The phrase power behind the throne refers to a person or group that informally exercises the real power of an office. In politics, it most commonly refers to a spouse, aide, or advisor of a political leader (often called a "figurehead") who serves as de facto leader, setting policy through influence or manipulation. A cabal is a number of persons united in some close design, usually to promote their private views and interests in a church, state, or other community by intrigue. ... In politics, a figurehead, by metaphor with the carved figurehead at the prow of a sailing ship, is a person who holds an important title or office yet executes little actual power. ... De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without...

The original concept of a power behind the throne was a Medieval-era figure of speech referring to the fact that the king's policies could be set by a counselor not seated in the throne but standing behind it—perhaps whispering in the king's ear—out of common sight. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ...

The expression is also used to describe central banks. The Bank of England has long been considered the "power behind the throne" in the United Kingdom by many^{[attribution needed]}.

Good historical examples of a "power behind the throne" include Diego Portales of Chile and General Hideki Tojo of Japan, who was influential in the military's actions leading up to World War II and later became Prime Minister of Japan in 1941. He served under Emperor Hirohito, who ruled as a deified figurehead. Another example is the rule of Pol Pot in Cambodia from 1975-1978, who led the Khmer Rouge to victory following a devastating civil war. King Norodom Sihanouk returned to reign over Cambodia, but held no executive power. Diego Portales Diego Portales Palazuelos (June 15, 1793-June 6, 1837) was a Chilean minister and entrepreneur. ... A General is an officer of high military rank. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom France Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Charles de Gaulle Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian... The Prime Minister of Japan (内閣総理大臣 Naikaku sōri daijin) is the usual English-language term used for the head of government of Japan, although the literal translation of the Japanese name for the office is Prime Minister of the Cabinet. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... An emperor is a (male) monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. ... Hirohito (Japanese: ) (April 29, 1901 – January 7, 1989) was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 1926 to 1989. ... Saloth Sar (May 19, 1925–April 16, 1998), better known as Pol Pot, was the ruler of the Khmer Rouge and the Prime Minister of Cambodia (officially Democratic Kampuchea during his rule) from 1976 to 1979, having been de facto leader since mid-1975. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... The Khmer Rouge (Khmer: ) was the extremist Communist party that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. ... Look up monarch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Time in office: Apr. ...

More modern examples of a "power behind the throne" exist as well, albeit in a more ambiguous sense, and most such allegations are highly controversial. In American politics, for example, Dick Cheney, the current U.S. Vice President, or Karl Rove, a chief political strategist, have been characterized by several Democrats as being "the power behind the throne" of President George W. Bush; similarly, the current U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton was mocked by several Republicans as having played the same role during the Presidency of her husband Bill Clinton, particularly with his failed healthcare plan. In 1996 in Canada, Maclean's magazine wrote of the First Lady of Canada Aline Chretien, "Never mind calling her the power behind the throne--she shares the seat of power."^[1] Richard Bruce Dick Cheney (born January 30, 1941) is the 46th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President George W. Bush. ... A vice president is an officer in government or business who is next in rank below a president. ... Karl Rove Karl Christian Rove (born December 25, 1950) is Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States (1861-1865) The majority of this article is about heads of states. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ... Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton (born October 26, 1947), was First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001, as the wife of President Bill Clinton. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      For other uses, see Republican Party (disambiguation) or GOP (disambiguation). ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... Health care or healthcare is one of the worlds largest and fastest growing professions. ... A cover of the Canadian magazine Macleans. ... Unlike in the United States, the spouse of the Prime Minister of Canada does not have a prominent role. ... Aline Chrétien (born May 14, 1936 in Saint-Boniface-de-Shawinigan, Quebec) is the wife of Canadas twentieth Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien. ...

Another modern example was Deng Xiaoping in China, who was recognized as China's paramount leader without holding the position of either General Secretary or President. Deng Xiaoping   (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Teng Hsiao-ping; August 22, 1904–February 19, 1997) was a leader in the Communist Party of China (CCP). ... The General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee (Chinese: 中国共产党中央委员会总书记 pinyin: Zhōngguó GòngchÇŽndÇŽng Zhōngyāng WÄ›iyuánhuì ZÇ’ngshÅ«jì) is the highest ranking official within the Communist Party of China and heads the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China. ... The President of the Peoples Republic of China (Simplified Chinese: 中华人民共和国主席; Pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó ZhÇ”xí, or abbreviated Guójiā ZhÇ”xí 国家主席) is the head of state of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

A related term is éminence grise (French: "gray eminence"), a powerful advisor or decision-maker who operates secretly or otherwise unofficially. This phrase originally referred to Cardinal de Richelieu's right hand man, François Leclerc du Tremblay (also known as the Père Joseph), a Capuchin friar who wore grey robes. Because the Cardinal de Richelieu—the power behind the throne of Louis XIII, King of France—, as a Catholic cardinal, was styled Son Eminence ("His Eminence"), his alter ego Père Joseph was called l'éminence grise (meaning "Grey Eminence," which is also the English title of his biography by Aldous Huxley). An éminence grise (French for grey eminence), is a powerful advisor or decision-maker who operates secretly or otherwise unofficially. ... Cardinal Richelieu was the French chief minister from 1624 until his death. ... François Leclerc du Tremblay (1577 – 1638), also known as the Père Joseph, was a French Capuchin friar, confidant and agent of Cardinal Richelieu. ... The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap) is an order of friars in the Roman Catholic Church, the chief and only permanent offshoot of the Franciscans. ... Louis XIII (September 27, 1601 – May 14, 1643), called the Just (French: le Juste), was King of France from 1610 to 1643. ... A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually a bishop, of the Roman Catholic Church, a member of the College of Cardinals which as a body elects a new pope. ... An éminence grise (French for grey eminence), is a powerful advisor or decision-maker who operates secretly or otherwise unofficially. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ...

• compare cloistered rule

Cloistered Rule, also known as the Insei system, was a process used by some Emperors of Japan by which they would ostensibly retire to a monastery and hand over power to a successor, but continue to exert power and influence from behind the scenes. ...

References

1. ^ "The opinions the PM heeds," Maclean's, October 14, 1996, vol. 109, issue 42, p. 18-19.