Principality
A principality is a monarchial feudatory or sovereign state, reigned (not necessarily ruled) by a Monarch who is titled a prince or princess. Some have never been an actual polity, but simple a territorial denomination in chief of which a princely style is held, with or even without an often more modest estate and/or income, both of which may even be (at least partially) outside the geographical confines of the principality.
Surviving sovereign principalities are Liechtenstein, Monaco, and the co-principality of Andorra. Extant royal primogenitures styled principality include Asturias (Spain), and Wales (UK).
The term is also sometimes used as a generic term for any monarchy, especially for other small sovereign states ruled by a Monarch of a lesser rank (compare Fürst) than King, for instance grand duchies, whose monarch is a Grand Duke or Duchess. No sovereign duchy currently exists, but Luxembourg is a surviving example of a sovereign grand duchy. Historically there have been sovereign principalities of many ruler styles, such as countships, margraviates and even Lordships.
Notable principalities existed until the early 20th century in various regions of France, Germany and Italy.
While the definition would fit a princely state perfectly, the historical tradition is to reserve that word for native monarchies in colonial countries, principality for the Western monarchies, which this page is therefore devoted to.
Western principalities
Ecclesiastical principalities have existed in significant number in the Roman Catholic Church, in each case consisting of a feudal polity (often a former secular principality lato sensu, such as a lordship, countship...) held ex offico -the closest possible equivalent to hereditary succession- by a Prince of the church, styled more precisely according to his ecclesiastical rank, such as Prince-bishop, Prince-abbot and, especially as a form of crusader state, Grand master (order).
Development
Though principalities existed in Antiquity, before the height of the Roman Empire, the modern principality as it is known today evolved into being in the Middle Ages between 350 and 1450 when feudalism was the primary economic system employed by Eurasian societies. Feudalism increased the power of local princes to govern the king's lands. As princes continued to gain more power over time, the authority of the king was diminished in many places. This led to political fragmentation and the king's lands were broken into mini-states led by princes and dukes who wielded absolute power over their small territories. This was especially prevalent in Europe, and particularly with the Princes of the Holy Roman Empire.
During the period known as the Renaissance from 1200 to 1500, principalities were engaged in constant warfare with each other as royal houses asserted sovereignty over smaller principalities. These wars caused a great deal of instability and economies were destroyed. To add insult to injury, the bubonic plague reduced the power of principalities to survive independently. But eventually, agricultural successes, development of new goods and services to trade and patronization by the Roman Catholic Church boosted commerce between principalities. These states became wealthy and expanded their territories and improved the services provided to their citizens. Princes and dukes developed their lands, established new ports and chartered large thriving cities. Some took their new found wealth and built the first palaces and elaborate government offices people now associate with principalities.
Consolidation
While some principalities prospered in their independence, less successful states were swallowed by stronger royal houses. Europe saw consolidation of small principalities into larger kingdoms and empires. This trend directly led to the creation of such states as Great Britain, France, Portugal, and Spain. Another form of consolidation was orchestrated in Italy during the Renaissance by the Medici family. A banking family from Florence, the Medici took control of governance in various Italian regions and even assumed the papacy. They then appointed family members to become princes and assured their protection by the Medici-controlled Vatican.
Nationalism
Nationalism, the belief that the nation-state is the best vehicle to realize the aspirations of a people became popular in the late 19th century. Characteristic of nationalism is the preference for loyalty to the people instead of loyalty to monarchs. With this development, principalities fell out of favor. As a compromise, many principalities united with neighboring regions and adopted constitutional forms of governance with the monarch as a mere figurehead while administration was left at the hands of elected parliaments. The trend after World War II was the abolition of various forms of monarchy like principalities and the creation of republican governments led by popularly elected presidents.
An interesting exception to this is the Principality of Catalonia, where there was a parliament since the 11th century, and a constitution since the 12th century. In 1714 Castille and the Bourbons tried to abolish this constitution, with the so called Decrets de Nova Planta, and actually Catalonia still claims its recognition.
Other principalities
Non-western and colonial world
Principalities have existed in ancient and modern civilizations of Africa, Asia (the Indian princely states were ruled by Monarchs called Princes by the British), Pre-columbian America and Oceania.
Micronations claiming to be principalities
Several micronations, which are not actual states, claim to be sovereign principalities, the most notable being Sealand off the coast of England and Seborga, a small town of Italy. Other well-known micronational principalities include Hutt River Province in Australia, the Principality of Minerva in the South Pacific, The Maya Lenca Principality in eastern El Salvador.
Other uses
The Principalities are one of nine orders of angels in medieval angelology, the 7th in the hierarchy.