Most countries have some means of providing for the orderly
transfer of power from one leader to another. In democratic
republics (and the legislative branch of constitutional
monarchies) this is done via open election from all, or most,
of the citizenry for limited periods of time. Monarchies have
used other (more varied) methods of transferring power. In
this new series of articles I will give an overview of the many
types of succession monarchies have employed. First up we
have Primogeniture.
transfer of power from one leader to another. In democratic
republics (and the legislative branch of constitutional
monarchies) this is done via open election from all, or most,
of the citizenry for limited periods of time. Monarchies have
used other (more varied) methods of transferring power. In
this new series of articles I will give an overview of the many
types of succession monarchies have employed. First up we
have Primogeniture.
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right of the firstborn (usually male) child
to inherit their parent's entire estate. This is usually in
preference to daughters, elder illegitimate sons, younger
sons and collateral relatives. Depending on the exact laws and
customs used you end up with a number of different systems.
Absolute Primogeniture
In 2015 the Canadian Monarchy adopted the principle of
absolute primogeniture. The firstborn of the monarch will
inherit the throne regardless of gender. While this is the most
common form of primogeniture in 2017 it was almost
unheard of before the 1980s. Sweden was the first to make the
switch which resulted in Carl Philip, the infant son of King
Carl XVI, being overtaken by his elder sister, Victoria, in the
line of succession.
Male-preference primogeniture
As the name implies elder sons are given preference over
younger sons and preference over daughters of any age. This
was the former system used in Canada and the rest of the
Commonwealth before 2015. Despite this handicap six women
have reigned as Queen in England/Britain/Canada since 1497.
It is the current form of succession used in Spain, Thailand, &
Monaco.
Uterine Primogeniture
Under this system the son most closely related to the previous
monarch through female kinship inherits. In other words a
king would typically be succeeded by his sisters son. This
system was somewhat rarer with the Picts of Northern Britain
being an example of a people who used it.
Matrilineal Primogeniture
This system is the complete opposite of Male-preference
primogeniture. In this system only females can inherit to the
complete exclusion of males. The Rain Queen of the Balobedu
people in South Africa is a current example of Matrilineal
Primogeniture.
to inherit their parent's entire estate. This is usually in
preference to daughters, elder illegitimate sons, younger
sons and collateral relatives. Depending on the exact laws and
customs used you end up with a number of different systems.
Absolute Primogeniture
In 2015 the Canadian Monarchy adopted the principle of
absolute primogeniture. The firstborn of the monarch will
inherit the throne regardless of gender. While this is the most
common form of primogeniture in 2017 it was almost
unheard of before the 1980s. Sweden was the first to make the
switch which resulted in Carl Philip, the infant son of King
Carl XVI, being overtaken by his elder sister, Victoria, in the
line of succession.
Male-preference primogeniture
As the name implies elder sons are given preference over
younger sons and preference over daughters of any age. This
was the former system used in Canada and the rest of the
Commonwealth before 2015. Despite this handicap six women
have reigned as Queen in England/Britain/Canada since 1497.
It is the current form of succession used in Spain, Thailand, &
Monaco.
Uterine Primogeniture
Under this system the son most closely related to the previous
monarch through female kinship inherits. In other words a
king would typically be succeeded by his sisters son. This
system was somewhat rarer with the Picts of Northern Britain
being an example of a people who used it.
Matrilineal Primogeniture
This system is the complete opposite of Male-preference
primogeniture. In this system only females can inherit to the
complete exclusion of males. The Rain Queen of the Balobedu
people in South Africa is a current example of Matrilineal
Primogeniture.
Ultimogeniture
In rare instances some cultures adopted the practice of having
the youngest son inherit. It is a good system for when the
youngest son was expected to take care of their parents in
their old age while the eldest had the time to go out into the
world and make their own way. Alternately, the elder sons
could be given a share of the land with the youngest inheriting
the lands closest to the family home. The most notable
example is probably the Mongolian Empire. While the elder
three sons of Genghis Khan inherited territories across Asia
and Europe the youngest son, Tolui, inherited the Mongolian
homeland.
That is all for now. Until next time.
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour
the youngest son inherit. It is a good system for when the
youngest son was expected to take care of their parents in
their old age while the eldest had the time to go out into the
world and make their own way. Alternately, the elder sons
could be given a share of the land with the youngest inheriting
the lands closest to the family home. The most notable
example is probably the Mongolian Empire. While the elder
three sons of Genghis Khan inherited territories across Asia
and Europe the youngest son, Tolui, inherited the Mongolian
homeland.
That is all for now. Until next time.
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour
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