There are and have been throughout recorded history a great many monarchies in the world. Tribal kingship and Chiefdoms have been the most widespread form of social organisation from the Neolithic, and the predominance of monarchies has declined only with the rise of Republicanism in the modern era.
A monarchical form of government can be combined with many different kinds of political and economic systems, from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy and from a market economy to a planned economy. Some examples for certain forms of monarchy are:
Extant monarchies are listed in bold type.
Antiquity Trigarta kingdom (c. BC – c. 1946) Egypt (c. 3500 BC – 30 BC) Monarchy of China (c. 2070 BC – 1912 AD; ended by revolution) Chinese Empire (221 BC – 1912 AD) Minoan Crete (c. 2600 BC – 1200 BC) Akkadian Empire (c. 23rd century BC – c. 21st century BC) Babylon (1959 BC – c. 6th century BC; absorbed by Persian Empire) Mycenaean Greece (c. 1600 BC – c. 1100 BC) United Monarchy of Israel (c. 1050 BC- c. 930 BC); succeeded by the following two kingdoms: Kingdom of Israel (c. 930 BC- 722 BC; conquered by Assyria) Kingdom of Judah (c. 930 BC– 586 BC; conquered by Babylon) Athens (c. 1000 BC – 683 BC) Sparta (c. 1300 BC – 192 BC) Macedon (808 BC – 148 BC) Roman Kingdom (753 BC – 509 BC) Magadha (c. 600 BC – 26 BC) Persian Empire (c. 648 BC – 334 BC; became subnational monarchy of Kingdom of Macedon) Sinhalese monarchy (c. 543 BC – 1815 AD) Gojoseon (? – 108 BC) Kingdom of Armenia (321 BC – 428 AD) Persian Empire (323 BC – 1037 AD; became subnational monarchy of Sultanate of Seljuk) Laigin, founded c. 300 BC – 1632. Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (250 BC – 125 BC; became Kushan Empire) Indo-Greek Kingdom (180 BC – 10 AD) Hasmoneans (140 BC – 37 BC; succeeded by Herodian Dynasty) Herodian Dynasty (37 BC – 92 AD) Ulaid, c. 1st century BC – 1201 Kushan Empire (105 BC – 270 AD; became Kidarite Kingdom) Silla (57 BC – 935 AD) Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) Roman Empire (31 BC – 476 AD) Baekje (c. 18 BC – 660 AD) Funan (c. 1st century AD – c. 7th century; absorbed into Khmer Empire) Gangga Negara (c. 1st century – 1026) Indo-Parthian Kingdom (c. 1st century – c. 106) Västergötland (c. 1st century – c. 6th to 12th century; absorbed by Sweden) Aidhne (pre-1st century – 1543) Sri Ksetra (c. 1st century – 656) Kingdom of Axum (1st century – 960 AD) Cóiced Ol nEchmacht – pre 2nd century AD to c. 600. Kingship of Tara (? – 1022 AD) Chera Kingdom (c. 3rd century BC – 1102 AD; became Kingdom of Venad) Chola Kingdom (c. 3rd century BC – 1279 AD; absorbed into Pandyan Kingdom) Srivijaya (c. 3rd century AD – c. 1400; became Sultanate of Malacca) Sassanid Empire (226 – 651; a period of Persian Empire) Gupta Empire (240–550) Wa (Japan) (3rd to 5th century – 12th century) Byzantine Empire (324–1453; absorbed into Ottoman Empire) Uí Maine, Ireland, c. 357 – c. 1611. Kingdom of Osraige, c. 4th century – c. 1556. Kingdom of Uí Failghe, at least 4th century – 16th century. Kedah Kingdom (630–1136; became Kedah Sultanate) Kidarite Kingdom (c. 4th century – c. 5th century) Kingdom of Powys (c. 4th century – 1284; absorbed into England) Pictland (c. 4th century – 843; merged with Dál Riata to form Scotland) Kingdom of Gwynedd (c. 5th century – 1209; absorbed into Wales) Connacht (4th/5th century – 1478) Máenmag (pre 581 – 8th/9th century) Suebi (410–584) Tethbae (pre 5th – 11th century) Merovingians (410–751) Rheged (~420-638; annexed by Northumbria) Ailech (5th-century – 1185) Visigothic Kingdom (475–718) Ostrogothic Kingdom (489–553; absorbed into Byzantine Empire) Kingdom of Terengganu (c. 6th century – c. 15th century; became subnational monarchy of Malacca) Dál Riata (pre 6th century – 839; merged with Pictland to form Scotland) Pattani Kingdom (c. 500 – c. 11th century; became subnational monarchy of Srivijaya) Frankish Empire (509 – 843; became Holy Roman Empire) Kingdom of Mide (c. 530's – 1173) Chenla (550 – c. 715) Mercia (585 – 918; absorbed into England) Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe (c. 600 – c.1603) Frisian kingdom (around 600 – 734; destroyed by the Franks.) Brega (pre-604 – 1171) Cnogba (Knowth) (pre 634 – 10th century) Conaille Muirtheimne (pre 668 – after 1081) Kingdom of Breifne (6th century – 1605) Northumbria (654–954) Champa (c. 7th century – 1832) Sunda Kingdom (669–1579 centuries) Srivijaya (671–1025 centuries) First Bulgarian Empire (681 – 1018; absorbed into Byzantine Empire) Airgíalla (pre-697 AD – 1590) Deis Mumhain (pre 697 – c. 1244) Balhae Empire (698–926)
Middle Ages and Renaissance Kingdom of the Canary Islands (1404-1450) Loch Gabhair (8th–11th centuries) Al-Andalus (711–1492; absorbed by Kingdom of Spain) Kingdom of Denmark (pre 714–1848; became constitutional monarchy) Kingdom of Asturias (718–924; absorbed by Kingdom of León) Mataram kingdom (732 –1016 AD) Maigh Seóla (pre-752 AD. – 1051) Umaill (pre-773 AD – c. 1603) Sultanate of Morocco (789–1957; became semi-constitutional monarchy) Khmer Empire (802–1431; became Khmer Kingdom) High Kings of Ireland (c. 800 – 1198) Kingdom of Ireland (1542–1800, United with the Kingdom of Great Britain to become the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) Kingdom of Navarre (824–1512; absorbed into Kingdom of Spain) Murcia (825–1243; became subnational monarchy of the Kingdom of Castile) Holy Roman Empire (843–1806; dissolved after defeat by Napoleon) Kingdom of France (843–1791; became constitutional monarchy) Unification of Japan (16th century) Kingdom of Scotland (843–1707; united with Kingdom of England to become Kingdom of Great Britain) Bagan Kingdom (849–1364) Kingdom of Dublin (853–1171) Kingdom of Norway (872–1814; became constitutional monarchy with the Swedish Sovereign as King) Kievan Rus' (882–1240) Kingdom of León (913 – c. 13th century; absorbed into Crown of Castile) Bali Kingdom (914–1908; ) Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392; became Joseon Dynasty) Kingdom of Aragon (925–1162; became Crown of Aragon) Kingdom of Croatia (medieval) (925–1102) Kingdom of England (927–1707; united with Kingdom of Scotland to become Kingdom of Great Britain) Magh Luirg (c. 956 – c. 1585) Kingdom of Sweden (970–1866; became constitutional monarchy) Ma-i (Before AD 971-1339) Sultanate of Egypt (972–1517; became subnational monarchy of the Ottoman Empire) Kingdom of Castile (1037–1230; became Crown of Castile) Sultanate of Seljuk (A dynasty established in Iran 1037–1307) Kingdom of Nri (1043—1911) Síol Anmchadha (pre 1066 – after 1567) County of Edessa (1098–1144) Principality of Antioch (1098–1268) Kingdom of Jerusalem (1099–1187, 1192–1291) County of Tripoli (1102–1289) Kingdom of Venad (1102 – c. 1750) Thomond (1118–1543) Kingdom of Desmond (1118–1596) Kingdom of Portugal (1139–1910; ended by revolution) Crown of Aragon (1162–1479; became Kingdom of Spain) Vladimir-Suzdal (1125–1389; became Grand Principality of Moscow) Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1396; absorbed into Ottoman Empire) Shōgun (c. 12th century – 19th century; rule on behalf of the imperial court) Unification of Japan (c. 16th century) Sultanate of Maldives (1153–1953, 1954–1968) Kingdom of Cyprus (1192–1489) Kingdom of Bohemia (1198–1806; with the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire absorbed into Austrian Empire) Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia (1199–1349; absorbed into Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania) Kingdom of Poland (1025–1031; 1076–1079; 1295–1296; 1300–1305; 1320–1795) Latin Empire (1204-1261; absorbed into Byzantine Empire) Despotate of Epirus (1204–1337, 1356–1479; absorbed into Byzantine empire and then Ottoman Empire respectively) Kingdom of Thessalonica (1204-1224; absorbed into Despotate of Epirus) Empire of Nicaea (1204–1261; reestablished the Byzantine Empire) Empire of Trebizond (1204–1461) Principality of Achaea (1205–1432) Duchy of Athens (1205–1458) Mongol Empire (1206–1368) Principality of Wales (1208–1283; absorbed by England) Serb Kingdom (1217–1395; regal title not succeeded) Singhasari (1222–1292) Empire of Thessalonica (1224–1246) Crown of Castile (1230–1479; became Kingdom of Spain) Aztec Empire (known to exist before 1233 Conquered by Spain 1521; Puppet monarchy through 1565) Sukhothai Kingdom (1238–1438; absorbed into Ayutthaya Kingdom) Lanna (1259–1939) Principality of Andorra (1278–1993; became constitutional monarchy) Majapahit (1292–1527) Ottoman Empire (1299–1922) Ajuran Empire (13th-17th) Sultanate of Gowa (14th century–1957) County of Cilli (1341–1456; absorbed by the Habsburgs) Serbian Empire (1345–1371; empire dissolved) Ayutthaya Kingdom (1350–1767; became Kingdom of Siam) Kingdom of Vidin (1356–1396; absorbed into the Ottoman Empire) Grand Principality of Moscow (1389–1547; became Tsardom of Russia) Sultanate of Brunei (c. 1363 century – 1959; became absolute monarchy with a constitution) 1st Kingdom of Ava (1364–1527) Kingdom of Bosnia (1377–1463) Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897; became Korean Empire 1897–1910, then Japanese occupation) Ashanti (c. 1400 – 1900; became subnational monarchy of Gold Coast) Sultanate of Malacca (1400–1511; ended with Portuguese occupation) Kelantan (1411–1499; became subnational monarchy of Malacca) Sultanate of Sulu (1412–1915; ceded temporal powers to the United States; became subnational monarchy of the Philippine Islands) Ryūkyū Kingdom (1429–1879; annexed to Japan) Khmer Kingdom (1431–1954; became Kingdom of Cambodia) Kingdom of Spain (1479–1812; became constitutional monarchy) Aceh Sultanate (1496–1903) Persia (1500–1935; became Kingdom of Iran) Sultanate of Maguindanao (1505 – 19th century; occupied by Spain) Bunyoro (c. 1520 – 1899; became subnational monarchy of the United Kingdom) Pegu Kingdom (1527–1531) Sultanate of Johor (1528–1946; became subnational monarchy of Malayan Union) Sultanate of Perak (1528–1874; became subnational monarchy of the United Kingdom) Maguindanao Sultanate (1205 – 19th century; annexed by Spain) Taungoo Kingdom (1531 – c. 1610) Tsardom of Russia (1576–1721; became Russian Empire) Mataram Sultanate (1584–1755; became Yogyakarta Sultanate and Surakarta Sunanate) 2nd Kingdom of Ava (1613–1752)
Enlightenment and later
Constitutional monarchies A constitutional monarchy is a form of monarchical government established under a constitutional system which acknowledges an elected or hereditary monarch as head of state.
Unitary constitutional monarchies Unitary constitutional monarchies are unitary states which are governed constitutionally as one single unit, with a single constitutionally created legislature.
Kingdom of England (1660–1707; merged with Kingdom of Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain) Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918) Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800, became United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) Kingdom of France (1791–1792), monarchy overthrown during the French Revolution; (1814–1815), monarchy deposed at the beginning of the Hundred Days; (1815–1830), monarchy overthrown during the July Revolution; (1830–1848), monarchy overthrown during the French Revolution of 1848 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1800–1921; became United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) Kingdom of Bohemia (1806–1918; dissolved after World War I) Kingdom of Hungary (1867–1918; part of Austro-Hungarian Empire) Kingdom of Spain (1812–1873; First Spanish Republic, 1873–1874; Restoration, 1874–1931; Second Spanish Republic, 1931–1939; Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939; dictatorship and regency under Franco, 1939–1975; Spanish transition to democracy 1975–1978, constitutional monarchy restored 1978–present) Kingdom of Norway (1814–present, Swedish Sovereign as King 1814–1905, independent in 1905) Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815–present) French Empire (1815 during the Hundred Days) First Mexican Empire (1821–1823); ended by forced abdication