Monarchies in Asia
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There are several monarchies in Asia, while some states function as absolute monarchies where the king has complete authority over the state, others are constitutional monarchies where a monarch exercises authority in accordance with a constitution and is not alone in decision making.[1]
National monarchies
Constituent monarchies
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates consists of seven emirates that are all ruled by absolute monarchs. The President of the United Arab Emirates is an office held by the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and the office of Prime Minister is held by the Ruler of Dubai. The seven Emirates of the UAE are:
- Emirate of Abu Dhabi
- Emirate of Ajman
- Emirate of Dubai
- Emirate of Fujairah
- Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah
- Emirate of Sharjah
- Emirate of Umm al-Quwain
Gallery
Note: Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi of Ajman, Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla of Umm al-Quwain, Saud bin Saqr Al-Qasimi of Ras al-Khaimah, and Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi of Fujairah are not pictured.
Malaysia
Malaysia, where the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Supreme Head of State) is elected to a five-year term. Nine hereditary rulers from the Malay States form a Council of Rulers who will determine the next Agong via a secret ballot. The position has to date, been de facto rotated through the State rulers, originally based on seniority. The nine Malay States are the;
- Negeri Sembilan
- Kingdom of Perlis
- Sultanate of Selangor
- Sultanate of Terengganu
- Sultanate of Kedah
- Sultanate of Kelantan
- Sultanate of Pahang
- Sultanate of Johor
- Sultanate of Perak
The monarchy of Negeri Sembilan is itself elective.
Other subnational
India and Pakistan
The British ruled Indian Empire became independent from British rule in 1947 and became the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan and in 1950 India became the Republic of India, in 1956 Pakistan became the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and in 1971 the province of East Pakistan separated from Pakistan to become Bangladesh. Princely states were only in the present-day countries of India and Pakistan, and not Bangladesh. The princely states who were vassal states of the British, had a certain degree of power and autonomy during the British Raj. The princely states had integrated into the newly independent India and Pakistan between 1947–1975 (the majority of states ascended into India or Pakistan in 1948) and the former monarchs of the princely states who joined before 1971 in India and before 1972 in Pakistan became titular rulers that received a privy purse and initially retained their statuses, privileges, and autonomy. During this time, the former princely states in India were merged into unions, each of which was headed by a former ruling prince with the title of Rajpramukh (ruling chief), equivalent to a state governor.[2]
In 1956, the position of Rajpramukh was abolished and the federations dissolved, the former principalities becoming part of Indian states. The states which acceded to Pakistan retained their status until the promulgation of a new constitution in 1956, when most became part of the province of West Pakistan; a few of the former states retained their autonomy until 1969 when they were fully integrated into Pakistan. The Indian Government formally derecognised the princely families in 1971, followed by the Pakistani Government in 1972, in which their titles, autonomy, and privy purses were take away. Presently the rulers of the former princely states are pretenders who carry out ceremonial roles.
List of Princely States
Name | Capital | Salute type | Existed | Location/ Successor state |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ajaigarh State | Ajaygarh (Ajaigarh) | 11-gun salute state | 1765–1949 | India |
Akkalkot State | Ak(k)alkot | non-salute state | 1708–1948 | India |
Alipura State | non-salute state | 1757–1950 | India | |
Alirajpur State | (Ali)Rajpur | 11-gun salute state | 1437–1948 | India |
Alwar State | 15-gun salute state | 1296–1949 | India | |
Amb (Tanawal) | Darband/ Summer capital: Shergarh | non-salute state | 18th century–1969 | Pakistan |
Ambliara State | non-salute state | 1619–1943 | India | |
Athgarh | non-salute state | 1178–1949 | India | |
Athmallik State | non-salute state | 1874–1948 | India | |
Aundh State | Aundh (District - Satara) | non-salute state | 1699–1948 | India |
Babariawad | non-salute state | India | ||
Baghal State | non-salute state | c.1643–1948 | India | |
Baghat | non-salute state | c.1500–1948 | India | |
Bahawalpur (princely state) | Bahawalpur | 17-gun salute state | 1802–1955 | Pakistan |
Balasinor State | 9-gun salute state | 1758–1948 | India | |
Ballabhgarh | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | 1710–1867 | India | |
Bamra | non-salute state | 1545–1948 | India | |
Banganapalle State | 9-gun salute state | 1665–1948 | India | |
Bansda State | 9-gun salute state | 1781–1948 | India | |
Banswara State | 15-gun salute state | 1527–1949 | India | |
Bantva Manavadar | non-salute state | 1733–1947 | India | |
Baoni State | 11-gun salute state | 1784–1948 | India | |
Baraundha | 9-gun salute state | 1549–1950 | India | |
Baria State | 9-gun salute state | 1524–1948 | India | |
Baroda State | Baroda | 21-gun salute state | 1721–1949 | India |
Barwani State | Barwani (Sidhanagar c.1640) | 11-gun salute state | 836–1948 | India |
Bashahr | non-salute state | 1412–1948 | India | |
Basoda State | non-salute state | 1753–1947 | India | |
Bastar state | non-salute state | 1324–1948 | India | |
Baudh State | non-salute state | 1874–1948 | India | |
Beja State | non-salute state | 18th century–1948 | India | |
Benares State | 13-gun salute state | 18th century–1948 | India | |
Beri State | non-salute state | c.1750–1950 | India | |
Bhaisunda | non-salute state | 1812–1948 | India | |
Bhajji State | non-salute state | late 18th century–1948 | India | |
Bharatpur State | 17-gun salute state | 17th century–1947 | India | |
Bhavnagar State | 13-gun salute state | 1723–1948 | India | |
Bhopal State | Bhopal | 19-gun salute state | 1707–1949 | India |
Bhor State | 9-gun salute state | 1697–1948 | India | |
Bijawar State | 11-gun salute state | 1765–1950 | India | |
Bikaner State | 17-gun salute state | 1465–1947 | India | |
Bonai | non-salute state | 12th century–1948 | India | |
Bundi State | 17-gun salute state | 1342–1949 | India | |
Cambay State | 11-gun salute state | 1730–1948 | India | |
Nawab of the Carnatic | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | c.1690–1801 | India | |
Chamba State | Chamba | 11-gun salute state | c.550–1948 | India |
Changbhakar (Chang Bhakar) | non-salute state | c.1790–1948 | India | |
Charkhari State | 11-gun salute state | 1765–1950 | India | |
Chaube Jagirs | non-salute state | 1812–1948 | India | |
Chhatarpur State | 11-gun salute state | 1785–1950 | India | |
Chhota Udaipur State | 9-gun salute state | 1743–1948 | India | |
Chhuikhadan State | non-salute state | 1750–1948 | India | |
Chitral (princely state) | Chitral | 11-gun salute state | 1560–1969 | Pakistan |
Chota Nagpur States | non-salute state | 12th century–1948 | India | |
Chuda | non-salute state | India | ||
Cooch Behar State | 13-gun salute state | 1586–1949 | India | |
Cutch State | 17-gun salute state | 1147–1948 | India | |
Danta State | 9-gun salute state | 1061–1948 | India | |
Darkoti | non-salute state | 11th century–1948 | India | |
Daspalla State | non-salute state | 1498–1948 | India | |
Datarpur | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | c.1550–1849 | India | |
Datia State | 15-gun salute state | 1626–1950 | India | |
Dewas State | 15-gun salute state | 1728–1948 | India | |
Dhami | non-salute state | 1815–1948 | India | |
Dhar State | Dhar (Dharanagar 1732 -...., Multhan 1728–1732) | 15-gun salute state | 1730–1947 | India |
Dharampur State | Dharampur, formerly Mandvegan | 9-gun salute state | 1262–1948 | India |
Dhenkanal State | non-salute state | 1529–1948 | India | |
Dholpur State | 15-gun salute state | c.700–1949 | India | |
Dhrangadhra State (Kuwa, Halwad(-Dhrangadhra)) | Dhrangadhra | 13-gun salute state | 1742–1948 | India |
Dhrol State | 9-gun salute state | 1595–1948 | India | |
Dhurwai State | non-salute state | 1690–1950 | India | |
D(h)ir | Dir (or Dhir) | non-salute state | 19th century–1969 | Pakistan |
Dungarpur State | 15-gun salute state | 1197–1947 | India | |
Faridkot State | 11-gun salute state | 1803–1947 | India | |
Gangpur State | non-salute state | 1821–1948 | India | |
Garhwal Kingdom | Various | 11-gun salute state | 888–1949 | India |
Gaurihar State | non-salute state | 1807–1950 | India | |
Gondal State | 11-gun salute state | 1634–1949 | India | |
Guler State | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | 1415–1813 | India | |
Gwalior State | Gwalior/Laskar | 21-gun salute state | 1761–1948 | India |
Hasht-Bhaiya | non-salute state | 1690–1948 | India | |
Hindol State | non-salute state | 1554–1948 | India | |
Hunza (princely state) | Baltit | non-salute state | 15th century–1974 | Pakistan |
Hyderabad State | Haydarabad (or Hyderabad) | 21-gun salute state | 1803–1948 | India |
Idar State | 15-gun salute state | c.1257–1948 | India | |
Indore State | 19-gun salute state | 1818–1948 | India | |
Jafarabad State | non-salute state | c.1650–1948 | India | |
Jaipur State | Jaipur (Jayapura) | 17-gun salute state | 1128–1949 | India |
Jaisalmer State | Jaisalmir (or Jaisalmer) | 15-gun salute state | 1156–1947 | India |
Jaitpur State | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | 1731–1840 | India | |
Jalaun State | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | 1806–1840 | India | |
Jambughoda State | non-salute state | late 14th century–1948 | India | |
Jamkhandi State | non-salute state | 1811–1948 | India | |
Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) | 21-gun salute state | 1846–1952 | India | |
Jando(o)l (Jandul) | Barwa | non-salute state | c. 1830–1948 | Pakistan |
Janjira State | 11-gun salute state | 1489–1948 | India | |
Jaoli principality | non-salute, annexed by Maratha Empire | 17th century | India | |
Jaora State | 13-gun salute state | 1808–1948 | India | |
Jashpur State | non-salute state | 18th century–1948 | India | |
Jaso State | non-salute state | 1732–1948 | India | |
Jasrota | non-salute state | India | ||
Jaswan State | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | 1170–1849 | India | |
Jath State | non-salute state | 1686–1948 | India | |
Jawhar State | 9-gun salute state | 1343–1947 | India | |
Jesar | non-salute state | India | ||
Jhabua State | 11-gun salute state | 1584–1948 | India | |
Jhalawar State | 13-gun salute state | 1838–1949 | India | |
Jhansi State | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | 1804–1858 | India | |
Jigni State | non-salute state | 1730–1950 | India | |
Jind State | 13-gun salute state | 1763–1948 | India | |
Jobat State | non-salute state | 15th century–1948 | India | |
Jodhpur State (Marwar) | Jodhpur | 17-gun salute state | 1250–1949 | India |
Junagadh State | Junagadh | 13-gun salute state | 1730–1948 | India |
Kahlur | 11-gun salute state | 697–1948 | India | |
Kalahandi State | 9-gun salute state | 1760–1947 | India | |
Kalat | Kalat | 19-gun salute state | 1666–1955 | Pakistan |
Kalsia | non-salute state | 1006–1949 | India | |
Kamta-Rajaula State | non-salute state | 1812–1948 | India | |
Kangra State | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | 11th century–1846 | India | |
Kanker State | Kanker | non-salute state | up to 1947 | India |
Kapshi | non-salute state | mid 17th century–1956 | India | |
Kapurthala State | 13-gun salute state | 1772–1947 | India | |
Karauli State | 17-gun salute state | 1348–1949 | India | |
Kawardha State | non-salute state | 1751–1948 | India | |
Keonjhar State | non-salute state | 12th century–1948 | India | |
Keonthal | non-salute state | late 18th century–1948 | India | |
Khairagarh State | non-salute state | 1833–1948 | India | |
Khairpur (princely state) | Khayrpur (Khairpur) | 15-gun salute state | 1775–1955 | Pakistan |
Khandpara State | non-salute state | c.1599–1948 | India | |
Khaniadhana State | non-salute state | 1724–1948 | India | |
Kharan (princely state) | Kharan | non-salute state | 1697–1955 | Pakistan |
Kharsawan State | non-salute state | 1650–1948 | India | |
Khayrpur (princely state) | non-salute state | 1775–1955 | Pakistan | |
Khilchipur State | 9-gun salute state | 1544–1948 | India | |
Kishangarh State | non-salute state | 1611–1948 | India | |
Kochin = Cochi(n) | Kochi (Kochin) | 17-gun salute state | 12th century–1947 | India |
Kolhapur State | 19-gun salute state | 1707–1949 | India | |
Koriya | non-salute state | 16th century–1948 | India | |
Kota State | 17-gun salute state | 17th century–1949 | India | |
Kotharia, Rajasthan | non-salute state | c.1527–20th century | India | |
Kotharia, Rajkot | non-salute state | c.1733–20th century | India | |
Kothi State | non-salute state | 18th century–1950 | India | |
Kulpahar | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | 1700–1858 | India | |
Kumharsain | non-salute state | 15th–1947 | India | |
Kurundvad Junior | non-salute state | 1733–1948 | India | |
Kurundvad Senior | non-salute state | 1733–1948 | India | |
Kuthar | non-salute state | 17th–19th century | India | |
Kutlehar State | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | 750–1810 | India | |
Lakhtar | non-salute state | 1604–1947 | India | |
Las Bela (princely state) | Bela | non-salute state | 1742–1955 | Pakistan |
Lathi State | non-salute state | 1340–1948 | India | |
Lawa Thikana | non-salute state | 1772–1947 | India | |
Limbda State | non-salute state | 1780–1948 | India | |
Limbdi State | 9-gun salute state | c.1500–1947 | India | |
Loharu State | 9-gun salute state | 1806–1947 | India | |
Lunavada State | 9-gun salute state | 1434–1948 | India | |
? Vallavpur | ?13 -salute state | 1434–1949 | India | |
Maihar State | 9-gun salute state | 1778–1948 | India | |
Makrai State | non-salute state | 1663–1948 | India | |
Makran (princely state) | Turbat | non-salute state | 18th century–1955 | Pakistan |
Malerkotla State | 11-gun salute state | 1657–1948 | India | |
Malpur State | Malpur | non-salute state | 1466–1943 | India |
Manda | non-salute state | 1542–1947 | India | |
Mandi State | Mandi | 11-gun salute state | 1290–1948 | India |
Manipur | Imphal (Bishenpur 1775–1796) | 11-gun salute state | 1110–1949 | India |
Mayurbhanj State | 9-gun salute state | late 17th century–1949 | India | |
Miraj Junior | non-salute state | 1820–1948 | India | |
Miraj Senior | non-salute state | 1820–1948 | India | |
Mohammadgarh State | non-salute state | 1842–1947 | India | |
Mohanpur State | Mohanpur | non-salute state | c.1227–1948 | India |
Morvi State | 11-gun salute state | 1698–1948 | India | |
Mudhol State | 9-gun salute state | 1465–1948 | India | |
Muli State | non-salute state | India | ||
Mundru | non-salute, annexed by the Jaipur State | 1621–c.1818 | India | |
Mysore (Mahisur) | Bangalore (to 1831 Mysore [Mahisur]), Srirangapatna | 21-gun salute state | 1399–1950 | India |
Nabha State | 13-gun salute state | 1763–1947 | India | |
Nagar (princely state) | Nagar | non-salute state | 14th century–1974 | Pakistan |
Nagod(h) | Nagodh (Nagod) | 9-gun salute state | 1344–1950 | India |
Nandgaon State | non-salute state | 1833–1948 | India | |
Narsinghgarh State | 11-gun salute state | 1681–1948 | India | |
Narsinghpur State | non-salute state | 1292–1948 | India | |
Nasvadi | non-salute state | India | ||
Nawanagar State | Jamnagar | 13-gun salute state | 1540–1948 | India |
Nayagarh State | non-salute state | c.1500–1948 | India | |
Nazargunj | non-salute state | 1899–20th century | India | |
Nilgiri State | non-salute state | 1125–1949 | India | |
Orchha State | 15-gun salute state | c.1501–1950 | India | |
Orissa Tributary States | non-salute state | 12th century–1948 | India | |
Oudh State | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | 1732–1858 | India | |
Pahra | non-salute state | 1812–1948 | India | |
Pal Lahara State | non-salute state | 11th century–1948 | India | |
Palanpur State | non-salute state | 1370–1948 | India | |
Paldeo | non-salute state | 1812–1948 | India | |
Palitana State | 9-gun salute state | 1194–1948 | India | |
Panna State | 11-gun salute state | 1731–1950 | India | |
Patdi State | Patdi | non-salute state | 1741–1947 | India |
Patan, Rajasthan | non-salute state | 12th–20th century | India | |
Pataudi State | non-salute state | 1804–1947 | India | |
Pathari State | non-salute state | 1794–1948 | India | |
Patiala State | 17-gun salute state | 1627–1948 | India | |
Patna (princely state) | 9-gun salute state | 1191–1948 | India | |
Pethapur State | non-salute state | 13th century–1940 | India | |
Phaltan State | non-salute state | 1284–1948 | India | |
Phulra(h) | Phulra(h) | non-salute state | 1828–1950 | Pakistan |
Piploda State | non-salute state | 1547–1948 | India | |
Porbandar State | 13-gun salute state | 1193–1948 | India | |
Pratapgarh State | Pratapgarh (Partabgarh) | 15-gun salute state | 1425–1949 | India |
Pudukkottai state | 17-gun salute state | 1680–1948 | India | |
Punial State | non-salute state | up to 1974 | Pakistan | |
Radhanpur State | 11-gun salute state | 1753–1948 | India | |
Raghogarh State | non-salute state | 1673–1947 | India | |
Raigarh State | non-salute state | 1625–1947 | India | |
Rairakhol State | non-salute state | 12th century–1948 | India | |
Rajgarh State | 11-gun salute state | late 15th century–1948 | India | |
Rajgarh State | 9-gun salute state | late 12th century–1948 | India | |
Rajkot State | 9-gun salute state | 1620–1948 | India | |
Rajpipla State | 13-gun salute state | 1340–1948 | India | |
Rajpur, Baroda | non-salute state | India | ||
Ramdurg State | non-salute state | 1742–1948 | India | |
Rampur State | Rampur | 15-gun salute state | 1774–1949 | India |
Ranasan State | non-salute state | 17th century–1943 | India | |
Ranpur State | non-salute state | 17th century–1948 | India | |
Ratlam State | 13-gun salute state | 1652–1948 | India | |
Rewa (princely state) | 17-gun salute state | c.1790–1948 | India | |
Sachin State | 9-gun salute state | 1791–1948 | India | |
S(h)ailana | Shailana (Sailana) | 11-gun salute state | 1736–1948 | India |
Sakti State | non-salute state | up to 1948 | India | |
Sambalpur State | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | 1493–1848 | India | |
Samthar State | 11-gun salute state | 1760–1950 | India | |
Sandur State | non-salute state | 1713–1949 | India | |
Sangli State | 9-gun salute state | 1782–1948 | India | |
Sant State | 9-gun salute state | 1255–1948 | India | |
Saraikela State | non-salute state | 1620–1948 | India | |
Sarangarh State | non-salute state | up to 1948 | India | |
Sardargarh Bantva | non-salute state | 1733–1947 | India | |
Savanur State | non-salute state | 1672–1948 | India | |
Sawantwadi State | 9-gun salute state | 1627–1948 | India | |
Shahpura State | 9-gun salute state | 1629–1949 | India | |
Siba State | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | 1450–1849 | India | |
Sirmur State | Sirmür | 11-gun salute state | 1095–1948 | India |
Sirohi State | 15-gun salute state | 1405–1949 | India | |
Sitamau State | 11-gun salute state | 1701–1948 | India | |
Sohawal State | non-salute state | 1550–1950 | India | |
Somna State | non-salute state | 19th century–1949 | India | |
Sonepur State | 9-gun salute state | 1556–1948 | India | |
Suket State | 11-gun salute state | 765–1948 | India | |
Surgana State | non-salute state | late 18th century–1948 | India | |
Surguja State | non-salute state | 1543–1948 | India | |
Swat | Saidu Sharif | non-salute state | 1858–1969 | Pakistan |
Talcher State | non-salute state | 12th century–1948 | India | |
Taraon State | non-salute state | 1812–1948 | India | |
Tekari Raj | non-salute state | India | ||
Thanjavur Maratha kingdom | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | 1674–1855 | India | |
Tigiria State | non-salute state | 16th century–1948 | India | |
Tonk State | non-salute state | 1806–1949 | India | |
Torawati | non-salute state | 12th–20th century | India | |
Tori Fatehpur | non-salute state | 1690–1950 | India | |
Travancore | Tiruvidamkodu/Tiruvankur/Travancore) (Padmanabhapuram to 1795) | 19-gun salute state | 1729–1949 | India |
Tripura (princely state) (Hill Tipperah) | Agartala | 13-gun salute state | 1809–1949 | India |
Tulsipur State | non-salute, annexed by the British Raj | 16th century–1859 | India | |
Udaipur State (Mewar) | Udaipur | 19-gun salute state | 734–1949 | India |
Udaipur State, Chhattisgarh | non-salute state | 1818–1948 | India | |
Vala State | non-salute state | 1740–1948 | India | |
Varsoda | non-salute state | c.745–1947 | India | |
Vijaynagar State | Vijayanagar (previously Ghodasar) | non-salute state | 1577–1948 | India |
Vallbhapur State | non-salute state | 16th century–1948 | India | |
Wadagam State | Wadagam | non-salute state | 18th century–1948 | India |
Wadhwan State | Wadhwan | 9-gun salute state | 1630–1948 | India |
Wankaner State (Vankaner) | 11-gun salute state | 1605–1948 | India | |
Yasin State | Yasin | non-salute state | c1640–c1972 | Pakistan |
Indonesia
Indonesia is a republic, however several provinces or regencies preserves their own monarchy, although only Special Region of Yogyakarta that retain actual administrative authority, the rest only holds cultural significance.
- Sultanate of Yogyakarta, Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia
- Pakualaman, a princely state in Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia
- Surakarta Sunanate, Surakarta, Central Java
- Mangkunegaran, a princely state in Surakarta, Central Java
- Keraton Kasepuhan, Cirebon, West Java
- Keraton Kanoman, Cirebon, West Java
- Keraton Keprabonan, Cirebon, West Java
- Keraton Kacirebonan, Cirebon, West Java
- Sultanate of Riau-Lingga, Riau Islands
- Sultanate of Siak Sri Indrapura, Riau
- Sultanate of Deli, Medan, North Sumatra
- Pontianak Sultanate, Pontianak, West Kalimantan
- Sultanate of Banjar, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan
- Kutai Sultanate, Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan
- Bima Sultanate, Bima, Sumbawa Island, West Nusa Tenggara
- Ternate Sultanate, North Maluku
Philippines
Although the Philipines is a republic, the Southern Philippines have retained their monarchical traditions and are protected under the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997.
See also
- List of current monarchs
- Monarchies in Europe
- Monarchies in Africa
- Monarchies in the Americas
- Monarchies in Oceania