Absolute Monarchy Examples: From Louis XIV to Saudi Arabia Today
Absolute monarchy examples from history and today: Louis XIV's France, Denmark's King Law, Russia's tsars, and the absolute monarchies that remain, such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, Brunei, Eswatini and Vatican City.
Last updated September 2026
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Absolute monarchy examples run from France in the 1600s to five states today. In an absolute monarchy the monarch holds supreme power. In practice, no constitution or parliament can overrule them. This page sets out the best-known cases from history and today. It also covers the borderline states that sources class in different ways.
TL;DR: Louis XIV's France (1643-1715) is the best-known case from history. Denmark-Norway under the King Law of 1665 is another. They also include Prussia under Frederick II, and Russia until 1905. Today five states are usually put in this group. They are Saudi Arabia, Oman, Brunei, Eswatini and Vatican City. Qatar and the UAE are borderline cases.
Absolute monarchy examples from history
| State | Ruler or period | Dates | Basis of power | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Louis XIV | 1643-1715 (personal rule from 1661) | Divine right; no Estates-General called | Reviewed |
| Denmark-Norway | Frederick III and successors | 1660-1849 | The King Law (Kongeloven) of 1665 | Reviewed |
| Prussia | Frederick II ("the Great") | 1740-1786 | Enlightened absolutism | Reviewed |
| Russia | Tsars and emperors | Until 1905-1906 | Autocracy; no national legislature until the Duma | Reviewed |
| Spain | Habsburg and early Bourbon kings | 16th-18th centuries | Royal councils; the Cortes rarely summoned | Reviewed |
| Ottoman Empire | Sultans | Until 1876 | Sultan's authority; first constitution in 1876 | Reviewed |
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France under Louis XIV
Louis XIV became king at four in 1643. His chief minister, Cardinal Mazarin, died in 1661. From then on Louis ran the government himself. He named no new chief minister. France's national assembly, the Estates-General, did not meet from 1614 to 1789.
He moved the court to Versailles in 1682. There the nobles lived under his eye. He is the textbook absolute monarch.
Denmark-Norway and the King Law
Denmark-Norway offers the clearest legal example. In 1660 Frederick III became hereditary, absolute king. The King Law of 1665 set out his powers in writing.
It is often called the only law of its kind in Europe. It wrote down total royal power. It stayed in force until Denmark adopted a constitution in 1849.
Russia's autocracy
Russia's rulers called themselves autocrats. There was no national parliament until 1906. After the 1905 revolution, Nicholas II set up the Duma.
He also issued new basic laws. Even then, the emperor kept wide powers. For the story, see the Romanov dynasty section.
Absolute monarchy examples today
| State | Monarch's title | Key features | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | King | Basic Law of Governance (1992); laws by royal decree; no elected national legislature | Reviewed |
| Oman | Sultan | Basic Law (1996, revised 2021); the sultan issues laws | Reviewed |
| Brunei | Sultan | The sultan is also prime minister; emergency powers since 1962 | Reviewed |
| Eswatini | King (Ngwenyama) | King appoints the prime minister; political parties cannot contest elections | Reviewed |
| Vatican City | Pope | Fundamental Law (2023) gives the Pope full legislative, executive and judicial power | Reviewed |
| Qatar; United Arab Emirates | Emir; federation of seven emirs | Written constitutions and advisory bodies; wide ruling powers | Disputed |
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Oman and Brunei work in a similar way. In Oman the sultan issues the laws. In Brunei the sultan is also prime minister. Brunei has run under emergency powers since 1962.
The borderline cases
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Status: Disputed. Some sources call them absolute. Others call them mixed.
Note: Both states have written constitutions and advisory councils. But the ruling families keep wide power. Elected bodies have limited say. Reference works and indexes split on whether to call them absolute monarchies. This site shows them as a separate, disputed group.
Sources: Britannica, "Monarchy in the modern era"; Britannica, "Absolutism".
Three modern cases up close
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia issued its Basic Law of Governance in 1992. It states that the country's constitution is the Quran and the Sunnah. The king is head of state and head of the armed forces. He has the last word over the government, the courts and the law.
Members of the Consultative (Shura) Council are appointed, not elected. The council advises, but it does not make laws. An Allegiance Council of senior princes was set up in 2006. It has a role in confirming the crown prince. Since 2022 the crown prince has also served as prime minister.
Eswatini
Mswati III has been king of Eswatini since 1986. The country's 2005 constitution kept the king's wide powers. He appoints the prime minister and can dissolve parliament. Candidates for parliament stand as individuals, through local centres called tinkhundla. Political parties cannot run in elections.
Vatican City
Vatican City is the only absolute monarchy chosen by election. When a pope dies or steps down, the cardinals meet in a conclave. They elect the next pope.
The Fundamental Law of Vatican City State dates from 2023. It says the Pope holds full power. He makes the laws, runs the state and judges. He hands day-to-day government to officials.
What these examples have in common
Then and now, these states share a few traits.
- No binding legislature. The monarch makes or approves laws, and no elected body can overrule them.
- Control of the executive. The monarch appoints ministers, or serves as chief minister.
- Religious backing. Many claimed divine right, and several modern ones rest on religious authority, as in Saudi Arabia and Vatican City.
- Power held for life. The monarch serves until death or abdication.
Even so, absolute monarchs always depended on others. They needed the support of nobles and officials. They also needed soldiers and money. In practice those groups limited what any ruler could do. For the ideas behind this system, see absolute rulers.
Absolute monarchy examples by period
| Period | Leading examples | What held power together |
|---|---|---|
| 1500s-1600s | Habsburg Spain; Ottoman Empire | Royal councils and standing armies, funded by overseas or conquered revenue |
| 1600s-1700s | France under Louis XIV; Denmark-Norway | Divine right; written absolutist law in Denmark |
| 1700s | Prussia; Russia; the Habsburg lands | Enlightened absolutism and reform from above |
| 1800s-1905 | Russia | Autocracy without a national parliament |
| Today | Saudi Arabia, Oman, Brunei, Eswatini, Vatican City | Religious authority, oil revenue or tradition |
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The table shows how the model moved east over time. It faded first in western Europe and lasted longest in Russia. Today it survives mainly in the Arabian Peninsula, in Brunei and in Eswatini.
How absolute monarchies ended or changed
Most absolute monarchies of the past became constitutional or fell. England's try at absolute rule under Charles I ended in civil war. He was executed in 1649. France's ended in revolution in 1789. Denmark's ended in peace with the 1849 constitution.
Russia's autocracy was limited in 1906 and swept away in 1917. For the opposite system, where law binds the monarch, see limited monarchy.
Russia's rulers are the best-documented case. Our guide to the best books about the Romanovs includes Massie's lives of Peter and Catherine.
Verdict: the clearest absolute monarchy examples
The clearest absolute monarchy examples from history are Louis XIV's France and Denmark-Norway. Denmark even wrote the king's power into law in 1665. Tsarist Russia comes close behind.
Today five states are usually put in this group. They are Saudi Arabia, Oman, Brunei, Eswatini and Vatican City. Qatar and the UAE are borderline. For the full list by country, see countries having monarchy.
Sources checked for this page
- Britannica, "Absolutism"
- Britannica, "Monarchy in the modern era"
- Britannica, "Louis XIV"
- Château de Versailles, "Louis XIV"
- Britannica, "Basic Law of Government" (Saudi Arabia)
- Vatican City State, Fundamental Law (2023)
- Britannica, "Mswati III"
Questions people also ask
What is an example of an absolute monarchy today?
Saudi Arabia is the best-known example. The king is head of state, holds supreme executive authority and issues laws by royal decree, and there is no elected national legislature.
What was the most famous absolute monarchy?
France under Louis XIV, who took personal control of government in 1661, ruled without calling the Estates-General, and built Versailles as the centre of royal power.
Is the UK an absolute monarchy?
No. The UK is a constitutional monarchy. The monarch reigns, but Parliament makes the laws and the government is led by ministers who answer to it.
Is Vatican City an absolute monarchy?
Yes. Its 2023 Fundamental Law gives the Pope full legislative, executive and judicial power in the state. Because the Pope is elected, it is an elective absolute monarchy.
What is the difference between an absolute monarchy and a dictatorship?
Both concentrate power in one person. An absolute monarch holds a hereditary or elective royal office with fixed rules of succession, while a dictator usually takes power by force and has no settled rule for who follows.