Personal union Facts for Kids

A personal union happens when two or more independent countries share the same person as their ruler. This means one king, queen, or president is in charge of multiple countries at the same time.

Personal unions can start for different reasons. Sometimes, a princess marries a king, and their child inherits both crowns. Other times, a personal union might be used to prevent rebellions if one country wants to take over another. These unions can be written down in a country's rules, clearly stating that both countries will share the same ruler. However, this is not always the case, which can make it easier for the union to end.

Famous Personal Unions

Andorra

Andorra has had a partial personal union with France since 1607. The French president (and before that, the King of France) is one of Andorra's two leaders. The other leader is the Bishop of La Seu d'Urgell in Spain.

Australia

Since 1941, Australia has shared its monarch with the United Kingdom. This happened when a special law, the Westminster Statute, was agreed upon in 1942. This law meant the British Parliament could no longer make laws for Australia. In 1986, another law removed the highest court in Britain as the final court for Australian legal cases. Today, Queen Elizabeth II serves as Queen of Australia. She has a representative, the Governor-General, who is chosen by the Australian Prime Minister.

Belgium

Belgium had a personal union with the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908. After that, Belgium officially took over the Congo Free State.

Bohemia

Bohemia had personal unions with Poland at different times, like from 1003 to 1004.
It also shared rulers with Hungary from 1419-1439 and 1490-1526.
A long personal union existed with Austria and Hungary from 1526 to 1918.

Brandenburg

Brandenburg had a personal union with the Duchy of Prussia from 1618. This happened when the Duke of Prussia died without a male heir. His son-in-law, John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg, became the ruler of both areas.
Brandenburg and Prussia kept separate governments in Berlin and Königsberg until 1701. Then, Frederick William I joined them into one government.

Congo Free State

The Congo Free State was in a personal union with Belgium from 1885 to 1908. After this, Belgium officially took control of it.

Denmark

Denmark was in a personal union with Norway from 1380 to 1814.
The Kalmar Union was a personal union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden from 1389 to 1521.
The kings of Denmark were also dukes of Schleswig and Holstein from 1460 to 1864.
Denmark also had a personal union with Iceland from 1918 to 1944. Iceland then became an independent republic.

England

England had a personal union with Ireland from 1541 to 1707. This started when the Irish Parliament declared King Henry VIII of England as King of Ireland.
A personal union with Scotland existed from 1603 to 1707. This ended when England and Scotland joined to form the Kingdom of Great Britain.
From 1689 to 1702, England also shared a ruler with most of the Netherlands. The Dutch leader, called a Stadtholder, also became King of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

France

France had a personal union with the Duchy of Brittany from 1491 to 1532. Duchess Anne of Brittany was forced to marry King Charles VIII of France. Brittany was later officially made part of France.
A personal union with Navarre lasted from 1589 to 1620. Navarre was then officially joined with France.
France also has a partial personal union with Andorra since 1607. The French president is one of Andorra's leaders.

Great Britain

Great Britain had a personal union with Ireland from its creation in 1707 until 1801. They then joined to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
A personal union with Hanover existed from 1714 to 1801.

Hanover

Hanover was in a personal union with Great Britain and Ireland from 1714 to 1801.
It continued a personal union with the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1837. Different rules for who could become ruler meant Queen Victoria became Queen of Britain, while her uncle Ernest Augustus I of Hanover became King of Hanover.

Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire had a personal union with Spain from 1519 to 1556 under Charles V.

Hungary

Hungary had a personal union with Croatia for a very long time, from 1102 to 1918.
It also shared a ruler with Poland from 1370 to 1382 under Louis the Great.
Hungary was in a personal union with Austria from 1867 to 1918. This was known as the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary.

Iceland

Iceland was in a personal union with Denmark from 1918 to 1944. After this, Iceland became a republic.

Ireland

Ireland had personal unions with England from 1541 to 1707, and with Scotland from 1603 to 1707.
It also shared a ruler with most of the Netherlands from 1689 to 1702.
A personal union with Great Britain lasted from 1707 to 1801.
Ireland was also in a personal union with Hanover from 1714 to 1801.
Later, as a Commonwealth realm, Ireland was in a personal union with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 1922 to 1937/1949. It then became a republic.

Lithuania

Lithuania had a personal union with Poland from 1386 to 1569. This was called the Polish-Lithuanian Union. In 1569, it changed into a federation called the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg had a personal union with the Netherlands from 1815 to 1890.

Navarre

Navarre was in a personal union with France from 1589 to 1620. It was then officially joined with France.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands had a personal union with England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1689 to 1702. The Dutch Stadtholder also served as King of these countries.
It also had a personal union with Luxembourg from 1815 to 1890.

Norway

Norway had a personal union with Sweden from 1319 to 1343.
It was in a personal union with Denmark from 1380 to 1814.
The Kalmar Union included Norway, Denmark, and Sweden from 1389 to 1521.
Norway was also in a personal union with Sweden again from 1814 to 1905. This happened when Norway declared independence from Denmark and was then forced into a union with Sweden.

Poland

Poland had personal unions with Hungary from 1370 to 1382 and again from 1440 to 1444.
It also had a personal union with Lithuania from 1386 to 1569, known as the Polish-Lithuanian Union. This later became the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The eastern part of Poland, called Congress Poland, had a personal union with Russia from 1814 to 1832. After a revolt, Russia officially took over the territory.

Poland-Lithuania

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth had a personal union with Sweden from 1592 to 1599.
It also had a personal union with Saxony at different times between 1697 and 1763.

Portugal

Portugal was in the Iberian Union with Spain from 1580 to 1640. This union was under the rule of Philip II of Spain, his son, and his grandson.

Romania

There was a personal union between Wallachia and Transylvania from 1599 to 1600 under Michael the Brave.
Michael the Brave also ruled Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania in a personal union from 1600 to 1601.
A personal union between Wallachia and Moldavia existed from 1859 to 1862 under Alexander Joan Cuza.

Scotland

Scotland had a personal union with England and Ireland from 1603 to 1707. This ended when England and Scotland joined to form the Kingdom of Great Britain.
From 1689 to 1702, Scotland also shared a ruler with most of the Netherlands. The Dutch Stadtholder also served as King of Scotland, England, and Ireland.

Spain

Spain had a personal union with the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 to 1556 under Charles I (who was also Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire).
It also formed the Iberian Union with Portugal from 1580 to 1640.

Sweden

Sweden had a personal union with Norway from 1319 to 1343.
The Kalmar Union included Sweden, Denmark, and Norway from 1389 to 1521.
Sweden was in a personal union with Poland-Lithuania from 1592 to 1599.
A second personal union with Norway lasted from 1814 to 1905. This is sometimes called Sweden-Norway.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

This kingdom had a personal union with Hanover from 1801 to 1837. This union ended because of different rules for who could become ruler. Queen Victoria became Queen of Britain, while her uncle Ernest Augustus I of Hanover became King of Hanover.

Personal union facts for kids

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