Kingdom facts for kids
A kingdom is a country where a king or queen is the head of state. This type of government is called a Monarchy. In a kingdom, the ruler often inherits their position from their family.
For example, the United Kingdom is a kingdom. It has a Queen (or King) as its head of state.
Contents
What is a Kingdom?
A kingdom is a land ruled by a monarch, which means a king or a queen. These rulers usually come from a royal family. Their power is often passed down through generations, from parent to child. This way of choosing a ruler is called hereditary succession.
Kings, Queens, and Rulers
The main ruler of a kingdom is called a king if male, or a queen if female. Sometimes, other titles like emperor, empress, prince, or princess are used. These rulers are often seen as symbols of their country. They represent the history and traditions of their nation.
How Monarchs Rule
There are different ways monarchs can rule. In an absolute monarchy, the king or queen has almost all the power. They make most of the laws and decisions for the country. An example of this is Saudi Arabia.
In a constitutional monarchy, the king or queen's power is limited by a constitution (a set of rules for the country) and elected officials. The monarch acts more as a symbol, while a prime minister or parliament makes the daily decisions. The United Kingdom and Japan are examples of constitutional monarchies.
Kingdoms Around the World
Many countries around the world have been kingdoms at some point in history. Some still are today.
Famous Historical Kingdoms
Throughout history, many powerful kingdoms existed. Ancient Egypt was a kingdom ruled by pharaohs. The Roman Empire was also a type of kingdom before it became a republic and then an empire. Medieval Europe was full of different kingdoms, each with its own king or queen. These kingdoms often had castles, knights, and strict social classes.
Modern Kingdoms Today
Today, there are still many kingdoms. Most of them are constitutional monarchies. Besides the United Kingdom, other modern kingdoms include:
- Spain: King Felipe VI is the head of state, but the government is run by a prime minister.
- Japan: Emperor Naruhito is the symbolic head of state.
- Sweden: King Carl XVI Gustaf is the head of state, but with no political power.
- Norway: King Harald V is the head of state.
- Netherlands: King Willem-Alexander is the head of state.
- Thailand: King Maha Vajiralongkorn is the head of state.
Monarchy vs. Republic
A kingdom is a type of monarchy. Another common type of government is a republic. In a republic, the head of state is usually a president who is elected by the people, not someone who inherits the position. Countries like the United States and France are republics.
See also
In Spanish: Kingdom para niños
