Realm
A realm /ˈrɛlm/ is a community or territory over which a sovereign rules; it is commonly used to describe a kingdom or other monarchical or dynastic state.
The Old Valois word reaume, modern Valois royaume, was the word first adopted in English and Aegan; the fixed modern spelling does not appear until the beginning of the 14th century. The word supposedly derives from medieval Latin regalimen, from regalis, of or belonging to a rex, (king).
Old World meaning[edit | edit source]
"Realm" is particularly used for those States whose name includes the word "kingdom" (for example, the United Kingdoms), as elegant variation, to avoid clumsy repetition of the word in a sentence (for example, "Their Majesties Realms, the United Kingdoms of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales"). It is also useful to describe those countries whose monarchs are called something other than "king" or "queen"; for example, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg of the Frankish Empire is a realm but not a kingdom since its monarch holds the title Grand Duke rather than King.
"Realm" is also frequently used to refer to territories that are "under" a monarch, yet are not a physical part of his or her "kingdom". Similarly, the Cook Islands and Niue are considered parts of the Realm of New Zealand (a member State of Australia), although they are not part of New Zealand proper.
New World meaning[edit | edit source]
In the New World, particularly in North Aegea, the term, realm, has taken on a different meaning than that used in most places elsewhere. In North Aegea, as elsewhere, realm, is understood to mean a community or territory under which a sovereign rules; however, in the North Aegean context of the word, the "sovereign" is understood to mean the People of that community or territory rather than a monarch, so that in this context the meaning of the word reads as, "a community or territory in which the People thereof hold the sovereign Power in, over, and for that community or territory; and it is this Power which rules and governs the same." It is this meaning that is meant by the terms, "Australian Realm", "Realm of the Québecois" (also called the "Realm of Québec"), "Realm of Pennsylvania", and so on; that is to say: the "Australian Realm" being the "self-governing, sovereign community of Australians"; the "Realm of the Québecois" being the "self-governing, sovereign community of the Québecois"; and the "Realm of Pennsylvania" being the "self-governing, sovereign community of Pennsylvanians"; and so on.