There are several reasons why most European countries abandoned their monarchs and feudal caste systems, while some Germanic countries preserved them.
- The French Revolution: The French Revolution was a watershed moment in European history. It overthrew the monarchy and established a republic, and it inspired other revolutions throughout Europe. The French Revolution showed that it was possible to overthrow a monarchy and establish a more democratic system of government.
- The Industrial Revolution: The Industrial Revolution led to the rise of a new middle class, which was not content with the old feudal system. The middle class wanted more political power and social mobility, and they were willing to fight for it.
- The rise of nationalism: Nationalism is a sense of national identity and pride. It emerged in Europe during the 19th century, and it led to the unification of many countries, such as Germany and Italy. Nationalism also led to the decline of the old feudal system, as people began to identify more with their nation than with their local lord.
In some Germanic countries, however, the monarchy was able to adapt to the changing times and retain its power. This was due to several factors, including:
- Stronger monarchies: The monarchies in some Germanic countries, such as England and Denmark, were stronger than the monarchies in other parts of Europe. This made it more difficult for the middle class to overthrow the monarchy.
- A more gradual transition to democracy: In some Germanic countries, the transition to democracy was more gradual than in other parts of Europe. This gave the monarchy time to adapt to the new system and retain its power.
- A strong sense of national identity: In some Germanic countries, there was a strong sense of national identity that helped to bind people to the monarchy. This was especially true in England, where the monarchy was seen as a symbol of national unity.
The English and the Danish are more bound to their kings and queens than the French and the Spaniards because of their strong sense of national identity. The English and the Danish see their monarchs as symbols of their nation, and they are more likely to support the monarchy than the French and the Spaniards.
In addition, the English and Danish monarchies have been more successful in adapting to the changing times than the French and Spanish monarchies. The English and the Danish monarchies have been able to modernize and become more democratic, while the French and the Spanish monarchies have been more traditional and have lost some of their power.
As a result, the English and the Danish monarchies are still relatively popular, while the French and the Spanish monarchies are less popular.