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Principalities

Principality is a political jurisdiction ruled by a prince. Historically, principalities appeared across Europe as semi-independent or sovereign polities, often within larger dynastic or imperial frameworks. The precise status of a principality varied: some exercised full sovereignty and international recognition as states; others were vassals or appanages whose rulers held authority by feudal concession.

In contemporary terms, several well-known territories are described as principalities. Monaco and Liechtenstein are sovereign principalities

Historically, principalities were also central to the organization of medieval and early modern Europe. The Princes

with
constitutional
frameworks
and
long-standing
dynastic
rule.
Andorra
is
a
unique
co-principality,
headed
by
two
co-rulers:
the
Bishop
of
Urgell
and
the
President
of
France,
with
a
shared
sovereignty
recognized
by
treaty.
of
Moldavia
and
Wallachia
governed
successor
states
in
what
is
now
Romania,
and
the
Principality
of
Serbia
emerged
under
Ottoman
and
later
European
influence
before
becoming
the
Kingdom
of
Serbia
in
1882.
The
term
often
appears
in
studies
of
the
Holy
Roman
Empire,
which
contained
many
small
principalities
and
micro-states
ruled
by
various
princes,
counts,
and
other
noble
titles.