A monarch is the person at the head of a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and rules for life or until abdication. Monarchs may be autocrats (absolute monarchy) or ceremonial heads of state who exercise little or no power or only reserve power, with actual authority vested in a parliament or other body (constitutional monarchy).
Read more about Monarch: Characteristics, Classification, Succession, Titles and Precedence, Use of Titles By Non-sovereigns
Famous quotes containing the word monarch:
“A monarch must sometimes rule even himself: he who wants everything must risk very little.”
—Pierre Corneille (1606–1684)
“The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.
‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest. It becomes
The thronèd monarch better than his crown.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“You are a king by your own fireside, as much as any monarch in his throne.”
—Miguel De Cervantes (1547–1616)