Jonah Patel
The first constitutional monarchy was established in France in 1791, following the French Revolution of 1789, which ended the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. This new constitutional monarchy was short-lived, ending in 1792 with the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the French First Republic. However, Poland developed the first constitution for a monarchy in continental Europe with the Constitution of 3 May 1791. The British monarchy could also be considered a precursor to the constitutional monarchy, as the power of the monarch was limited by the Magna Carta of 1215.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First country to become a constitutional monarchy | France |
| Date of transition | 1 October 1791 |
| Date of transition to a republic | 10 August 1792 |
| First constitution for a monarchy in continental Europe | Poland, 3 May 1791 |
| First form of constitution in England | Magna Carta of 1215 |
| First form of constitution in Scotland | Claim of Right Act of 1689 |
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What You'll Learn
The first constitutional monarchy was in France in 1791
The first constitutional monarchy was established in France in 1791, when King Louis XVI was forced to accept the French Constitution of 1791, thereby transforming the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy. This event marked a significant shift in the country's political system, as the new constitution redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of governmental powers.
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France and was created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. The process of drafting the constitution was initiated by the National Assembly, which aimed to provide France with a fair and liberal framework. The constitution abolished the nobility, declared all men equal before the law, and established a system of active and passive citizens, with the former holding political rights and the latter possessing only civil rights.
The National Assembly, as the legislative body, played a crucial role in the new constitutional monarchy. It shared power with the monarch, with the king and royal ministers forming the executive branch, while the judiciary maintained its independence from the other two branches. The Assembly also established its permanence in the Constitution and introduced a system of recurring elections to ensure representation of the general will.
However, the constitutional monarchy in France was short-lived. Controversies arose over the extent of power granted to the king, with debates surrounding the type of legislature and the level of veto power the king should hold. Ultimately, the monarchy was suspended in August 1792 following the Storming of the Tuileries Palace, and it was officially abolished on 21 September 1792, bringing an end to the Bourbon rule in France.
While France's first constitutional monarchy was brief, it set a precedent for future political systems, both within France and across Europe. It demonstrated the potential for a balance of power between a monarch and a constitutionally organised government, influencing the development of constitutional monarchies in other nations.
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The UK's Glorious Revolution of 1688
King James II's overt Catholicism and his suspension of legal rights for non-conformists caused discontent among the predominantly Protestant population. The birth of his son and heir, also a Catholic, further fuelled the opposition's concerns. Several prominent individuals, including opposition leaders and Mary's husband, William of Orange, invited William to invade England, which he did in November 1688. As William's forces advanced on London, support for James II dwindled, and he ultimately fled to France.
The Glorious Revolution was a complex event, with multiple interpretations of its historiography. Some historians emphasise the foreign invasion aspect, highlighting William's successful military operation from the Netherlands. Others, like Thomas Macaulay, present a "Whig history" narrative, portraying the revolution as a largely peaceful and consensual triumph of English ideals, strengthening the institutions of tempered popular liberty and limited monarchy.
The revolution had significant consequences, not only in the immediate change of rulers but also in the long-term evolution of Britain's political system. It permanently established Parliament as the ruling power, shifting power dynamics from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy. This new system was further defined and restricted by laws such as the Bill of Rights of 1689 and the Act of Settlement of 1701.
The Glorious Revolution also had international implications. It played a role in checking the growth of French power in Europe, as William III's chief concern was to counter the expansionist ambitions of Louis XIV. Additionally, the revolution's ideas and principles influenced other countries, and it set a precedent for future constitutional monarchy systems, both in Europe and worldwide.
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Poland's first European constitution in 1791
The first constitutional monarchy system was established in France in 1791, with the promulgation of the French Constitution of 1791, which took effect on 1 October of that year. However, this system was short-lived, ending with the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the French First Republic after the Insurrection of 10 August 1792.
Now, focusing on Poland's first European constitution in 1791:
On May 3, 1791, Poland enacted a constitution that was a pragmatic blend of conservative and progressive ideas. The Constitution of May 3, 1791, officially called the Government Act, was a written constitution for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, a dual monarchy made up of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It was the first codified, modern constitution in Europe, and the second in the world, after the United States Constitution. The Polish Constitution reflected Enlightenment influences, including Rousseau's social contract theory and Montesquieu's advocacy of a balance of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
The 1791 Constitution was a response to the increasingly precarious situation in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which had been a significant European power a century earlier and was still the largest state in Europe. The Commonwealth was in a state of gradual reform and political agitation, which began with the Convocation Sejm of 1764 and the election of its last king, Stanisław August Poniatowski. The new constitution aimed to address political questions and implement a more effective constitutional monarchy, introducing political equality between townspeople and nobility, and providing legal protection for peasants to mitigate the worst abuses of serfdom.
The Constitution of May 3, 1791, was also a result of Poland's democratic struggle during the second half of the 18th century, which kept Russia, Prussia, and Austria from intervening in the 1789 French Revolution, allowing for dramatic political change in France. The Polish Constitution was progressive for its time, and many prominent figures, including Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke, praised Poland's democratic spirit. The document was so influential that it was translated into French, German, and English.
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The German Empire's constitutional monarchy
The German Empire, also known as Imperial Germany, the Second Reich, or simply Germany, was a constitutional monarchy that existed from 1871 until 1918. The Empire was made up of 25 states, including four kingdoms, six grand duchies, five duchies, seven principalities, three free Hanseatic cities, and one imperial territory. Prussia was the largest and most dominant kingdom, with the King of Prussia also serving as the German Emperor.
While the Reichstag could pass, amend, or reject bills and initiate legislation, the German Emperor retained considerable actual executive power. The Emperor was the supreme commander-in-chief of the armed forces, had the power to disband the Reichstag and call for new elections, and was the final arbiter of all foreign affairs. The Imperial Chancellor ruled by imperial mandate and did not require a parliamentary vote of confidence.
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Fascist Italy's constitutional monarchy
The first constitutional monarchy system is a debated topic. Some claim that the first constitution for a monarchy in continental Europe was developed in Poland with the Constitution of 3 May 1791. However, others argue that the first form of a constitutional monarchy was enacted with the Magna Carta of 1215 in the Kingdom of England.
Now, onto the topic of Fascist Italy's constitutional monarchy.
Fascist Italy, a term used to describe the Kingdom of Italy between 1922 and 1943, was a totalitarian dictatorship led by Benito Mussolini and the National Fascist Party. During this period, Italy underwent several phases, with the second phase (1925-1929) being the construction of the Fascist dictatorship. Mussolini and his regime imposed totalitarian rule, suppressed political opposition, and promoted traditional social values. They also aimed to integrate Fascism into all aspects of Italian life.
In Fascist Italy, there was a nominal constitutional monarchy with the King, Victor Emmanuel III, as the titular head of state. However, actual power was held by Mussolini, who ruled under a constitution. This dynamic discredited the Italian monarchy and ultimately led to its abolition in 1946. The civil discontent that arose during this period prompted an institutional referendum, in which Italians voted to abandon the monarchy and establish a republic, leading to the formation of the Italian Republic as we know it today.
It is important to note that the monarchy in Italy, even before the rise of Fascism, was seen as performing poorly, with society deeply divided between the wealthy North and the poor South. World War I, which resulted in minimal gains for Italy, further fostered the rise of Fascism and contributed to the revival of the Italian republican movement.
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Frequently asked questions
The first constitutional monarchy was France in 1791, after the French Revolution. This was short-lived and ended with the Insurrection of 10 August 1792.
Poland was the first country in continental Europe to develop a constitution for a monarchy, with the Constitution of 3 May 1791.
A constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The monarch may be the head of state but does not have sovereignty as they do not have the power to make laws.
Examples of constitutional monarchies include Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand. After the Second World War, surviving European monarchies almost invariably adopted some form of the constitutional monarchy model.
The transformation of the Estates General of 1789 into the National Assembly initiated an ad-hoc transition from the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime to a new constitutional system. The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France.
