111:
20:
52:
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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
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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
453:
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
191:
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
249:
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
277:. 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
75:, 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.
539:, 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.
656:, 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
458:). 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.
550:
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
465:, 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
1256:
69:
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
769:
764:
737:
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
110:
379:
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
157:
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
1027:
422:
19:
635:
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.
512:(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
437:, 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
1209:
1064:
1234:
449:'s chief task was priestly, containing so many repetitive rituals that it was deemed the incumbent emperor deserved pampered retirement as an honoured
421:, 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,
1126:
516:
insisted that
Emperor Hirohito remain on the throne. MacArthur saw the emperor as a symbol of the continuity and cohesion of the Japanese people.
1135:
1204:
830:
779:
1001:
535:
denied that there was any official plan for the monarch to abdicate. A potential abdication by the
Emperor required an amendment to the
119:
1219:
676:
560:
306:
270:
153:
is the act of renouncing and resigning from any formal office, but it is applied especially to the supreme office of state. In
1301:
754:
638:
41:
of monarchies. While some cultures have viewed abdication as an extreme abandonment of duty, in other societies (such as pre-
833:[His Majesty The Emperor Indicates His Intention to 'Abdicate'] (in Japanese). NHK. 13 July 2016. Archived from
205:
719:
672:
497:
418:
310:
1270:
1194:
734:
552:
493:
257:
The debate is open about some disputed resignations in the early Middle Ages: the last three popes to resign were
1239:
532:
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330:
1042:
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constitution of the kingdom, by breaking the original contract between king and people, and, by the advice of
1074:
759:
485:
371:
342:
79:
27:
653:
536:
466:
410:
380:
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213:
37:
is the act of formally relinquishing monarchical authority. Abdications have played various roles in the
1261:
1224:
474:
388:
1265:
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632:
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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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1279:
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193:
38:
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1247:
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170:
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1131:
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513:
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346:
58:
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42:
48:), abdication was a regular event and helped maintain stability during political succession.
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began on 23 July 1952, the military forced Farouk I to abdicate in favour of his infant son
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446:
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367:
62:
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1006:
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70:
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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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403:
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322:
266:
209:
166:
384:
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was forced to abdicate in 1399 after power was seized by his paternal first cousin
274:
246:
1096:
1121:
688:
675:. Farouk was exiled to Italy. Fuad himself was shortly thereafter deposed and a
542:
On 19 May 2017, the bill that would allow
Akihito to abdicate was issued by the
504:
to abdicate so that one of the princes could serve as regent until Crown Prince
318:
298:
293:
278:
262:
258:
95:
55:
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reported that
Emperor Akihito intended to abdicate in favour of his eldest son
1179:
696:
624:
556:
352:
220:
409:
Today, because the title to the Crown depends upon statute, particularly the
723:
627:
to abdicate his throne as German
Emperor and consequentially, his throne as
302:
154:
1187:
800:
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326:
317:
One of the most well-known abdications in recent history is that of King
91:
23:
692:
505:
376:
87:
83:
82:, many monarchs have abdicated due to old age, such as the monarchs of
165:. A notable exception is the voluntary relinquishing of the office of
78:
Recently, due to the largely ceremonial nature of the regnant in many
1257:
Napoleon's Proclamation to the French People on His Second Abdication
708:
438:
1002:"Japan sets date for Emperor Akihito's abdication as April 30, 2019"
571:
According to Jain sources written almost 800 years after his reign,
402:, was forced to abdicate in 1567 in favour of her one-year-old son,
196:, often employed to smooth the transition process between monarchs.
741:
in 1146 and the first Scandinavian monarch to abdicate since queen
700:
586:
508:
came of age. On 27 February 1946, the Emperor's youngest brother,
292:
245:(head of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of the
135:
123:
109:
99:
50:
45:
18:
1156:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
600:
596:
579:
abdicated and became a Jain monk in the last years of his life.
242:
1029:
The Long Struggle: The Seeds of the Muslim World's Frustration
520:
204:
Among the most notable abdications of antiquity are those of
1167:. Springfield, Massachusetts: King-Richardson Company. 1911.
931:"Japan passes landmark bill for Emperor Akihito to abdicate"
770:
List of monarchs who lost their thrones in the 21st century
765:
List of monarchs who lost their thrones in the 20th century
1097:"King Frederik: Tens of thousands turn out for succession"
559:
announced that the abdication would occur at the end of
531:
abdicated in 1817. However, senior officials within the
285:, and was met with a great deal of surprise worldwide.
1065:"Spain's King Attends Last Parade Before Abdication"
341:, the British establishment, the governments of the
949:"Japan's Emperor Akihito to abdicate in April 2019"
905:"Japan's Emperor Akihito hints at wish to abdicate"
16:
Voluntary or forced renunciation of sovereign power
1043:"King of Spain to Abdicate for Son, Prince Felipe"
1213:. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 33.
423:His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936
413:, a royal abdication can be effected only by an
273:in 2013, who was succeeded by the current pope,
65:, delivers his abdication letter on 7 April 1831
1198:. Vol. I (9th ed.). 1878. p. 30.
1073:. Associated Press. 8 June 2014. Archived from
857:"Japanese Emperor Akihito 'wishes to abdicate'"
885:. The Imperial Household Agency. 8 August 2016
231:The papacy, the Papal States and Vatican City
8:
241:Due to the complex nature of the office of
595:shocked Europe by abdicating to move to
1127:Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan
792:
687:In recent decades, the monarchs of the
883:"Message from His Majesty The Emperor"
652:When Germany invaded Belgium in 1940,
519:On 13 July 2016, national broadcaster
149:, to proclaim). In its broadest sense
7:
780:List of resignations from government
1000:Osaki, Tomohiro (1 December 2017).
975:"Japan's Emperor Akihito abdicates"
817:
297:Instrument of abdication signed by
26:'s first abdication, signed at the
14:
1178:
1151:
1130:. New York: Harper and Collins.
807:. Etymology, origin and meaning.
583:Other examples in recent history
546:'s cabinet. On 8 June 2017, the
216:, the Roman dictator, in 79 BC;
120:Abbaye de Saint-Germain-des-Prés
658:ordered Leopold III to abdicate
141:meaning to disown or renounce (
1271:Abdication of King Edward VIII
755:List of monarchs who abdicated
126:, showing removal of the crown
1:
1164:The New Century Book of Facts
480:After the defeat of Japan in
370:fled to France, dropping the
337:, over the objections of the
114:Tomb effigy of heart of King
61:, founder and emperor of the
663:After mass protests against
645:abdicated the throne of the
206:Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus
673:Egyptian revolution of 1952
575:, the first emperor of the
419:Statute of Westminster 1931
333:to marry American divorcée
169:(and thus sovereign of the
1318:
1240:Collier's New Encyclopedia
1032:by Amil Khan (2010), p. 58
553:Imperial Household Council
359:while Richard was abroad.
234:
733:of Denmark announced her
533:Imperial Household Agency
500:, pressured then-Emperor
417:; under the terms of the
80:constitutional monarchies
301:and his three brothers,
1280:"The Higher Abdication"
1266:Statement of Abdication
1210:Encyclopædia Britannica
1195:Encyclopædia Britannica
1045:. VOA News. 2 June 2014
760:Lists of office-holders
383:pronounced a decree of
372:Great Seal of the Realm
223:in AD 305; and Emperor
28:Palace of Fontainebleau
722:in favour of his son,
604:
537:Imperial Household Law
484:, many members of the
473:, or the current 1947
467:Imperial Household Law
411:Act of Settlement 1701
314:
252:1983 Code of Canon Law
214:Lucius Cornelius Sulla
173:) by the pope, called
127:
66:
31:
1302:History of the papacy
1262:Wilhelm II of Germany
1225:Catholic Encyclopedia
1183:Texts on Wikisource:
782:– republic equivalent
729:On 31 December 2023,
590:
525:Crown Prince Naruhito
475:Constitution of Japan
296:
212:, in 458 and 439 BC;
113:
54:
39:succession procedures
22:
1252:Speech of Abdication
831:"天皇陛下 「生前退位」の意向示される"
665:King Farouk of Egypt
633:Treaty of Versailles
400:Mary, Queen of Scots
265:in 1415, to end the
134:is derived from the
116:John II Casimir Vasa
820:, pp. 571–573.
745:of Sweden in 1720.
593:Christina of Sweden
544:Japanese government
381:Scottish Parliament
364:Glorious Revolution
283:Counter-Reformation
187:Historical examples
1248:Napoleon Bonaparte
1189:"Abdication"
775:Papal renunciation
605:
488:, such as Princes
471:Meiji Constitution
443:Sesshō and Kampaku
315:
313:, 10 December 1936
237:Papal renunciation
225:Romulus Augustulus
180:papal renunciation
171:Vatican City State
128:
67:
32:
1137:978-0-06-019314-0
1103:. 15 January 2024
955:. 1 December 2017
677:republic declared
649:in October 1924.
611:'s defeat in the
555:, Prime Minister
514:Douglas MacArthur
463:Meiji Restoration
415:act of Parliament
357:Henry Bolingbroke
347:Church of England
175:papal resignation
145:, away from, and
43:Meiji Restoration
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1244:
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1191:
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647:Kingdom of Hejaz
631:. The following
435:Japanese history
368:James II and VII
331:Edward abdicated
63:Empire of Brazil
1317:
1316:
1312:
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1122:Bix, Herbert P.
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1007:The Japan Times
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981:. 30 April 2019
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911:. 8 August 2016
903:
902:
898:
888:
886:
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850:
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838:
837:on 13 July 2016
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799:
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789:
751:
743:Ulrika Eleonora
685:
643:Sharif of Mecca
639:Hussein bin Ali
629:King of Prussia
613:First World War
585:
577:Mauryan Dynasty
569:
486:Imperial Family
456:Cloistered rule
451:retired emperor
431:
291:
239:
233:
202:
189:
161:rather than to
108:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1174:
1173:External links
1171:
1170:
1169:
1143:
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1136:
1115:
1114:
1088:
1077:on 8 June 2014
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992:
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937:. 8 June 2017.
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863:. 13 July 2016
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714:In June 2014,
684:
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617:German Emperor
599:and serve the
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529:Emperor Kōkaku
430:
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335:Wallis Simpson
323:United Kingdom
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267:Western Schism
235:Main article:
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210:Roman dictator
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167:Bishop of Rome
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716:Juan Carlos I
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607:The chaos of
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561:30 April 2019
558:
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548:National Diet
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510:Prince Mikasa
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1105:. Retrieved
1100:
1091:
1079:. Retrieved
1075:the original
1068:
1059:
1047:. Retrieved
1037:
1028:
1023:
1011:. Retrieved
1005:
995:
983:. Retrieved
978:
969:
957:. Retrieved
952:
943:
934:
925:
913:. Retrieved
908:
899:
887:. Retrieved
877:
865:. Retrieved
860:
851:
839:. Retrieved
835:the original
825:
813:
804:
795:
731:Margrethe II
728:
713:
686:
683:21st century
662:
651:
637:
620:
606:
573:Chandragupta
570:
541:
518:
482:World War II
479:
460:
432:
425:was passed.
408:
393:
361:
351:
343:Commonwealth
339:royal family
316:
271:Benedict XVI
256:
247:Papal States
240:
203:
200:Roman Empire
190:
178:
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162:
158:
150:
146:
142:
138:
131:
129:
77:
71:
68:
34:
33:
30:4 April 1814
1146:Attribution
689:Netherlands
671:during the
654:Leopold III
498:Higashikuni
461:Before the
445:), and the
362:During the
319:Edward VIII
299:Edward VIII
279:Reformation
263:Gregory XII
259:Celestine V
227:in AD 476.
106:Terminology
96:Netherlands
72:in absentia
1297:Abdication
1291:Categories
1235:Abdication
1220:Abdication
1205:Abdication
1107:15 January
959:2 December
805:EtymOnline
801:"Abdicate"
787:References
735:abdication
697:Luxembourg
625:Wilhelm II
557:Shinzo Abe
389:deposition
385:forfeiture
353:Richard II
329:. In 1936
221:Diocletian
194:succession
151:abdication
132:abdication
35:Abdication
1013:6 January
724:Felipe VI
720:abdicated
718:of Spain
494:Takamatsu
366:in 1688,
327:Dominions
261:in 1294,
155:Roman law
139:abdicatio
130:The word
1276:O. Henry
1124:(2000).
1101:BBC News
979:BBC News
953:BBC News
935:BBC News
915:8 August
909:BBC News
889:8 August
861:BBC News
818:Bix 2000
749:See also
705:Cambodia
502:Hirohito
490:Chichibu
404:James VI
396:Scotland
345:and the
325:and the
163:abdicate
92:Cambodia
24:Napoleon
1243:. 1921.
1228:. 1913.
1160::
867:17 July
841:13 July
693:Belgium
669:Fuad II
615:forced
609:Germany
506:Akihito
447:emperor
439:regents
377:Jesuits
321:of the
289:Britain
275:Francis
218:Emperor
88:Denmark
84:Belgium
59:Pedro I
1134:
1081:8 June
1049:2 June
709:Bhutan
621:Kaiser
591:Queen
469:, the
311:George
303:Albert
269:, and
208:, the
159:resign
147:dicare
94:, the
985:1 May
701:Qatar
567:India
441:(see
429:Japan
307:Henry
136:Latin
124:Paris
100:Japan
46:Japan
1132:ISBN
1109:2024
1083:2014
1070:Time
1051:2014
1015:2018
987:2019
961:2017
917:2016
891:2016
869:2016
843:2016
707:and
601:pope
597:Rome
496:and
387:and
309:and
281:and
243:pope
98:and
1237:".
1222:".
1207:".
521:NHK
433:In
394:In
177:or
122:in
118:at
56:Dom
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1264:,
1250:,
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