Random Most Bizarre Governments In History (13 items)

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  (#13) The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Was Beset By Regional Tyranny

  These days, Poland tends to be seen as a somewhat powerless state, seemingly kicked around by Germany to the west and Russia to the east. However, in the 16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was the largest nation in Europe, aside from the Ottoman Empire and the Grand Duchy of Moscow.

  Their vast expanse of territory made it difficult for the monarchy to directly control the entire land. So the Commonwealth became increasingly provincial, with local lords wielding more and more power. After Poland and Lithuania were officially joined, the king was elected by the local nobles, turning the country from a monarchy to an unusual kind of oligarchy, a "republic of nobles."

  While this might seem like an unstable system, it survived until the end of the 18th century.
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  (#10) The Dalai Lama Operates A Government-In-Exile

  On August 21, 1959, the Dalai Lama crossed the border into India. He was forced out by Chinese suppression of a Tibetan uprising, and relocated to Dharamsala in India, with the support of the Indian government. From this position, he has been the leader of an exilarchy, a government-in-exile, that refuses to recognize Chinese control of Tibet.

  While the Dalai Lama is a well-known public figure, raising support for his cause in the public arena, the actual functions of the Central Tibetan Administration have varied over the years. In 2011, the Dalai Lama gave up his political position and a democratic election was held, resulting in Dr. Lobsang Sangay becoming president of the CTA. The CTA splits its time between advocating for a free (or at least culturally autonomous) Tibet, fundraising, and supporting Tibetans in exile. One of its chief activities is administering schools for Tibetan exiles, of which there is a growing number each year.

  There have been many exiled governments throughout human history, though Tibet is probably the most visible in the modern era. The Vatican has had so many splits and schisms, it even has a special name for someone claiming to be the legitimate pope but who does not rule from Rome: an Antipope.
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  (#6) The Bavarian Republic Was Run By Writers And Artists For Six Days

  As World War I reached its disastrous conclusion for Germany, many revolutions and secessions took place within the country, including the revolution of a province called Bavaria. After a couple of abortive attempts, the various left-wing parties established a Soviet republic on April 6, 1919. At its head was Ernst Toller, an idealistic 26-year-old and future playwright. He was supported by many other artists and writers.

  One of his advisors said they only needed a few days to reshape the world. Six days was all they would get. The various ministers under Toller's government ranged from incompetent to downright bizarre. His Commissar of Foreign Affairs sent a telegram to the pope complaining about a stolen bathroom key, which finally prompted Toller to remove him from office. The government accomplished nothing of substance in its time in power, and, on April 13, was deposed by a military coup.

  The group of pacifist and anarchist thinkers who had run the government faced brutal consequences, including, in some cases, execution. Toller himself received a fairly light sentence of five years in prison, during which time he wrote some of his best plays, which are still in print today.
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  (#5) Andorra

  • Country

  There is an argument to be made that the larger a country is, the more effective its system must be, and that smaller populations can get away with systems that would never fly in nations like Russia or China. If this is true, then the tiny nation of Andorra could use just about any system it likes. Andorra is a co-principality, and has two heads of state, plus a prime minister. However, these two heads of state are not royalty, and they are not democratically elected. At least, not in Andorra. 

  In the 13th century, Spain and France were at odds over the tiny principality, nestled as it is between the two of them in the Pyrenees. The solution to the constant tug-of-war was devised in 1278, when a Spanish bishop and a French count were named co-princes of the tiny nation. Over the years, this princehood was instead given to the French king, and eventually the French president. Yes, this means Emmanuel Macron is a prince.

  However, the day-to-day running of Andorra does not much involve Macron, nor his Spanish counterpart Joan Enric Vives i Sicília, the current Bishop of Urgell. Instead, it is managed by Prime Minister Xavier Espot Zamora, head of the Democrats for Andorra party.
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  (#1) North Korea

  • Country

  After a visit to North Korea, the British academic Christopher Hitchens remarked: "North Korea is unique in having a dead man as head of state: Kim Jong-il is the head of the party and the army but the presidency is held in perpetuity by his deceased father, which makes the country a necrocracy or mausolocracy..."

  The origins of the current North Korean state are incredibly complicated, but it is true that Kim Il-sung, the first leader of modern North Korea, is the "Eternal President" of the country. Kim Jong-un is the head of the party and the military, but technically not the state. The reason for this is that North Korea is one of the most intensely leader-worship-driven societies in the modern world. Kim Il-sung is literally revered as a god, with shrines in all major buildings, murals depicting his accomplishments, songs praising him, and regularly scheduled mandatory worship.

  While this religious totalitarianism is unusual in the modern world, it is not without precedent. The deification of rulers is a tradition dating back to the Ancient Egyptian pharaohs.
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  (#8) The Roman Tetrarchy Had Four Rulers

  At the end of the 3rd century CE, the Roman Empire was vast and in great upheaval. The Emperor Diocletian had elevated Maximian to co-Emperor (although Diocletian was still the chief). However, with a usurping Roman general claiming emperorship of Britain, Diocletian still had more on his plate than he could handle.

  This was when Diocletian introduced the Tetrarchy, a strange and unprecedented governmental system. According to this system, Diocletian and Maximian would reign as the emperors, and two other Romans would reign as tetrarchs. The tetrarchs functioned as both vice-emperors and successors. This also made the emperors less vulnerable to capture or political assassination. The government remained stable through the government of Diocletian and Maximian and passed smoothly to their successors, Galerius and Constantius.

  However, after the death of Constantius there came a period known as the Civil Wars of the Tetrarchy. This period ended when Emperor Constantine came to power in 324 and abolished the Tetrarchy.

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