon'i ♦ Lucinian ♦ maiden, Maunds, Merry Monarch ♦ Noble Soul ♦ Perdrix, toujours Perdrix ♦ Queen's Bench ♦ RUSSIA ♦ SCIMETAR ♦ Tibni ♦ Vathek ♦ Yacoub ebn Laith. (references)

Etymologies containing "monarch": monarchy. (references)

Non-English Usage: "Monarch" is also a word in the following languages with English translations in parentheses.

Dutch (monarch), German (monarch).

Modern Usage: Monarch

Domain	Usage
Lyrics	That as a monarch he was most unfit (Oedipus Rex; performing artist: Tom Lehrer)
Movie/TV Titles	On the Wings of the Monarch (2001) The Merry Monarch (1933) Monarch of the Glen (2000) Red Monarch (1983) Monarch (1980)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Commercial Usage: Monarch

Domain	Title
References	Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc.: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference) Monarch Cement Company: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference) Monarch Dental Corporation: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference) Monarch Services, Inc.: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference) (more reference examples)

Books	Bison: Monarch of the Plains (reference) Monarch Butterfly (reference) Monarch Magic!: Butterfly Activities & Nature Discoveries (Williamson Kids Good Times!(Tm).) (reference) Richard II (English Monarch Series) (reference) The Bald Eagle: Haunts and Habits of a Wilderness Monarch (Smithsonian Nature Book) (reference) (more book examples)

Theater & Movies	Monarch of the Glen Vol. 1 (reference) (more DVD examples; more video examples)

High Tech	NIKON 7432 10x42 Monarch Binoculars (reference) Nikon Monarch ATB 8X42 Waterproof Binocular (reference) Monarch Pricemarker Labels, 2 Line, White, Pack Of 1750 (reference) Monarch 5.0 (reference) Monarch 6.0 (reference) (more camera examples; more video game examples; more computer examples; more electronic examples; more software examples)

Consumer Goods	Lenox Butterfly Meadow Accent Salad Plate, Monarch (reference) (more baby examples; more wireless phone examples; more garden examples; more kitchen examples; more tool examples)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Image Slideshow: Monarch

Photo Album: Monarch

Thumbnail	Description & Credit	Thumbnail	Description & Credit
	Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Monarch butterfly - Danaus plexippus. These beautiful butterflies are poisonous to predators and feed on the reserves many milkweed plants. Credit: National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR).		Monarch butterfly on purple prairie coneflower in a back yard in Des Moines, Iowa. Credit: Lynn Betts.
	Line engraving after a sketch by Alexander Simplot, published in "Harper's Weekly", 1862. Ships in the foreground are: Monarch (letter "M" between stacks), Queen of the West (with letter "Q") and Lioness(letter "L"). In the left background are: Switzerland (with letter "S" on paddlebox), Samson and Lancaster. Note cotton bales stacked on deck to protect boilers. Credit: NAVY.		Lithograph by Middleton, Strobridge & Co. In the foreground, the print depicts the Confederate ships (from left to right): General M. Jeff Thompson (shown sinking); Little Rebel (shown burning); General Sterling Price; General Beauregard (shown being rammed by the Ellet Ram Monarch); General Bragg (shown aground) and Colonel Lovell (shown sinking). In the background are the Federal warships (from left to right): Queen of the West; Cairo; Carondelet; Louisville; Saint Louis; a tug; and Benton. The city of Memphis is in the right distance, with a wharf boat by the shore. Credit: NAVY.
	Engraving after a sketch by Alexander Simplot, published in "Harper's Weekly", depicting the action between the Confederate River Defense Fleet and Federal warships off Memphis, Tennessee. In the center foreground the CSS General Beauregard is being rammed by the Federal ram Monarch. At left are the disabled Federal ram Queen of the West and the Confederate ships General Sterling Price and Little Rebel. Other Federal ships are in the center and left distance, with other Confederate ships in the center and right middle distance. Credit: NAVY.		Probably photographed at Portland, Maine. The most distant ship, in right center, is HMS Monarch, which carried the body of the late philanthropist George M. Peabody home to the United States for burial. Her escort, USS Plymouth, is next closest to the camera. The twin-turret monitor is probably USS Miantonomoh, which was detailed to meet the funeral ships when they arrived in U.S. waters. Credit: NAVY.
	The Fallen monarch. Credit: Library of Congress.		Newest portrait of Albanian monarch. Credit: Library of Congress.
	Monarch grain elevator. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Credit: Library of Congress.		"Fallen Monarch", Sept. 15, 1911, Mariposa Big Tree Grove. Credit: Library of Congress.
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Digital Photo Gallery: Monarch


"Monarch on Purple Flower" by William J. Ray Commentary: "Taken while walking in a glade in Cleveland, OH."	"Monarch" by Jillian Balfour Commentary: "This beautiful creature was inside my car one morning when i'd left the windows down."
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers.

Familiar Quotations: Monarch

Author	Quotation
John Dryden	He invades authors like a monarch; and what would be theft in other poets is only victory in him.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Historic Usage: Monarch

Author	Date	Quotation
John Locke	1690	If any body should ask me, when my son is of age to be free? I shall answer, just when his monarch is of age to govern. (Second Treatise of Government)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Use in Literature: Monarch

Title	Author	Quote
Gulliver's Travels	Swift, Jonathan	This was my sincere endeavor in those many discourses I had with that mighty monarch, although it unfortunately failed of success
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Non-Fiction Usage: Monarch

Subject	Topic	Quote
Business		A revolutionary military uprising on October 10, 1911, led to the abdication of the last Qing monarch. (references)
Civil Liberties	Thailand	The Constitution requires that the monarch be a Buddhist. (references)
Economic History	Barbados	The governor general represents the Monarch. (references)
	Swaziland	Most Swazis ascribe a special spiritual role to the monarch. (references)
Political Economy	Spain	Spain is a democracy with a constitutional monarch. (references)
	Netherlands	The Monarch (Queen Beatrix) is the titular Head of State. (references)
	Cambodia	King Norodom Sihanouk remains the constitutional monarch and Head of State. (references)
Political Rights	Tuvalu	The Prime Minister may appoint or dismiss the Governor General on behalf of the British monarch. (references)
	Liechtenstein	The draft bill, which would increase the executive powers of the monarch, went before Parliament for a first reading in November. (references)
	Tonga	While the Constitution allows the monarch broad powers, many of which do not require the legislative branch's endorsement, the King at times permits "the system" to operate without his guidance. (references)
Lexicography	Devil's Dictionary	HEAD-:MONEY:, n. A capitation tax, or poll-tax. In ancient times there lived a king Whose tax-collectors could not wring From all his subjects gold enough To make the royal way less rough. For pleasure's highway, like the dames Whose premises adjoin it, claims Perpetual repairing. So The tax-collectors in a row Appeared before the throne to pray Their master to devise some way To swell the revenue. "So great," Said they, "are the demands of state A tithe of all that we collect Will scarcely meet them. Pray reflect: How, if one-tenth we must resign, Can we exist on t'other nine?" The monarch asked them in reply: "Has it occurred to you to try The advantage of economy?" "It has," the spokesman said: "we sold All of our gray garrotes of gold; With plated-ware we now compress The necks of those whom we assess. Plain iron forceps we employ To mitigate the miser's joy Who hoards, with greed that never tires, That which your Majesty requires." Deep lines of thought were seen to plow Their way across the royal brow. "Your state is desperate, no question; Pray favor me with a suggestion." "O King of Men," the spokesman said, "If you'll impose upon each head A tax, the augmented revenue We'll cheerfully divide with you." As flashes of the sun illume The parted storm-cloud's sullen gloom, The king smiled grimly. "I decree That it be so -- and, not to be In generosity outdone, Declare you, each and every one, Exempted from the operation Of this new law of capitation. But lest the people censure me Because they're bound and you are free, 'Twere well some clever scheme were laid By you this poll-tax to evade. I'll leave you now while you confer With my most trusted minister." The monarch from the throne-room walked And straightway in among them stalked A silent man, with brow concealed, Bare-armed -- his gleaming axe revealed! G.J.
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Speeches: Monarch

Speaker	Term	Phrase(s)
John Adams	1797-1801	For, although the will of an absolute monarch is law, yet his edicts must be registered by parliaments.
Andrew Jackson	1829-1837	The sole ground on which indemnity has been refused is the alleged illegality of the tenure by which the monarch who made the seizures held his crown.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Usage Frequency: Monarch

"Monarch" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 97.46% of the time. "Monarch" is used about 709 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)

Parts of Speech	Percent	Usage per 100 Million Words	Rank in English
Noun (singular)	97.46%	691	9,616
Noun (proper)	1.97%	14	93,893
Lexical Verb (base form)	0.56%	4	175,879
Total	100.00%	709	N/A

Source: compiled by