Monarchy: GCSE History Definition

What is a Monarchy?

In GCSE History, a monarchy is a system of government where a king or queen is the head of state. 

There are many different types of monarchy. The definition has changed and evolved throughout history as populations have demanded their share of a monarch’s power and fought for democracy. The two most popular forms of monarchy are: 

• Absolute monarchy 

• Constitutional monarchy   

An absolute monarchy is when a king or queen has complete control and authority over their country. There are no checks or limits to their power, such as a government. Some key examples are: 

• William the Conqueror (1066-1087)

• King Louis XIV of France (1643-1715)

• Catherine II (the Great) of Russia (1762-1796) 

A constitutional monarchy is when a king or queen rules a country however, their power is shared and limited by a constitutionally organised government. Some key examples are: 

• Modern-day Britain 

• Modern-day Japan

Although absolute and constitutional monarchy are the two main types, there are several others such as: 

• A mixed monarchy 

  • A form of government where both the monarch and a governing body rules a country. However, the monarch has a vast amount of power e.g. King Charles I of England 

• An autocratic monarchy 

  • A monarch has absolute power, or autocracy, over a country e.g. Tsar Nicholas II of Russia 

• A federal monarchy 

  • A federation of states with a single monarch as the head. However, individual states have a different monarch or non-monarchical system e.g. Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm II 

Monarchy Revision Resources to Ace Your Exams

Explore our revision notes for Edexcel GCSE, AQA GCSE and CIE IGCSE to see where monarchy fits into the revision notes for those specifications

Why not use the Save My Exams flashcards and exam questions to revise monarchy and related topics? 

GCSE History Revision Resources