Personal union
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A personal union is a combination of two or more monarchical states that have the same monarch while their boundaries, laws, and interests remain distinct.[1] A real union, by contrast, involves the constituent states being to some extent interlinked, such as by sharing some limited governmental institutions. Unlike a personal union, in a federation or a unitary state, a central (federal) government spanning all member states exists, with the degree of self-governance distinguishing the two. The ruler in a personal union does not need to be a hereditary monarch.[note 1]
The term was coined by German jurist Johann Stephan Pütter, introducing it into Elementa iuris publici germanici (Elements of German Public Law) of 1760.[2]
Personal unions can arise for several reasons, such as:
- inheritance through a dynastic union, e.g. Louis X of France inherited France from his father and Navarre from his mother
- decolonization, where ex-colonies install the monarch of the former colonizing power as their own upon becoming independent, e.g. several former members of the British Empire (then becoming Commonwealth realms)
- autonomization, e.g. instead of annexing Finland into the Russian Empire, Alexander I of Russia organized Finland as an autonomous grand duchy and acted as its head of state[3]
They can also be codified (i.e., the constitutions of the states clearly express that they shall share the same person as head of state) or non-codified, in which case they can easily be broken (e.g., by the death of the monarch when the two states have different succession laws).
The concept of a personal union has only very rarely crossed over from monarchies into republics.
There are currently two personal unions in the world: the
Commonwealth realms, who share Charles III as their head of state, and one of the Co-Princes of Andorra being the President of France
.
Monarchies in personal union
Africa
Congo Free State and Belgium
- Personal union with Belgium from 1885 to 1908, when the Congo Free State became a Belgian colony. The only sovereign during this period was Leopold II, who continued as king of Belgium until his death a year later in 1909.
Americas
Brazil
- Personal union with Portugal, under Princess Maria da Glória.
Asia
Goryeo
- Personal union with Shenyang in the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty of China (1308–1313; King Chungseon)
- As King of Goryeo (高麗國王) and King of Shenyang (瀋陽王) in 1308–1310
- As King of Goryeo and King of Shen (瀋王) in 1310–1313
King Chungseon reigned as King of Goryeo in 1298 and 1308–1313 and as King of Shenyang or King of Shen from 1307 (according to the Wang Go, one of his nephews, resulting in him becoming the new King of Shen.
Europe
Albania
- Medieval Albanian Kingdom personal union with the Kingdom of Naples (1272–1368)
- Personal union with Kingdom of Italy (1939–1943).
Andorra
Due to Andorra's special government form resulting from the
Bishop of Urgell, the other was originally the Count of Foix
. It is through this feudal co-prince that the Principality has entered partial personal union with:
- Kingdom of Navarre (1479–1620, then integrated into France).
- Kingdom of France (1589–1792, 1814–1815, 1815–1848).
In 1607 the feudal co-prince was Henry IV of France, who issued an edict that his position should be held by the French Head of State. While during the French Revolution, the new government did not take up the title, all versions of France since 1806 regardless of their government form have accepted that their head of state is an ex officio co-prince. This led to personal unions with:
- First and Second French Empires (1806–1814, 1815–1815 and 1852–1870).
- Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Republics of France (1848–1852, 1870–1940, since 1944).
- French State (known as Vichy France, 1940–1944, in dispute with Free France).
Austria
- Personal union with Lands of the Bohemian Crown (1260–1276, 1306–1307, 1438–1439, 1453–1457, and 1526–1918).
- Personal union with Lands of the Hungarian Crown (1437–1439, 1444–1457, and 1526–1918).
- Personal union with Austrian Netherlands (1714–1795).
- Personal union with Spanish Empire (1519–1521).
- Personal union with Venetia (1797–1805) and Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia(1814–1859)
- Personal union with New Galicia (1795–1809), Kingdom of Dalmatia (1797–1805 and 1814–1918) and Bosnia and Herzegovina(1878/1908–1918).
Bohemia
- Personal union with Poland 1003–1004 (Bohemia occupied by Poles)
- Personal union with Poland 1300–1306 and Hungary 1301–1305 (Wenceslas III)
- Personal union with Luxembourg 1313–1378 and 1383–1388
- Personal union with Hungary 1419–1437 (Jagellon dynasty)
- Personal union with Austria and Hungary 1438–1439 (Albert II of Germany), 1453–1457 (Ladislaus the Posthumous) and 1526–1918 (disputed during 1619–1620 by Frederick of Palatine and 1741–1743 by Charles Albert)
Brandenburg
- Personal union with the Principality of Ansbach from 1415 to 1440 and 1470 to 1486.
- Personal union with the Duchy of Prussia from 1618, when Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia, died without male heirs and his son-in-law John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg, became ruler of both countries. Brandenburg and Prussia maintained separate governments and seats of power in Berlin and Königsberg respectively until 1701, when Frederick I consolidated them into one government.
Croatia
- Personal union with the Kingdom of Hungary 1102–1918
Denmark
- Personal union with Norway (986–995, 1000–1014, 1028–1035, 1042–1047, 1380–1397, 1397–1523 (Kalmar Union) and 1524–1814 (Denmark–Norway)).
- Personal union with England (1013–1014, 1018–1035 (North Sea Empire) and 1040–1042).
- Personal union with Duchy of Estonia (1240-1329, 1340–1346)
- Personal union with Sweden (1397–1523 (Kalmar Union)).
- Personal union with Duchy of Schleswig (1086–1364, 1460–1864) and County/Duchy of Holstein (1460–1864).
- Personal union with County of Oldenburg (1448, 1667–1773)
- Personal union with County of Palatinate-Neumarkt (1443-1448).
- Personal union with Rügen (1814).
- Personal union with Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg(1814–1864)
- Personal union with Iceland (1918–1944).
England
- Personal union, as Kingdom of England, with Denmark (1013–1014, 1018–1035 (North Sea Empire) and 1040–1042).
- Personal union, as Kingdom of England, with Duchy of Normandy (1066–1087, 1106–1144, 1154–1204/1259).
- Personal union, as Kingdom of England, with the County of Anjou (1154–1204).
- Personal union, as Kingdom of England, with much of France (Angevin Empire) (1154–1214).
- Personal union, as Kingdom of England, with Aquitaine (1154–1453).
- Personal union, as Kingdom of England, with Principality of Wales (1284–1542).
- Personal union, as Kingdom of England, with Kingdom of France (1422–1453). See also: Dual monarchy of England and France.
- Personal union, as Kingdom of England, with Lordship of Ireland (1171–1542) and Kingdom of Ireland (1542–1649, 1660–1707).
- Personal union, as Kingdom of England, with Kingdom of Spain(1556–1558).
- Personal union, as Kingdom of England, with Kingdom of Scotland (1603–1649, 1660–1707).1
- Personal union, as Kingdom of England, with Principality of Orange (1689–1702).
1: After 1707, see Great Britain below.
France
- Personal union, as part of the Angevin Empire, with the Kingdom of England (1154–1214).
- Personal union with the Kingdom of England (1422–1453). See also: Dual monarchy of England and France.
- Personal union with the Louis XII(1501–1504).
- Personal union with the Louis XII (1499–1500 and 1500–1512) and Francis I(1515–1521 and 1524–1525).
- Personal union with the Kingdom of Scotland under the rule of Francis II (1559–1560).
- Personal union with the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth under the rule of Henry III (1574–1575).
- Personal union with the Kingdom of Navarre (1284–1328 and 1589–1620).
- Partial personal union with Andorra since 1607 (the French head of state is one of two joint heads of state in Andorra)
- Personal union under Napoleon with Italy and the Confederation of the Rhine.
Note: The point at issue in the
balance of power
; France had the most powerful military in Europe at the time, and Spain the largest empire.
Georgia
- Kingdom of Iberia and Colchis were connected power of the monarch in 300–90 years BC (Pharnavazid dynasty).
- Kingdom of Pontus and Colchis were connected power of the monarch in 109 BC–64 AD.
- 1000–1010 Kakheti kingdom) into a single Kingdom of Georgia.
- Kingdom of Kakheti and Hereti were connected power of the monarch in 1020s–1104.
- Principality of Mingrelia and Principality of Abkhazia in the 1557–1660 years under the rule of the House of Dadiani
- Vakhtang V), 1723 (Constantine II/III), to finally unite the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti in 1762 under the reign of Heraclius IIand his descendants.
- Kingdom of Imereti and Principality of Guria united under the rule of a single monarch in 1681–1683 (George IV/III), 1701–1702, 1713–1714 (Mamia (III)) and 1720 (George VIII/IV).
Great Britain
Before 1707, see England and Scotland.
- Personal union with Kingdom of Ireland (1707–1801).
- Personal union with Electorate of Hanover (1714–1801).
After 1801, see United Kingdom below.
Hanover
- Personal union with Great Britain and Ireland from 1714 to 1801.
- Personal union with the Queen Victoria ascending the British throne and her uncle Ernest Augustusthat of Hanover.
- The personal union was interrupted from 1807 to 1813 when Hanover was merged into the Kingdom of Westphalia during the Napoleonic Wars. A few months after the Battle of Leipzig, the Kingdom of Hanover was re-established.
Holy Roman Empire
- Personal union with the Kingdom of Sicily from 1194 to 1254 under the Hohenstaufen dynasty.
- Personal union with Spain from 1519 to 1556 under Charles V.
- Personal union with Hungary 1410–1439, 1556–1608, 1612–1740 and 1780–1806.
- Personal union with Kingdom of Naples (1714–1735), Kingdom of Sardinia (1714–1720), Kingdom of Sicily (1720–1735)
Hungary
- Personal union with Croatia 1102–1918 (see § Croatia above for details).
- Personal union with Poland and Bohemia 1301–1305.
- Personal union with Poland from 1370 to 1382 under the reign of Mary. Personal union with Poland for the second time from 1440 to 1444.
- Personal union with Naples from 1385 to 1386 under the reign of Charles III of Naples.
- Personal union with Bohemia, 1419–1439 (with both in interregnum during 1437–1438), 1453–1457 and 1490–1918.
- Personal union with the Archduchy of Austria, 1437–1439, 1444–1457, and 1526–1806.
- Personal union with the Holy Roman Empire, 1410–1439, 1556–1608, 1612–1740 and 1780–1806.
- Real union with Austria, 1867–1918 (the Charles IV.
Iceland
- Personal union with Denmark from 1918 to 1944, when the country became a republic.
Ireland
- Personal union, as Kingdom of Ireland, with the Kingdom of England (1542–1649 then again following the restoration 1660–1707).
- Personal union, as Kingdom of Ireland, with the Kingdom of Scotland (1603–1649 then again following the restoration 1660–1707).
- Personal union, as Kingdom of Ireland, with the Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1801)
- Personal union, as Irish Free State (1922–1937) then as Éire (1937–1949), with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. (The period 1937–1949 is disputed).
Italy
- Personal union with Kingdom of Albania (1939–1943).
- Personal union with the Ethiopian Empire (1936–1941)
Lithuania
- Personal union (the Polish-Lithuanian Union) with the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland 1386–1401, 1447–1492 and 1501–1569; then transformed into a federation, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Luxembourg
- Personal union with Bohemia, 1313–1378 and 1383–1388.
- Personal union with the Netherlands from 1815 to 1890, when Salic Law, Wilhelmina's distant cousin Adolphesucceeded to the Grand Duchy, ending the personal union.
Naples
- Personal union with Kingdom of Hungary from 1385 to 1386 under the rule of Charles II of Hungary.
- Personal union with Crown of Aragon (1442–1458 and 1504–1516).
- Personal union with Louis XII(1501–1504).
- Personal union with Kingdom of Spain(1516–1714).
- Personal union with Holy Roman Empire (1714–1735).
- Personal union with Kingdom of Sicily from 1735 to 1806 under the rule of the House of Bourbon.
- Personal union with France from 1285 to 1328 due to the marriage between Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre and the reign of their three sons, and from 1589 to 1620 due to the accession of Henry IV, after which Navarre was formally integrated into France.
Netherlands
- Personal union with Luxembourg from 1815 to 1890.
Norway
- Sweyn Forkbeard ruled both Norway and Denmark from 999 to 1014. He also ruled England from 1013 to 1014.
- Cnut the Greatruled both England and Denmark from 1018 to 1035. He also ruled Norway from 1028 to 1035.
- Personal union with Denmark 1042–1047. Magnus I of Norway, who died of unclear circumstances, ruled both Norway and Denmark.
- Personal union with Sweden from 1319 to 1343.
- Personal union with Sweden from 1449 to 1450.
- Personal union with Denmark from 1380 to 1389/97.
- The Kalmar Union with Denmark and Sweden from 1389/97 to 1521/23 (sometimes defunct).[vague]
- Personal union with Denmark 1523 to 1814.
- Personal union with Sweden from 1814 (when Norway declared independence from Denmark and was forced into a union with Sweden) to 1905.
Poland
- Personal union with the Kingdom of Bohemia from 1300 to 1306.
- Personal union with the Kingdom of Hungary, 1301–1305, 1370–1382 and 1440–1444 (see Hungary section above).
- Personal union between the Duchy of Płock and Duchy of Wizna in 1345–1351, 1381–1382 and 1435–1495.
- Personal union with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1386 to 1401, 1447 to 1492, and 1501 to 1569.
- Personal union with the Kingdom of France from 1574 to 1575.
- Personal union with the Kingdom of Swedenfrom 1592 to 1599.
- Personal union with the Duchy of Ruthenia (Ukraine) in 1658.
- Personal union with the Electorate of Saxony, 1697–1706, 1709–1733 and 1734–1763.
- Personal union with the Russian Empire from 1815 to 1831.
Pomerania
- Personal union between Pomerania-Stargardfrom 1395 to 1402 and from 1403 to 1478.
Portugal
- Iberian Union with Spain from 1580 to 1640, under Philip II (also known as Philip I of Portugal), his son and grandson.
- Personal union with Brazil, under Princess Maria da Glória.
Prussia
- Brandenburg-Prussia: personal union between the Margraviate of Brandenburg and Duchy of Prussia (1618–1701).
- Personal union between Kingdom of Prussia and Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (later United Baltic Duchy) (1918).
- Personal union between Kingdom of Prussia and Principality of Neuchâtel, 1707–1806 and 1814–1848. The King of Prussia exchanged territories with France during the 1806–1814 interim.
- Personal union between Kingdom of Prussia and the German Empire, 1871–1918.
Romania
- Personal union between Wallachia and Moldavia from 1859 to 1862 under the rule of Alexandru Ioan Cuza
Russia
- Personal union between the Russian Empire and the Lordship of Jever from 1793 to 1818
Sardinia
- Personal union with Kingdom of Spain(1516–1708).
- Personal union with Holy Roman Empire (1714–1720).
- Personal union with Duchy of Savoy from 1720.
Saxe-Coburg and Saxe-Gotha
In 1826, the newly created
Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
was initially a double duchy, ruled by Duke Ernest I in a personal union. In 1852, the duchies were bound in a political and real union. They were then a quasi-federal unitary state, even though later attempts to merge the duchies failed.
Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Eisenach
The duchies of Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Eisenach were in personal union from 1741, when the ruling house of Saxe-Eisenach died out, until 1809, when they were merged into the single duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.
Schleswig and Holstein
Duchies with peculiar rules for Schleswig-Holstein Question.
The kings of Denmark at the same time being dukes of Schleswig and Holstein 1460–1864. (Holstein being part of the Holy Roman Empire, while Schleswig was a part of Denmark). The situation was complicated by the fact that for some time, the Duchies were divided among collateral branches of the House of Oldenburg (the ruling House in Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein). Besides the "main" Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein-Glückstadt, ruled by the Kings of Denmark, there were states encompassing territory in both Duchies. Notably the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp and the subordinate Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Beck, Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg and Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg.
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
The duchies of
Prince Günther
of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt succeeded also to the throne of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, until 1918, when he (and all the other German monarchs) abdicated.
Scotland
- Personal union, as Kingdom of Scotland, with the Kingdom of France during the reign of Francis II (1559–1560), first husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.
- Personal union, as Kingdom of Scotland, with the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Ireland (1603–1707) following the accession of James VI, King of Scots, to the joint English and Irish throne. (All monarchs of Scotland were in a personal union with England and Ireland throughout the period 1603–1707, with the exception of Charles II, reigning solely as King of Scots 1649–1651, and the subsequent interregnum between 1651 and restoration of the House of Stuart in 1660)1
- Personal union, as Kingdom of Scotland, with the William II of Scotland.
1: After 1707, see Great Britain above. After 1801, see United Kingdom below.
Sicily
- Union (or personal union) with the Holy Roman Empire from 1194 to 1254 under the rule of the House of Hohenstaufen.
- Personal union with the Crown of Aragon from 1282 to 1285 and 1409 to 1516 under the rule of the House of Barcelona and the House of Trastámara.
- Personal union with the Kingdom of Spain from 1516 to 1713 under the rule of the House of Habsburg and the House of Bourbon.
- Personal union with the Victor Amadeus II of Savoy.
- Personal union with the Holy Roman Empire from 1720 to 1734 under the rule of Charles VI of Habsburg.
- Personal union with the Kingdom of Naples from 1735 to 1806 under the rule of the House of Bourbon.
Leon, Castile and Aragon
- Kingdom of León, Kingdom of Galicia and Kingdom of Asturias (914–924).
- Kingdom of León and Kingdom of Castile (1037–1065 and 1072–1230).
- Crown of Aragon and Kingdom of Navarre (1076–1134).
- Crown of Aragon and Kingdom of Sicily (1412–1516).
- Crown of Aragon and Kingdom of Naples (1442–1458 and 1504–1516).
- Crown of Castile and Duchy of Burgundy (1506).
- centralized state.
Spain
- Personal union with Archduchy of Austria and Austrian dynastic lands (1519–1521).
- Personal union with Holy Roman Empire (1519–1556) under Charles I.
- Personal union with Kingdom of Naples (1516–1714), Kingdom of Sardinia (1516–1708), Kingdom of Sicily (1516–1713) and Duchy of Milan (1540–1706).
- Personal union with Habsburg Netherlands (1516–1581) and Spanish Netherlands (1581–1714).
- Personal union with Kingdom of England (1556–1558).
- Personal union (Iberian Union) with Kingdom of Portugal (1580–1640).
- Personal union with the Free and Independent State of Cundinamarca (modern-day Colombia) (1810–1813), according to the Constitution of this country, which was not recognized by the Spanish Crown, which still considered these territories to be part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada.
Sweden
- Personal union with Norway from 1319 to 1343.
- Personal union with Scania from 1332 to 1360.
- The Kalmar Union with Denmark and Norway from 1389/97 to 1521/23 (sometimes defunct).[vague]
- Personal union with Norway from 1449 to 1450.
- Personal union with the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland from 1592 to 1599.
- Swedish kings united their kingdom with Estonia (1581–1721), Livonia (1629–1721), Karelia (1617–1721), Scania (1645–1721), Bremen-Verden (1648–1719), Pomerania (1630–1815), Wismar (1648–1803) and Ingria (1583–1595 and 1617–1721).
- Personal union with Norway from 1814 to 1905.
United Kingdom
- Personal union with the Electorate of Hanover (1801–1806).
- Personal union with the Kingdom of Hanover (1814–1837).
- Personal union with the Irish Free State (1922–1937) and Ireland (de jure) from 1937 to 1949;
- The former Dominions and Commonwealth realms:
- Newfoundland (1907–1934),
- South Africa (1910–1961),
- India (1947–1950),
- Pakistan (1947–1956),
- Ceylon (now Sri Lanka; 1948–1972),
- Ghana (1957–1960),
- Nigeria (1960–1963),
- Sierra Leone (1961–1971),
- Tanganyika (1961–1962),
- Trinidad and Tobago (1962–1976),
- Uganda (1962–1963),
- Kenya (1963–1964),
- Malawi(1964–1966),
- Malta (1964–1974),
- The Gambia (1965–1970),
- Guyana (1966–1970),
- Mauritius (1968–1992),
- Fiji (1970–1987),
- Barbados (1966–2021).
- Personal union with the current Commonwealth realms:
- Canada since 1867,
- Australia since 1901,
- New Zealand since 1907,
- Jamaica since 1962,
- The Bahamas since 1973,
- Grenada since 1974,
- Papua New Guinea since 1975,
- Solomon Islands since 1978,
- Tuvalu since 1978,
- Saint Lucia since 1979,
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines since 1979,
- Antigua and Barbuda since 1981,
- Belize since 1981,
- Saint Kitts and Nevis since 1983.
Wales
- Personal union, as Principality of Wales, with Kingdom of England (1284–1542).
After 1542, see England above.
Republics in personal union
Because heads of state and government of republics are ordinarily chosen from within the citizens of the state in question, sovereign republics very rarely share common leaders. A few examples are:
- Uniquely, the Co-Prince. This status was inherited from the role of the French monarchs in Andorra.
- During the later stages of the Spanish American Wars of Independence, Simón Bolívar was simultaneously President of Gran Colombia (24 February 1819 - 4 May 1830), President of Peru (10 February 1824 – 28 January 1827), and President of Bolivia(12 August 1825 - 29 December 1825). Bolívar had, as President and military Commander-in-Chief of Colombia, led a Colombian army to secure Peruvian independence in 1824-25, and was given the office of President by the Patriot republican governments of both Peru and Bolivia (renamed in his honor from "Upper Peru") as an emergency measure to help secure independence from Spain. After the end of the war, Bolívar relinquished his Peruvian and Bolivian offices and returned to Colombia.
- In 1860 Marthinus Wessel Pretorius was simultaneously elected as the president of Transvaal and Orange Free State. He tried to unify the two countries, but his efforts failed, leading to the Transvaal Civil War.
See also
Notes
- Prince-Bishop of Hildesheim(1702–1723).
References
- ISBN 978-1584776093. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ISBN 978-1843833000.
- ISBN 978-9401179645. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
Bibliography
- Srodecki, Paul; Kersken, Norbert; Petrauskas, Rimvydas, eds. (2023). Unions and Divisions: New Forms of Rule in Medieval and Renaissance Europe (First ed.). London and New York, NY: ISBN 978-1-032-05750-7.
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