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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 |
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| 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. |
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− | 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]. |
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− | 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]]. |
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| [[Category: History]] | | [[Category: History]] |