Politically titled person controlled by outside forces
Apuppet ruler is someone who holds a title ofpolitical authority, but is loyal to or controlled by outside persons or groups. When a foreign government wields such outside control, the puppet ruler's territory is referred to as apuppet state. Internal factors, such as non-elected officials, may also exert power over the puppet monarch. A figurehead monarch, as a source oflegitimacy and perhapsdivine reign, has been the usedform of government in numerous circumstances and places throughout history.
There are two basic forms of puppet monarchs: a figurehead monarch who is a puppet of another person or a group in the country who rules instead of the nominal ruler; and apuppet government under a foreign power. Examples of the first type are theEmperors who were the puppets of theshōguns of Japan and the kings who were the puppets of theMayor of Palace in theFrankish kingdom. Client kingdoms under theRoman Republic andRoman Empire and theBritish Empire'scolonial relationship with theKingdom of Egypt underKing Farouk in the 1950s are examples of the second type.
Incumbent rulers may rely on puppet rulers to circumventterm limits.[1]
A puppet does not have to be a national ruler, or even a person. For example,Oscar K. Allen was widely recognized to beHuey Long's puppet while serving as governor ofLouisiana.[5] The government ofManchukuo was controlled by the Japanese government.
