The word monarch derives from Greek monos archein, meaning "one ruler," which referred to an absolute ruler in ancient Greece. With time, the anna word has been succeeded in this meaning by others, such as autocrat or dictator, and the word monarch in modern usage almost always refers to a traditional system of hereditary rulership, however, see the discussion on elective monarchies below.Exceptions to this include the French co-prince of Andorra, who is not appointed for life (he is the French President, elected for a five year period by the French people), but generally still considered a monarch because of the use of a traditionally monarchical title. (Although, a purist might regard Andorra as a diarchy.) Similarly, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia is considered a monarch although only holding the office for five years at a time. On the other hand, several life-time dictators around the world have not been considered monarchs.Most monarchs are raised within a royal family where they are taught to expect and obey their future duties, and they are, formally or informally, succeeded upon their death or abdication by members of their own family, usually their eldest child. As a result, most stable monarchies have a long legacy of rule by a single family or bloodline.African Kingdoms Monarchs sometimes referred to as Traditional Rulers with exception that they are Rulers for Life, are an exception to this rule. African throne inheritance is in accordance to a strict and unchanging through the generations procedure, of throne inheritance. The African Royal throne rotates from one branch of that respective Royal Family Line to another. The thrones in most of these kingdoms are as well not direct inheritance of the eldest child, nor inherited if the respective nominated royal family member within the respective rotating lineage for the throne is deem as mental or physically incapable to rule in accordance to throne and Nations requirements in its totality. In that case the throne inheritance rotates to the following branch of that respective Royal Family in line for the throne and reverts to the respective Lines that was bypassed with the following enthronement upon the demise of the ruling Monarch. Prior to the demise of the Throne Rulers the Ruler can make a choice of which member of the family in the rotating line is the choice nominee of that ruler to inherit the respective throne (which is not binding unless formally decreed) upon the demise of the current Ruler. The final decision is made after the demise of that ruler by the throne elders or protectors of the throne together with the kingmaker responsible for the formal enthronement procedure. Throne inheritance of the Imperial Matriarchal throne differs from the above, in as much as the Imperial Matriarch prior to demise can chose the following Matriarch from within the direct Imperial lines in the throne inheritance lines which is then binding, and in general has full veto powers which is as well eternally binding even after demise. The Imperial Matriarch throne is seen as well as a sacred or divine throne. African National or Trans-National Governments cannot formally or informally influence African enthronements nor the internal matters of the African Kingdoms, the Kingdoms and Governments are two separate institutions of rule working alongside each other. Another exception in the African Kingdoms; the Throne King or Queen marital spouse are as well in most case not entitled to formally carry the title of King or Queen unless they were married after formal enthronement, and that title is a formality only, they have no power of rule. In the case that the marriage was prior to the enthronement the respective spouse is formally referred to with respect as: The Wife/Husband of the King or Queen respectively. The Formal Ruling King and Queen of the respective Kingdom are in most cases two separate lines of that respective Royal Throne Family. An example the Throne Emperor and Empress of the Pinango Kingdom Emperor Adou Bibi II and Empress Abena Nyamtché I (Shebah III), are not each others respective spouse, but of two respective lines of the bloodline family and have equal ruling Power; The throne Queen of the Ashanti Kingdom is not the wife of the Ashanti King, whose actual formal title is Lady Julia; The Throne Empress of the Keta-Anlo Empire Queen Awaomashie II is not the wife of Emperor James-Ocloo V, the throne Empress of the Ga Empire is not the wife of Emperor Ashirifi I and so forth. The collective thrones fall in accordance to ancient tradition under a Mother Empire Throne that of the Imperial Matriarchal Empire throne, which is again another exception, to the above rules. The current Imperial Matriarch of the Kingdoms Imperial Empire or Mother Empire is Shebah III. The ruling Imperial Matriarch if upon succession to the throne is not married or no longer married, can marry or re-marry however, rarely do. If the Imperial Matriarchs was married prior to enthronement, or after enthronement chose to marry or remarry the, spouse of the Imperial Matriarchs automatically will have in both cases the formal title of King with limited powers to address specific duties of the Imperial Empire Throne mainly within the Empire Government, or can be appointed by the Imperial Matriarch over a respective Royal Realm. The throne of the Imperial Matriarch is what is called in accordance to African Tradition an Imperial Sovereign Throne, and is a Matriachal Rulership Throne; which means in this particular case that there is formally of that throne; no male Ruling throne partner, the Imperial Sovereign holds command of both titles under one Sovereign title that of the Imperial Sovereign Matriarch, and more often used formal title is that of the Imperial Empress in reference to rule over multiple Empires.Today, elective monarchies, such as Malaysia, are exceptions, as is the Vatican City (the Pope bears the title "Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City"). Also, the practice is not totally uncommon in systems which are not considered monarchical, such as family dictatorships. It also is arguable by this definition, that the Supreme Leader of Iran could be considered an elected absolute monarch. Historical elective monarchs include the Polish king and the Holy Roman Emperor.Most monarchs hold titles that are traditional among monarchs (see below). While this is a fairly arbitrary characteristic, it just might be the best distinction between monarchs and non-monarchs at the moment.