Auto'cracy

Auto'cracy (Gr., 'sole mastery,' 'ruling by one's self') signifies that form of government in which the sovereign unites in himself the legislative and the executive powers of the state, and thus rules uncontrolled. Such a sovereign is therefore called an autocrat. Nearly all eastern governments are of this form. Among European rulers, the emperor of Russia alone bears the title of Autocrat, the name indicating his freedom from constitutional restraint of every kind. Such is the theory or principle of an autocracy, but it should be remembered that even the most rigorous autocrat must in practice have regard to the feelings and opinions of those about him. There are real though not formal checks. In autocratic states, palace or court revolutions are not infrequent. This has been a marked feature of Russian history, especially in the 18th century. These revolutions often result in the deposition and assassination of the sovereign. In point of fact, the peculiar feature of an autocracy is the absence of regular and constitutional limits; it is a strong form of 'personal rule.' See ABSOLUTISM.