The History of Succession

Line of Succession
An ordered sequence of named people who would succeed to an office upon the death, resignation
or removal of the current occupant; constructed using the rules of an established order of
succession.

An example would be the British monarchy, wherein the next emperor was always a family member:

 Anne (1702–14)
 George I (1714–27)
 George II (1727–60)
 George III (1760–1820)
 George IV (1820–30)
 William IV (1830–37)
 Victoria (1837–1901)
 Edward VII (1901–10)
 George V (1910–36)
 Edward VIII (1936)
 George VI (1936–52)
 Elizabeth II (1952– )

Absolute Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn legitimate son to inherit his parent's entire
or main estate in preference to shared inheritance among all or some children, any illegitimate child or
any collateral relative.

Absolute, equal, or lineal primogeniture is a form of primogeniture in which gender is irrelevant for
inheritance. No modern monarchy before 1980 implemented this.

Agnatic Primogeniture
Under agnatic primogeniture, or patrilineal primogeniture, the degree of kinship (of males and
females) is determined by tracing shared descent from the nearest common ancestor through male
ancestors.

Illegitimate Child
An illegitimate child is a child who is born to parents who are not married to each other, or who is
born “out of wedlock.”

The English Common Law definition of “heirs of the body” includes 'legitimate'. As the law stands
now, no, illegitimate children cannot become King or Queen (ruling).

Coronation
The ceremony of crowning a sovereign or a sovereign's consort.

Abdication
An act of renouncing the throne. A recent case of abdication is mentioned below:
 In 2016, Akihito began intimating that he would like to retire, citing his age and declining
health. The next year, according to Motoko Rich of the New York Times, Japan’s parliament
passed a special act, applying only to Akihito and not to future emperors, that allowed him to
step down. A Japanese monarch had not abdicated since Emperor Kokaku, who transferred
his title to his son in 1817

Usurper
A person who takes a position of power or importance illegally or by force. An example is Catherine
II of Russia.

Catherine II, born Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, was Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796, the
country's longest-ruling female leader. She came to power following a coup d'état that she
organised—resulting in her husband, Peter III, being overthrown. Under her reign, Russia was
revitalised; it grew larger and stronger and was recognised as one of the great powers of Europe.

Regency
The office of or period of government by a regent.

Regent: One who rules in place of the monarch, especially because the monarch is too young, absent,
or disabled.

William III personally led his army into battle each year during the Nine Years' War (1689–1698). In
his absence, the kingdom was administered by his wife and co-ruler Queen Mary II until her death in
1694, and thereafter by a council of seven Lord Justices.