Personal union


A personal union is a combination of two or more monarchical states that have the same monarch while their boundaries, laws, and interests remain distinct. A real union, by contrast, involves the constituent states being to some extent interlinked, such as by sharing some limited governmental institutions. It differs from a federation in that each constituent state has an independent government, whereas a federal state is united by a central government. The ruler in a personal union does not need to be a hereditary monarch.
The term was coined by German jurist Johann Stephan Pütter, introducing it into Elementa iuris publici germanici of 1760.
Personal unions can arise for several reasons, such as:
They can also be codified or non-codified, in which case they can easily be broken.
The concept of a personal union has only very rarely crossed over from monarchies into republics.
There are currently two personal unions in the world: the 15 Commonwealth realms, who share Charles III as their head of state, and one of the co-princes of Andorra being the President of France.

Monarchies in personal union

Africa

Congo Free State and Belgium

  • Personal union with Belgium from 1885 to 1908, when the Congo Free State became a Belgian colony. The only sovereign during this period was Leopold II, who continued as king of Belgium until his death a year later in 1909.

    Asia

Near East

King Chungseon of Goryeo reigned as King of Goryeo in 1298 and 1308–1313 and as King of Shenyang or King of Shen from 1307 or 1308 to 1316. At that time, Goryeo had already become a vassal of the Mongol Empire and the Mongol imperial family following the Mongol invasions of Korea and the Goryeo royal family had established strong ties by intermarrying with the Mongol imperial family. Because King Chungseon was a very powerful man during the reign of Külüg Khan, Külüg Khan gave him a new title on top of his kingship of Goryeo, the Prince/King of Shenyang, in 1307 or 1308 specifically mentioned as thanks to his efforts of bringing the Khan to power.
However, he lost his power in the Mongol imperial court after the death of the Külüg Khan. Because the Mongol Empire made Chungseon abdicate the crown of the Goryeo in 1313, the personal union was ended. King Chungsuk, Chungseon's eldest son, became the new King of Goryeo. In 1316, the Mongol Empire made Chungseon abdicate the crown of Shen in favour of Wang Ko, one of his nephews, resulting in him becoming the new King of Shen.
Following Wang Ko's death, Chungmok of Goryeo and Chungjeong of Goryeo were also dual rulers of both Goryeo and Shenyang from 1345-1351.

Europe

Albania

Due to Andorra's special government form resulting from the Paréage of 1278, it is a diarchy with co-princes. One of them is the Bishop of Urgell; the other was originally the Count of Foix. It is through this feudal co-prince system that the Principality has entered partial personal union with:
In 1607, the feudal co-prince was Henry IV of France, who issued an edict that his position should be held by the French Head of State. While the new government did not take up the title during the French Revolution, all polities of France since 1806 regardless of their government form have accepted that their head of state is an ex officio co-prince. This led to personal unions with:
Personal union with:
Personal union, as Kingdom of England, with:
''1: After 1707, see Great Britain below.''

France

Note: The point at issue in the War of the Spanish Succession was the fear that the succession to the Spanish throne dictated by Spanish law, which would devolve on Louis, le Grand Dauphin — already heir to the throne of France — would create a personal union that would upset the European balance of power; France had the most powerful military in Europe at the time, and Spain the largest empire.

Great Britain

Before 1707, see England and Scotland.
''After 1801, see [|United Kingdom] below.''

Hanover