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:
“O, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown!
The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s,eye, tongue, sword,
Th’ expectancy and rose of the fair state,
The glass of fashion and the mold of form,
Th’ observed of all observers, quite, quite down!”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“No republic is more real than that of letters, and I am the last in principles, as I am the least in pretensions to any dictatorship in it.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)