122:
31:
63:
465:
majority was not a requirement. Thus, many
Japanese emperors have acceded as children, some only 6 or 8 years old. Childhood apparently helped the monarch to endure tedious duties and to tolerate subjugation to political power brokers, as well as sometimes to cloak the truly powerful members of the imperial dynasty. Almost all Japanese empresses and dozens of emperors abdicated and lived the rest of their lives in pampered retirement, wielding influence behind the scenes, often with more power than they had had while on the throne (see
599:
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into the Thames, and the question was discussed in
Parliament whether he had forfeited the throne or had abdicated. The latter designation was agreed upon in spite of James's protest, and in a full assembly of the Lords and Commons it was resolved "that King James II having endeavoured to subvert the
464:
after a service of around ten years. A tradition developed that an emperor should accede to the throne relatively young. The high-priestly duties were deemed possible for a walking child; and a dynast who had passed his toddler years was regarded as suitable and old enough; reaching the age of legal
202:
In certain cultures, the abdication of a monarch was seen as a profound and shocking abandonment of royal duty. As a result, abdications usually only occurred in the most extreme circumstances of political turmoil or violence. For other cultures, abdication was a much more routine element of
260:
from 754 to 1870 and of
Vatican City since 1929), a papal abdication involves both the spiritual and the secular sphere. Technically, the correct term for a reigning pope voluntarily stepping down as bishop of Rome is renunciation or resignation, as regulated in Canon 332 §2 of the
288:. Benedict's resignation, which occurred 598 years after the last time a pope did so, and 719 years after the last one who renounced entirely on his own volition, was an event unheard of for more than half a millennium, as well as being the first papal resignation since the
86:, vacating the physical throne and thus their position of power, although these judgements were generally pronounced by successors with vested interests in seeing the throne abdicated, and often without or despite the direct input of the abdicating monarch.
550:, which at that time had no provisions for such a move. On 8 August 2016, the Emperor gave a rare televised address, where he emphasized his advanced age and declining health; this address was interpreted as an implication of his intention to abdicate.
667:, instead of fleeing to London like his Dutch and Norwegian counterparts in a similar predicament, surrendered to the invaders. This made him unpopular both at home and abroad, and after the war, in July 1951, the Belgian government
469:). Several emperors abdicated while still in their teens. These traditions show in Japanese folklore, theatre, literature and other forms of culture, where the emperor is usually described or depicted as an adolescent.
561:
passed a one-off bill allowing
Akihito to abdicate, and for the government to begin arranging the process of handing over the position to Crown Prince Naruhito. On 1 December 2017, following a meeting of the
476:, Japan had eleven reigning empresses. Over half of Japanese empresses abdicated once a suitable male descendant was considered to be old enough to rule. There is also no provision for abdication in the
1267:
80:
Historically, abdications have occurred both by force (where the regnant was forced to abdicate on pain of death or other severe consequences) and voluntarily. Some rulers are deemed to have abdicated
780:
775:
748:
during her annual New Year's address, to be scheduled for 14 January 2024, the 52nd anniversary of her accession to the Danish throne. She was the first Danish monarch to abdicate since king
121:
390:
and other wicked persons, having violated the fundamental laws, and having withdrawn himself out of this kingdom, has abdicated the government, and that the throne is thereby vacant." The
168:
the term was also applied to the disowning of a family member, such as disinheriting a son. Today the term is commonly only used for monarchs. An elected or appointed official is said to
1038:
433:
30:
646:
resulted in the abolition of both monarchies, leading to the other German kings, dukes, princes and other nobility to abdicate and renounce their royalty titles.
523:(Takahito), even stood up in the privy council and indirectly urged the Emperor to step down and accept responsibility for Japan's defeat. U.S. Army General
448:, abdication was used very often, and in fact occurred more often than death on the throne. In those days, most executive authority resided in the hands of
1220:
1075:
1245:
460:'s chief task was priestly, containing so many repetitive rituals that it was deemed the incumbent emperor deserved pampered retirement as an honoured
432:, such an act must be agreed by the parliaments of all extant signatories of the Statute. To give legal effect to the abdication of King Edward VIII,
1137:
527:
insisted that
Emperor Hirohito remain on the throne. MacArthur saw the emperor as a symbol of the continuity and cohesion of the Japanese people.
1146:
1215:
841:
790:
1012:
546:
denied that there was any official plan for the monarch to abdicate. A potential abdication by the
Emperor required an amendment to the
130:
1230:
687:
571:
317:
281:
164:
is the act of renouncing and resigning from any formal office, but it is applied especially to the supreme office of state. In
1312:
765:
649:
52:
of monarchies. While some cultures have viewed abdication as an extreme abandonment of duty, in other societies (such as pre-
844:[His Majesty The Emperor Indicates His Intention to 'Abdicate'] (in Japanese). NHK. 13 July 2016. Archived from
216:
730:
683:
508:
429:
321:
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1205:
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563:
504:
268:
The debate is open about some disputed resignations in the early Middle Ages: the last three popes to resign were
1250:
543:
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341:
1053:
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constitution of the kingdom, by breaking the original contract between king and people, and, by the advice of
1085:
770:
496:
382:
353:
90:
38:
664:
547:
477:
421:
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262:
224:
48:
is the act of formally relinquishing monarchical authority. Abdications have played various roles in the
1272:
1235:
485:
399:
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453:
643:
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349:
126:
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within a few years, citing his age; an abdication within the
Imperial Family had not occurred since
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1290:
603:
583:
554:
374:
293:
204:
49:
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1258:
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524:
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367:
357:
69:
62:
53:
59:), abdication was a regular event and helped maintain stability during political succession.
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678:
began on 23 July 1952, the military forced Farouk I to abdicate in favour of his infant son
657:
457:
445:
378:
73:
1080:
1017:
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have abdicated either as a result of old age or to pass the throne to the heir sooner.
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345:
333:
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220:
177:
395:
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228:
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was forced to abdicate in 1399 after power was seized by his paternal first cousin
285:
257:
1107:
1132:
699:
686:. Farouk was exiled to Italy. Fuad himself was shortly thereafter deposed and a
553:
On 19 May 2017, the bill that would allow
Akihito to abdicate was issued by the
515:
to abdicate so that one of the princes could serve as regent until Crown Prince
329:
309:
304:
289:
273:
269:
106:
66:
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959:
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reported that
Emperor Akihito intended to abdicate in favour of his eldest son
1190:
707:
635:
567:
363:
231:
420:
Today, because the title to the Crown depends upon statute, particularly the
734:
638:
to abdicate his throne as German
Emperor and consequentially, his throne as
313:
165:
1198:
811:
1286:
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535:
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406:
337:
328:
One of the most well-known abdications in recent history is that of King
102:
34:
17:
703:
516:
387:
98:
94:
93:, many monarchs have abdicated due to old age, such as the monarchs of
176:. A notable exception is the voluntary relinquishing of the office of
89:
Recently, due to the largely ceremonial nature of the regnant in many
1268:
Napoleon's Proclamation to the French People on His Second Abdication
719:
449:
1013:"Japan sets date for Emperor Akihito's abdication as April 30, 2019"
582:
According to Jain sources written almost 800 years after his reign,
413:, was forced to abdicate in 1567 in favour of her one-year-old son,
207:, often employed to smooth the transition process between monarchs.
752:
in 1146 and the first Scandinavian monarch to abdicate since queen
711:
597:
519:
came of age. On 27 February 1946, the Emperor's youngest brother,
303:
256:(head of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of the
146:
134:
120:
110:
61:
56:
29:
1167:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
611:
607:
590:
abdicated and became a Jain monk in the last years of his life.
253:
1040:
The Long Struggle: The Seeds of the Muslim World's Frustration
531:
215:
Among the most notable abdications of antiquity are those of
1178:. Springfield, Massachusetts: King-Richardson Company. 1911.
942:"Japan passes landmark bill for Emperor Akihito to abdicate"
781:
List of monarchs who lost their thrones in the 21st century
776:
List of monarchs who lost their thrones in the 20th century
1108:"King Frederik: Tens of thousands turn out for succession"
570:
announced that the abdication would occur at the end of
542:
abdicated in 1817. However, senior officials within the
296:, and was met with a great deal of surprise worldwide.
1076:"Spain's King Attends Last Parade Before Abdication"
352:, the British establishment, the governments of the
960:"Japan's Emperor Akihito to abdicate in April 2019"
916:"Japan's Emperor Akihito hints at wish to abdicate"
27:
Voluntary or forced renunciation of sovereign power
1054:"King of Spain to Abdicate for Son, Prince Felipe"
1224:. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 33.
434:His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936
424:, a royal abdication can be effected only by an
284:in 2013, who was succeeded by the current pope,
76:, delivers his abdication letter on 7 April 1831
1209:. Vol. I (9th ed.). 1878. p. 30.
1084:. Associated Press. 8 June 2014. Archived from
868:"Japanese Emperor Akihito 'wishes to abdicate'"
896:. The Imperial Household Agency. 8 August 2016
242:The papacy, the Papal States and Vatican City
8:
252:Due to the complex nature of the office of
606:shocked Europe by abdicating to move to
1138:Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan
803:
698:In recent decades, the monarchs of the
894:"Message from His Majesty The Emperor"
663:When Germany invaded Belgium in 1940,
530:On 13 July 2016, national broadcaster
160:, to proclaim). In its broadest sense
7:
791:List of resignations from government
1011:Osaki, Tomohiro (1 December 2017).
986:"Japan's Emperor Akihito abdicates"
828:
308:Instrument of abdication signed by
37:'s first abdication, signed at the
25:
1189:
1162:
1141:. New York: Harper and Collins.
818:. Etymology, origin and meaning.
594:Other examples in recent history
557:'s cabinet. On 8 June 2017, the
227:, the Roman dictator, in 79 BC;
131:Abbaye de Saint-Germain-des-Prés
669:ordered Leopold III to abdicate
152:meaning to disown or renounce (
1282:Abdication of King Edward VIII
766:List of monarchs who abdicated
137:, showing removal of the crown
1:
1175:The New Century Book of Facts
491:After the defeat of Japan in
381:fled to France, dropping the
348:, over the objections of the
125:Tomb effigy of heart of King
72:, founder and emperor of the
674:After mass protests against
656:abdicated the throne of the
217:Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus
684:Egyptian revolution of 1952
586:, the first emperor of the
430:Statute of Westminster 1931
344:to marry American divorcée
180:(and thus sovereign of the
1329:
1251:Collier's New Encyclopedia
1043:by Amil Khan (2010), p. 58
564:Imperial Household Council
370:while Richard was abroad.
245:
744:of Denmark announced her
544:Imperial Household Agency
511:, pressured then-Emperor
428:; under the terms of the
91:constitutional monarchies
312:and his three brothers,
1291:"The Higher Abdication"
1277:Statement of Abdication
1221:Encyclopædia Britannica
1206:Encyclopædia Britannica
1056:. VOA News. 2 June 2014
771:Lists of office-holders
394:pronounced a decree of
383:Great Seal of the Realm
234:in AD 305; and Emperor
39:Palace of Fontainebleau
733:in favour of his son,
615:
548:Imperial Household Law
495:, many members of the
484:, or the current 1947
478:Imperial Household Law
422:Act of Settlement 1701
325:
263:1983 Code of Canon Law
225:Lucius Cornelius Sulla
184:) by the pope, called
138:
77:
42:
1313:History of the papacy
1273:Wilhelm II of Germany
1236:Catholic Encyclopedia
1194:Texts on Wikisource:
793:– republic equivalent
740:On 31 December 2023,
601:
536:Crown Prince Naruhito
486:Constitution of Japan
307:
223:, in 458 and 439 BC;
124:
65:
50:succession procedures
33:
1263:Speech of Abdication
842:"天皇陛下 「生前退位」の意向示される"
676:King Farouk of Egypt
644:Treaty of Versailles
411:Mary, Queen of Scots
276:in 1415, to end the
145:is derived from the
127:John II Casimir Vasa
831:, pp. 571–573.
756:of Sweden in 1720.
604:Christina of Sweden
555:Japanese government
392:Scottish Parliament
375:Glorious Revolution
294:Counter-Reformation
198:Historical examples
1259:Napoleon Bonaparte
1200:"Abdication"
786:Papal renunciation
616:
499:, such as Princes
482:Meiji Constitution
454:Sesshō and Kampaku
326:
324:, 10 December 1936
248:Papal renunciation
236:Romulus Augustulus
191:papal renunciation
182:Vatican City State
139:
78:
43:
1148:978-0-06-019314-0
1114:. 15 January 2024
966:. 1 December 2017
688:republic declared
660:in October 1924.
622:'s defeat in the
566:, Prime Minister
525:Douglas MacArthur
474:Meiji Restoration
426:act of Parliament
368:Henry Bolingbroke
358:Church of England
186:papal resignation
156:, away from, and
54:Meiji Restoration
16:(Redirected from
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658:Kingdom of Hejaz
642:. The following
446:Japanese history
379:James II and VII
342:Edward abdicated
74:Empire of Brazil
21:
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992:. 30 April 2019
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922:. 8 August 2016
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848:on 13 July 2016
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754:Ulrika Eleonora
696:
654:Sharif of Mecca
650:Hussein bin Ali
640:King of Prussia
624:First World War
596:
588:Mauryan Dynasty
580:
497:Imperial Family
467:Cloistered rule
462:retired emperor
442:
302:
250:
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213:
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172:rather than to
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1184:External links
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1088:on 8 June 2014
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948:. 8 June 2017.
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874:. 13 July 2016
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610:and serve the
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572:30 April 2019
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1116:. Retrieved
1111:
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1090:. Retrieved
1086:the original
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1058:. Retrieved
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1022:. Retrieved
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994:. Retrieved
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968:. Retrieved
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924:. Retrieved
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898:. Retrieved
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876:. Retrieved
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850:. Retrieved
846:the original
836:
824:
815:
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742:Margrethe II
739:
724:
697:
694:21st century
673:
662:
648:
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584:Chandragupta
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552:
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493:World War II
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443:
436:was passed.
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354:Commonwealth
350:royal family
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282:Benedict XVI
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258:Papal States
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45:
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41:4 April 1814
1157:Attribution
700:Netherlands
682:during the
665:Leopold III
509:Higashikuni
472:Before the
456:), and the
373:During the
330:Edward VIII
310:Edward VIII
290:Reformation
274:Gregory XII
270:Celestine V
238:in AD 476.
117:Terminology
107:Netherlands
83:in absentia
1308:Abdication
1302:Categories
1246:Abdication
1231:Abdication
1216:Abdication
1118:15 January
970:2 December
816:EtymOnline
812:"Abdicate"
798:References
746:abdication
708:Luxembourg
636:Wilhelm II
568:Shinzo Abe
400:deposition
396:forfeiture
364:Richard II
340:. In 1936
232:Diocletian
205:succession
162:abdication
143:abdication
46:Abdication
1024:6 January
735:Felipe VI
731:abdicated
729:of Spain
505:Takamatsu
377:in 1688,
338:Dominions
272:in 1294,
166:Roman law
150:abdicatio
141:The word
18:Abdicated
1287:O. Henry
1135:(2000).
1112:BBC News
990:BBC News
964:BBC News
946:BBC News
926:8 August
920:BBC News
900:8 August
872:BBC News
829:Bix 2000
760:See also
716:Cambodia
513:Hirohito
501:Chichibu
415:James VI
407:Scotland
356:and the
336:and the
174:abdicate
103:Cambodia
35:Napoleon
1254:. 1921.
1239:. 1913.
1171::
878:17 July
852:13 July
704:Belgium
680:Fuad II
626:forced
620:Germany
517:Akihito
458:emperor
450:regents
388:Jesuits
332:of the
300:Britain
286:Francis
229:Emperor
99:Denmark
95:Belgium
70:Pedro I
1145:
1092:8 June
1060:2 June
720:Bhutan
632:Kaiser
602:Queen
480:, the
322:George
314:Albert
280:, and
219:, the
170:resign
158:dicare
105:, the
996:1 May
712:Qatar
578:India
452:(see
440:Japan
318:Henry
147:Latin
135:Paris
111:Japan
57:Japan
1143:ISBN
1120:2024
1094:2014
1081:Time
1062:2014
1026:2018
998:2019
972:2017
928:2016
902:2016
880:2016
854:2016
718:and
612:pope
608:Rome
507:and
398:and
320:and
292:and
254:pope
109:and
1248:".
1233:".
1218:".
532:NHK
444:In
405:In
188:or
133:in
129:at
67:Dom
1304::
1289:,
1275:,
1261:,
1203:.
1110:.
1078:.
1015:.
988:.
962:.
944:.
918:.
870:.
814:.
737:.
714:,
710:,
706:,
702:,
690:.
671:.
652:,
634:)
574:.
503:,
488:.
417:.
409:,
402:.
360:.
316:,
265:.
194:.
154:ab
113:.
101:,
97:,
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1229:"
1214:"
1151:.
1122:.
1096:.
1064:.
1028:.
1000:.
974:.
930:.
904:.
882:.
856:.
630:(
614:.
20:)
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