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==Etymology==

==Etymology==

[[Latin]] abdicatus, past participle of abdicare, from ab- + dicare to proclaim

[[Latin]] abdicatus, past participle of abdicare, from ab- + dicare to proclaim

*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Century 1541]

*Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Century 1541]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 : to cast off : discard

*1 : to cast off : discard

renounce, resign mean to give up a position with no [[possibility]] of resuming it.

renounce, resign mean to give up a position with no [[possibility]] of resuming it.

==Description==

==Description==

'''Abdication''' (from the Latin abdicatio, disowning, renouncing, from ab, away from, and dicare, to declare, to proclaim as not belonging to one) is the [[act]] of renouncing and resigning from a [[formal]] office, especially from the supreme office of [[state]]. In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_law Roman law] the term was also applied to the disowning of a [[family]] member, as the disinheriting of a son. The term commonly applies to monarchs, or those who have been formally crowned. A similar term for an elected or appointed official is resignation.

'''Abdication''' (from the Latin abdicatio, disowning, renouncing, from ab, away from, and dicare, to declare, to proclaim as not belonging to one) is the [[act]] of renouncing and resigning from a [[formal]] office, especially from the supreme office of [[state]]. In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_law Roman law] the term was also applied to the disowning of a [[family]] member, as the disinheriting of a son. The term commonly applies to monarchs, or those who have been formally crowned. A similar term for an elected or appointed official is resignation.

==Abdications in western classical antiquity==

==Abdications in western classical antiquity==

Among the most memorable abdications of antiquity were those of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Cornelius_Sulla Lucius Cornelius Sulla] the Dictator in 79 BC, Emperor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletian Diocletian] in AD 305, and Emperor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romulus_Augustulus Romulus Augustulus] in AD 476.

Among the most memorable abdications of antiquity were those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Cornelius_Sulla Lucius Cornelius Sulla] the Dictator in 79 BC, Emperor [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletian Diocletian] in AD 305, and Emperor [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romulus_Augustulus Romulus Augustulus] in AD 476.

==The British Crown==

==The British Crown==

Probably the most famous abdication in recent [[memory]] is that of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII_of_the_United_Kingdom King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom] in 1936. Edward abdicated the British throne in order to [[marry]] [[American]] divorcée Wallis Simpson, over the objections of the British [[establishment]], the [[governments]] of the [[Commonwealth]], the royal family and the Church of England. This was also the first time in [[history]] that the British crown was surrendered entirely [[voluntarily]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_II Richard II] of England, for example, was forced to abdicate after [[power]] was seized by his cousin, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Bolinbroke Henry Bolingbroke], while Richard was out of the country.

Probably the most famous abdication in recent [[memory]] is that of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII_of_the_United_Kingdom King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom] in 1936. Edward abdicated the British throne in order to [[marry]] [[American]] divorcée Wallis Simpson, over the objections of the British [[establishment]], the [[governments]] of the [[Commonwealth]], the royal family and the Church of England. This was also the first time in [[history]] that the British crown was surrendered entirely [[voluntarily]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_II Richard II] of England, for example, was forced to abdicate after [[power]] was seized by his cousin, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Bolinbroke Henry Bolingbroke], while Richard was out of the country.

During the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glorious_Revolution Glorious Revolution] in 1688, James II of England and VII of Scotland fled to France, dropping the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Seal_of_the_Realm Great Seal of the Realm 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, for, in a full assembly of the Lords and Commons, it was resolved in spite of James's protest "that King James II having endeavoured to subvert the [[constitution]] of the kingdom, by breaking the original contract between [[king]] and [[people]], and, by the advice of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesuits Jesuits] 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 Scottish parliament pronounced a [[decree]] of forfeiture and deposition. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Queen_of_Scots Mary Queen of Scots] was forced to abdicate in [[favor]] of her one-year-old son, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_VI James VI].

During the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glorious_Revolution Glorious Revolution] in 1688, James II of England and VII of Scotland fled to France, dropping the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Seal_of_the_Realm Great Seal of the Realm 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, for, in a full assembly of the Lords and Commons, it was resolved in spite of James's protest "that King James II having endeavoured to subvert the [[constitution]] of the kingdom, by breaking the original contract between [[king]] and [[people]], and, by the advice of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesuits Jesuits] 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 Scottish parliament pronounced a [[decree]] of forfeiture and deposition. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Queen_of_Scots Mary Queen of Scots] was forced to abdicate in [[favor]] of her one-year-old son, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_VI James VI].

Because the title to the Crown depends upon statute, particularly the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Settlement_1701 Act of Settlement 1701], a Royal Abdication can only be effected by an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Parliament Act of Parliament]; under the terms of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_of_Westminster_1931 Statute of Westminster 1931], such an act must be passed by the parliament of all sixteen [[Commonwealth]] realms. To give [[legal]] effect to the abdication of King Edward VIII, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Majesty%27s_Declaration_of_Abdication_Act_1936 His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936] was passed.

Because the title to the Crown depends upon statute, particularly the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Settlement_1701 Act of Settlement 1701], a Royal Abdication can only be effected by an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Parliament Act of Parliament]; under the terms of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_of_Westminster_1931 Statute of Westminster 1931], such an act must be passed by the parliament of all sixteen [[Commonwealth]] realms. To give [[legal]] effect to the abdication of King Edward VIII, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Majesty%27s_Declaration_of_Abdication_Act_1936 His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936] was passed.

==Modern abdications==

==Modern abdications==

In certain [[cultures]], if a monarch abdicated it 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]]. The monarchs of the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Cambodia have abdicated as a result of old age and it is considered [[normal]] and even expected in the Netherlands. Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein recently made his son regent, an [[act]] which amounted to an abdication in [[fact]] if not in [[law]].

In certain [[cultures]], if a monarch abdicated it 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]]. The monarchs of the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Cambodia have abdicated as a result of old age and it is considered [[normal]] and even expected in the Netherlands. Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein recently made his son regent, an [[act]] which amounted to an abdication in [[fact]] if not in [[law]].

[[Category: History]]

[[Category: History]]