principato

Principato is a term used to describe a sovereign territory governed by a prince. In Italian and related Romance languages, it denotes a principality, a polity whose head of state is a prince. Principates have ranged from dynastic, hereditary rule to more constitutional arrangements, and they have existed as independent states or as fiefs within larger crowns or empires.

Etymology and scope: The word derives from Latin principatus, meaning the office or rank of a prince, from princeps, “first, chief.” In English, principality is the common translation, while principatus is used in some historical contexts to refer to the Roman-era Principate. Across history, a principato can refer to a variety of forms of governance, from largely hereditary monarchies to territories with limited sovereignty under a higher authority.

Contemporary examples: Monaco is a sovereign principality, as is Liechtenstein. Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, is a co-principality in which the heads of state are the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell. In European history, numerous polities bore princely titles within the structures of larger kingdoms or the Holy Roman Empire, and several medieval principalities later evolved into modern constitutional monarchies or were absorbed by expanding states.

Roman context: In Roman history, the term principate (Principatus) designates the early empire period beginning with Augustus, characterized by a centralization of power in the figure of the princeps while maintaining occasional republican forms. The Italian term principato is used in historical writing to refer to that era as well as to contemporary princely states, depending on the context.