Duumvirate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the ancient Roman dual magistracy, see Duoviri
A duumvirate is an alliance between two equally powerful political or military leaders. The term can also be used to describe a state with two different military leaders who both declare themselves to be the sole leader of the state.
The tiny European nation of Andorra is technically a duumvirate, as it is ruled by two co-princes (one of whom is the President of France), although the prime minister actually wields power as the head of government. Duumvirates in history include the city-states of Carthage, ruled by two mayors, and ancient Rome, ruled by two Consuls.
In the fictional Middle-earth legendarium of author J.R.R. Tolkien, the Black Númenóreans' coastal city of Umbar was typically ruled by a duumvirate.
The Supreme Overlord caste, rulers of the Yuuzhan Vong race in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, are a de facto duumvirate.
Duumvirates are rare in human history and are inherently unstable, as one of the two rulers will almost invariably seek greater power and, eventually, dominance.
[edit] See also
- Duoviri - ancient Roman magistracy of two men
- Triumvirate - the equivalent term for three people
- Decemvirate - the equivalent term for ten people
