'Diarchy' (or 'dyarchy') is a society or an organization with two rulers on an equal standing. Diarchies are known from ancient
Sparta,
Rome,
Carthage as well as from
Germanic and
Dacian tribes. Several ancient Polynesian societies exhibited a diarchic political structure as well. Ranks in the
Inca Empire were structured in
moieties, with two occupants of each rank, but with different prestige, one ''hanan'' (upper) and one ''hurin'' (lower).
Examples of modern forms are the governments of
Andorra,
San Marino and
Northern Ireland. The
Montagu-Chelmsford reforms of
British India prescribed a "dyarchy" of ministers who were individually responsible to the legislature.
India
Due to shaky governments due to the coalition governments in the recent past, Diarchies have been both successfully and unsuccessfully tested in India.
Some successful examples include the current government in
Jammu and Kashmir and
Karnataka. A failed one was in 1995 in
Uttar Pradesh between the
BSP and the
BJP.
Italy
''Diarchia'' is also the name applied to the form of government during the
fascist period in Italy when the king was still in office as
head of the state but all power was in the hands of
Benito Mussolini.
Examples of Swedish kings
★
Erik and Alrik
★
Yngvi and Alf
★
Björn at Hauge and
Anund Uppsale
★
Eric the Victorious and
Olof (II) Björnsson
★
Eric the Victorious and
Olof Skötkonung
★
Haakon the Red and
Ingold I