Elective monarchy

An elective monarchy is a type of monarchy where the ruler is chosen, or elected(/w/1), instead of taking power by birth alone. This means that leaders are not always from the same family, but are picked by a group of people. The rules for who can be chosen and who does the choosing can be different in each place.

In the past, many elective monarchies slowly changed into ones where power stayed in the same family. This often happened when the same family was chosen again and again over time. Sometimes, families that usually passed power down by birth would add rules allowing some choice in who became the next ruler, especially after difficult times for the family.

Evolution

Most elected monarchies followed rules that kept power within the same family. They made sure that the next ruler came from the royal family and often decided who would be next when the current ruler passed away without someone ready to take over. This helped prevent big problems when deciding who would lead next.

Historical examples

Europe

Ancient Greece

The kings of Macedon and of Epirus were chosen by the army. This was similar to the Ecclesia of the Demos, the group of all free Athenian citizens.

Ancient Rome and Byzantium

In the ancient Roman Kingdom the kings were chosen by the Roman assemblies. When a king died, the senate would pick someone called an interrex to help choose a new king. Later, Octavian called himself princeps senatus, meaning "first among senators," suggesting he was chosen by the Senate.

Great Britain

In Anglo-Saxon England, people had a system where the ruler was chosen instead of just passing power to the next family member.

John of England became king after his brother, Richard I, died in 1199. A group of nobles and advisors chose him because the next heir was just a child at the time.

In the 14th, 15th, late 17th and early 18th century, England had a mix of choosing rulers and passing power in families. Henry IV of England was chosen by Parliament in 1399 to be king after Richard II because Richard had no children, and the next heir was also just a child. Parliament picked Henry instead. Later, during events like the Wars of the Roses, Parliament also confirmed who would be king. During a time called the Exclusion Crisis, King Charles II did not like these ideas.

After a big change called the Glorious Revolution, a group called the Convention Parliament chose William III and Mary II to be king and queen instead of James II. They were followed by Mary's sister Anne. Parliament then made laws like the Act of Settlement 1701 and the Succession to the Crown Act 1707 to change who could be king. These laws made sure that certain groups, like the Stuarts, could not be king. Later, the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 changed the rules so that the oldest child, no matter if they were a boy or a girl, would become king or queen.

In Scotland, nobles had the right to choose a king if needed, as stated in the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320. A system called Tanistry was used until King Malcolm II started passing power directly to children in the early 11th century. The Isle of Man also used tanistry.

Ireland

In Ireland, from early times until the mid-16th/early 17th century, the way leaders were chosen was based on family ties through a system known as tanistry.

Gaul/France

The Gallic tribes each had a leader called a rix, which means king. These kings were chosen for one year or longer from families of past kings.

The Frankish kingdom sometimes chose its kings. Kings from the Merovingian family were chosen, and sometimes from the Carolingian family. In the 10th century, Western Frankish kings were chosen from different families before the Capetians took over. Medieval France had a system where the king would choose his son to be co-king during his life. This made the choice almost automatic and stopped being a real choice after Philip II ruled.

After declaring the throne open, leaders in France voted to make Louis-Philippe of France king in 1830. France also had a short time where Napoleon III was first chosen as leader and then made himself an emperor.

Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire is a well-known example of a system where leaders were chosen. From 1440 to 1740, always a member of the Habsburg family was chosen emperor, making it almost like passing power in a family. During this time, the emperor was chosen by a group of nobles called prince-electors. Some of these electors were religious leaders who also ruled areas.

Bohemia

Since medieval times, the King of Bohemia was chosen by groups known as the Estates of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown. In 1618, the leaders of Bohemia chose a new king, Frederick V, Elector Palatine, even though they had already chosen Ferdinand II. The Habsburg family saw this as rebellion, took back control, and ended the system of choosing kings.

Hungary

Hungary had a system of choosing kings until 1687. This right continued for some time in the Principality of Transylvania, which was part of the Lands of the Hungarian Crown but separated after King Louis II died.

Iberia

In Visigothic Hispania, kings were chosen from families of past kings, following German traditions. Later, kings often named their oldest son to help govern, so the son was ready to lead when the father died. In the 5th century, passing power in families became more common, but after invasions, they went back to choosing kings. After things settled in the 6th century, the family of Leovigild tried to pass power to their children until a leader named Swintila was removed, and a meeting in 633 declared that choosing kings was the way things should be done.

The Kingship of Aragon started with leaders being chosen by important barons. Later, this right was limited to the Cortes confirming the next heir.

Crown of the Kingdom of Poland

After Jadwiga Anjou became queen of the Kingdom of Poland in 1384, nobles chose Jogaila of Lithuania to be her husband and co-king in 1386. Even though Jadwiga was a queen who passed power by family, her and her daughter's deaths in 1399 broke the line of heirs. Nobles still recognized Jogaila as king under the name Ladislaus II, but his children by other wives were not automatically seen as future rulers, though he worked to get them chosen. His descendants were often chosen to rule until Sigismund II Augustus died in 1572. Nobles wanted to control who became king, thinking children would grow up better leaders if chosen instead of just inheriting power.

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

The tradition of choosing the ruler went back to the start of Poland. The right to choose was usually with the most powerful nobles or officials and was affected by local traditions and the strength of the current ruler.

The rules changed a lot in the 1570s and stayed that way until Poland was divided. There were thirteen times when rulers were chosen in Poland–Lithuania from 1573 to 1764. The choice in 1575/1576 was very important because the people had to remove their first chosen ruler, and two people were announced as winners. The nobles were able to choose Stephen Báthory and avoid a war with Maximilian II of Habsburg.

Scandinavia

In Scandinavian countries, kings were chosen after the previous king died. The choice was not always limited to the previous king's family. Sometimes, there were multiple kings ruling together. When single rule started in the 9th century, fights over power happened more often. Later, when Christianity spread, rules like only the oldest son becoming king were made in Norway in 1163 and Denmark in 1170, but the idea of choosing kings still existed. Local groups still had to agree, and nobles would choose the new king even while the current king was still alive.

Sovereign Military Order of Malta

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta, also called the Knights Hospitaller, is still a independent group today. It is led by the Prince and Grand Master, who is chosen for life by a group called the Council Complete of State. The Prince and Grand Master is treated like a prince and has important church roles. The Council that chooses the prince includes leaders and representatives from around the world. The Sovereign Council helps the prince govern.

Asia

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, groups called loya jirgas have been reported since at least the early 18th century.

Persia/Iran

The Parthian Empire (248 BC–224 AD), also called the Arsacid Empire, is thought to be the first place in Asia where leaders were chosen.

Mongol Empire

In the Mongol Empire, the Great Khan was chosen by the Kurultai. This group often met in the capital city. Other important leadership roles were also given out.

Korea

The ancient Korean kingdom of Silla chose its first king in 57 BC by a meeting of tribal and village leaders. In Unified Silla, kings were chosen by the aristocracy, who had as much power as the king. In the kingdom of Goguryeo, the leader was chosen from the heads of five tribes, often from the Sono tribe.

Siam/Thailand

There were times when the Kingdom of Siam and Thailand used a system where leaders were chosen to solve arguments over who should be next king:

• In 1824, Phutthaloetla Naphalai died suddenly without naming a successor. Senior nobles supported Chetsadabodin to be the next king.

• In 1867, Mongkut died without saying who should be next. A council led by Prince Deves chose Chulalongkorn to be king. Because Chulalongkorn was only 15, Si Suriyawongse was chosen to guide the country until he was older.

• On 2 March 1935, the National Assembly and the Thai government chose Prince Ananda Mahidol to be the next king after his uncle, King Prajadhipok, stepped down without naming an heir.

Oceania

Some Māori tribes in the central North Island of New Zealand chose Pōtatau Te Wherowhero as their king in 1858. The Māori King movement or Kiingitanga continues today. On 5 September 2024, King Tuheitia's daughter was announced as the next monarch by the Tekau-ma-Rua. She will be the second queen of the Kīngitanga, after her grandmother Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.

The Americas

United States

There was a plan to make the President of the United States a chosen leader for life, but it was not accepted. Alexander Hamilton spoke in support of this idea at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, but it was voted down in favor of a four-year term that could be renewed.

Haiti

The Empire of Haiti, created in 1804, had a system where the leader was chosen, according to its 1805 constitution.

Other elections

In 1971, seven Emirates in the Arabian Peninsula came together to form the United Arab Emirates. The leaders of these Emirates chose Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan from Abu Dhabi to be the first President. Zayed then voted for Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. Long ago, in the 8th century, leaders in a place called the Pala Empire also picked their ruler, Gopala, in a similar way. This kind of choosing a leader was common in many tribal groups at that time.

Invitation

Sometimes, when a new country was forming or facing big problems, people would choose and ask someone to become their leader, or monarch. For example, on October 9, 1918, the Parliament of brand-new Finland chose Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse, who was related to the leader of Germany, to be their king. But soon after, Germany lost World War I, and Finland decided to become a republic instead.

In old Russia, around the year 862, different groups asked a leader named Rurik to help bring peace. He is seen as the start of the Russian monarchy, and his family ruled until 1598. In places like Pskov and Novgorod, leaders from nearby areas were sometimes asked to help govern.

Current elective monarchies

Cambodia

In Cambodia, the monarch is chosen for life by a group of nine leaders called the Royal Council of the Throne. The person chosen must be at least 30 years old and come from families of past kings: King Ang Duong, King Norodom, or King Sisowath.

Holy See

In the Holy See and Vatican City State, the Pope is elected for life by a group called the College of Cardinals. The Pope is usually chosen from among the cardinals themselves.

Malaysia

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia is elected for five years by nine rulers from the Malay States. They vote in secret to choose the next king. The position usually rotates among these rulers, and the king cannot be chosen again until all have had a turn.

The state of Negeri Sembilan in Malaysia also has its own elected leader called the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan. This leader is chosen by a group of important local leaders, called ruling chiefs, who are themselves chosen by other leaders. Only men from certain families can be chosen, following old traditions.

United Arab Emirates

The leader of the United Arab Emirates, called the president, is chosen every five years by a group of leaders known as the Federal Supreme Council. In practice, the president has usually been from the Al Nahyan family of Abu Dhabi. Each of the seven regions, or emirates, has its own ruler chosen by that region's ruling family.

Similar forms

Andorra is a small country led by two co-leaders, or co-princes. One co-prince is chosen by the people of France, while the other is a religious leader from Spain, called the Bishop of La Seu d'Urgell.

In some places, leaders are chosen by groups of elders or special councils. For example, the leader of the Ngöbe people in Costa Rica and Panama is chosen for life by 13 elders.

Samoa chooses its head of state, called the O le Ao o le Malo, for five years by the country's parliament, the Fono.

In Saudi Arabia, the next king is chosen by agreement among powerful members of the royal family.

The Kiingitanga movement in New Zealand chooses a Māori monarch selected by leaders from different Māori groups, called the Tekau-mā-rua.