After the Industrial Revolution, monarchs became less powerful.

[raccoon]

At least they did in Western European countries. Why is that?

[JNelson6563]

1. The law of supply and demand

There's only so much power to go around, right? Power represents means/wealth. The more others are able to generate wealth the more power they gain. That power has to come from somewhere, of course; those currently possessing it.

Julie

[Kaleva]

2. Guns became the great equalizer.

In the days of old, a king with an army of mounted knights was more then a match for any peasant uprising. With the advent of firearms and cannon, the mounted knight and castle faded into the history books.