Five Thousand Years of Monarchy

by: Arnheim, M.

Five Thousand Years of Monarchy
Michael Arnheim

Description

Offers a sweeping, entertaining journey through the real power structures of world history

Five Thousand Years of Monarchy challenges everything you thought you knew about political history. With wit, clarity, and a deep command of historical detail, Michael Arnheim reframes five millennia of global governance through a strikingly original lens: the idea that every government, from ancient Sumer to modern China, is either a monarchy or an oligarchy—regardless of its name or apparent ideology. This provocative framework reveals insights into some of history's greatest puzzles and personalities, from the Roman emperors to Castro's Cuba, Augustus to Queen Victoria, and from Louis XVI's missed opportunity to the untold powers of King Philip II.

Drawing on lively anecdotes, surprising facts, and colorful historical vignettes, Arnheim brings the power struggles of the past vividly to life. Why was Imperial China more stable than any modern democracy? Could World War I have been avoided by more autocracy? And why are aristocracies more hostile to monarchs than revolutions ever were? Engaging, opinionated, and highly readable, Five Thousand Years of Monarchy offers a powerful reminder that what really matters in politics isn't titles or constitutions—it's who holds the power, and how.

Presenting a bold and original reinterpretation of world history through the lens of power structure, Five Thousand Years of Monarchy:

Distills all governments—ancient and modern—into just two essential types: monarchy or oligarchy
Provides a global scope, covering rulers and regimes from every major civilization
Reveals little-known historical facts, such as King Philip II of Spain's reign as King of England
Offers original, counterintuitive takes on major events such as the French Revolution and World War I
Explores the surprising longevity and success of the Roman and Chinese empires
Challenges conventional narratives and political assumptions with evidence-based analysis
Written in an engaging, accessible, and often humorous style, Five Thousand Years of Monarchy is ideal for general readers with an interest in history, politics, or leadership, as well as students and instructors in History, Classics, and Political Science.

Table of Contents
List of Illustrations x

About the Author xiii

Preface xv

Glossary xvii

Introduction xix

Part I: The Framework 1

Chapter 1: When Is a Monarchy not a Monarchy? 3

Chapter 2: Two Models of Government 13

Chapter 3: Charismatic Leadership 22

Chapter 4: Divine Right 29

Chapter 5: Ceremonial, Titulature, and Trappings 38

Chapter 6: Legal Framework 50

Chapter 7: Social Mobility 73

Chapter 8: Aristocratic Ethos 79

Chapter 9: Equality, Equality of Opportunity and Privilege 87

Chapter 10: The Oligarchy Trap and Other Fallacies 101

Chapter 11: Machiavelli, Historian Extraordinaire 123

Part II: Accession 131

Chapter 12: Heredity 133

Chapter 13: Election 150

Chapter 14: Marriage 174

Chapter 15: Coup and Usurpation 186

Chapter 16: Conquest 194

Chapter 17: Revolution 206

Part III: Varieties of Monarchy 219

Chapter 18: Autocratic Monarchy 221

Chapter 19: Dynastic 230

Chapter 20: Military 254

Chapter 21: Totalitarian 263

Chapter 22: Constitutional Monarchy 272

Chapter 23: Hybrid 278

Chapter 24: Theocracy and Caesaropapism 298

Part IV: Correlations and Contrasts 329

Chapter 25: Liberty vs. Equality 331

Chapter 26: Religious Toleration 336

Chapter 27: Foreign Policy 349

Part V: Exit 365

Chapter 28: Natural Death 367

Chapter 29: Abdication 375

Chapter 30: Assassination 381

Chapter 31: Deposition 389

Part VI: Conclusion 397

Part VII: Round- Up 403

Primary Sources & Abbreviations 409

Select Bibliography 412

Index 427

About the Author
DR. MICHAEL ARNHEIM is a former Fellow of St. John?s College, Cambridge, and a practicing barrister based in London. The author of 25 books to date, he previously served as Professor and Head of the Department of Classics at his alma mater in South Africa.

Five Thousand Years of Monarchy

by: Arnheim, M.

• ISBN-13: 9781394154418 / 978-1-394-15441-8
• ISBN-03: 1394154410 / 1-394-15441-0
• Wiley Blackwell, Oxford, 2025

Marcus Aurelius : Philosopher-King

by: Stephens, W.O.

• ISBN-13: 9781836391166 / 978-1-83639-116-6
• ISBN-03: 1836391161 / 1-83639-116-1
• Reaktion Books, London, 2025