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Which imperial dynasties collapsed as a result of World War I?
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20th-century international relations
American naval scholar Alfred Thayer Mahan, undated photo.
As a result of World War I, four major imperial dynasties collapsed, marking a significant turning point in 20th-century geopolitical history. These dynasties were:12
- The Habsburgs of Austria-Hungary. The monarchy formally dissolved in November 1918 following internal nationalist movements and military defeat.123
- The Hohenzollerns of Germany. The dynasty, which had ruled as German emperors since 1871, lost its sovereignty in 1918 at the end of the war.124
- The Romanovs of Russia. Three centuries of Romanov rule ended in 1917 during the Russian Revolution, as the tsar abdicated and the monarchy was dismantled.125
- The Ottoman Empire (the sultanate). The empire’s involvement in the war and subsequent defeat led to its dissolution, with the government resigning in October 1918 and signing the Armistice of Mudros.1267
The collapse of these empires fundamentally reshaped the map of Europe and the Middle East, leading to the emergence of new nations and shifting the global balance of power.12