A Noble Republic is a form of government in which the state is ruled by a council of noble families, in a similar way to a democratic parliament, and the Head of State is an elected King. An example of this for of government is Poland, although Hungary also had short periods of time where elected kings ruled. Many ancient Hellenic city states can also be considered as Noble Republics. Theoretically, a Noble Republic could work with the council electing a King from among the noble families for lifetime every time a ruler dies, while the council itself would be elected by citizens, representing an aristocratic alternative to the parliamentary republic.
The term Noble Republic can refer to:
- History of Poland (1569–1795)
- Golden Liberty, the political system of that time in Poland
Famous quotes containing the words noble and/or republic:
“Here lieth the worthy warrior
Who never bloodied sword;
Here lieth the noble counsellor,
Who never held his word.
Here lieth his Excellency,
Who ruled all the state;
Here lieth the Earl of Leicester,
Whom all the world did hate.”
—Anonymous. 16th century.
“Jean Jacques Rousseau ... is nothing but a fool in my eyes when he takes it upon himself to criticise society; he did not understand it, and approached it with the heart of an upstart flunkey.... For all his preaching a Republic and the overthrow of monarchical titles, the upstart is mad with joy if a Duke alters the course of his after-dinner stroll to accompany one of his friends.”
—Stendhal [Marie Henri Beyle] (1783–1842)