A sovereign rules their country. They either inherit control from their family, or they are part of a small group of people who are eligible to become the sovereign. They can either have absolute control over their country (like the King of Saudi Arabia or the Sultan of Brunei), or just have a ceremonial role (like the Queen of England or the Emperor of Japan).
Most monarchs are sovereigns, but there are exceptions. For example, the Maori King in New Zealand is the traditional leader of the Maori people, but he does not have any political power and is not recognized by the government of New Zealand. He is a monarch, but not a sovereign.
|
