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A '''principality''' (sometimes also called '''princedom''') is a [[country]] or territory which is ruled by a [[prince|sovereign prince]] or [[princess]]. Principalities were common in the [[Middle Ages]]. Principalities tend to have quite a small territory.
== Current principalities ==
There are currently three countries which are principalities: [[Andorra]], [[Monaco]] and [[Liechtenstein]].

* {{Flagicon|Andorra}} The '''Principality of [[Andorra]]''' is a small country in [[Western Europe]] which borders [[Spain]] and [[France]]. Andorra has two heads of state known as "Co-Princes". The two Co-Princes are [[Emmanuel Macron]] (also [[President of the French Republic|President of France]]) and [[Joan Enric Vives Sicília]] (who is also [[Bishop]] of [[Urgell]]).
* {{Flagicon|Liechtenstein}} The '''Principality of [[Liechtenstein]]''' is a very small country located in the [[Alps]]. It was named after the ruling family, the House of Liechtenstein. The principality was once a part of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] but eventually became independent. The ruler of Liechtenstein holds the title "''Fürst''", which is usually translated as "Prince".
* {{Flagicon|Monaco}} The '''Principality of [[Monaco]]''' is the second-smallest country in the world. It borders [[France]]. Monaco's ruler is the "Sovereign Prince".
== Sub-national principalities ==
Many states of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] were small principalities with their own royal families. 

In modern [[Europe]], there are some cases where the heir to the throne of a country holds the title "Prince of...", followed by the name of a significant region of the country. This mostly has some historical meaning.

* {{Flagicon|Asturias}} The '''Principality of''' '''[[Asturias]]''' is one of [[Spain]]'s [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous communities]]. The heir to the throne of Spain has the title "Prince/Princess of Asturias".
* {{Flagicon|Wales}} '''[[Wales]]''' is one of the four [[Countries of the United Kingdom|countries]] part of the [[United Kingdom]]. The heir to the throne of the UK holds the title [[Prince of Wales]]. This is because the [[Principality of Wales]] formerly existed before Wales and [[England]] became a single legal entity.
== Micronations ==
Some states claim to be principalities but are not recognised by other countries: [[Sealand]] (a [[Maunsell Forts|Sea Fort]] off the [[England|English]] coast), [[Seborga]] (a small town in [[Italy]]), the [[Principality of Hutt River]] in [[Australia]] and the [[Principality of Minerva]] in the [[Pacific]]. These states are examples of [[micronations]].
== Colonialism ==
Sometimes the word is also used to mean dependent [[territory|territories]] in  [[Africa]], [[Asia]] and [[India]], [[pre-Columbian America]] and [[Oceania]]. For these, the word [[princely states]] is generally preferred, especially if they came under the authority of a European colonial power.


== Principality Media ==
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File:Johann Josef I von Liechtenstein.jpg|Prince [[Johann I Joseph, Prince of Liechtenstein|Johann I Josef]], last prince of [[Liechtenstein]] prior to the end of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]
</gallery>
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[[Category:Forms of government]]