Absolute monarchy

An absolute monarchy is a form of monarchy where one person, usually called a monarch (or king or queen) holds absolute power. It is in contrast to constitutional monarchy, which is restrained or controlled by other groups of people. Controllers may be an entity such as clergy, lawmakers, social elites or a written constitution.

  Absolute monarchies

  Semi-constitutional monarchies

  Parliamentary constitutional monarchies

  Commonwealth realms (parliamentary monarchies in personal union)

  Subnational monarchies

Louis XIV of France, popularly known as the Sun king on a portrait by Hyacinthe Rigaud, done around 1700. The French king is shown with all the signs of power, which show that his reign is legitimated by the grace of God. This portrait was used as a blueprint for other similar portraits of European monarchs of the time.

One nation though, The Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, had the absolute rule of the monarch written in a constitution named "The King's Law" (Kongeloven).

A significant number of monarchs were previously absolute rulers within their kingdom, but after the French Revolution (end-18th century) it became ever more common for monarchs to be limited by a constitution.

Nowadays, there are a few absolute monarchies that have been preserved. Some of these remaining absolute monarchies can be found among Arab countries.

Related pages

• Autocracy