Question on Rights to the Throne

mhughes · Feb 22, 2008

Howdy folks,

Question for those who know more on the subject than I : Is it possible for one individual to be able to have a valid claim on the throne of three different countries?

My WiP revolves around an orphaned girl named Aithlynn. As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that she has noble blood. Her father was King of Bettel, her mother the bastard daughter of the bloodline that rules the country of Tiope. Both parents are descended, through about a dozen generations, from the Crimmeraide family that used to rule the kingdom of Rhyllin.

Now, all of these royal families are thought to be wiped out due to assassins and natural disaster (all part of the underlying plot). I'm just trying to find out if through her bloodline, Aithlynn could legitimately be considered an heir to multiple thrones. That possible?

Thanks much,

matt

Higgins · Feb 22, 2008

mhughes said:
Howdy folks,

Question for those who know more on the subject than I : Is it possible for one individual to be able to have a valid claim on the throne of three different countries?

My WiP revolves around an orphaned girl named Aithlynn. As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that she has noble blood. Her father was King of Bettel, her mother the bastard daughter of the bloodline that rules the country of Tiope. Both parents are descended, through about a dozen generations, from the Crimmeraide family that used to rule the kingdom of Rhyllin.

Now, all of these royal families are thought to be wiped out due to assassins and natural disaster (all part of the underlying plot). I'm just trying to find out if through her bloodline, Aithlynn could legitimately be considered an heir to multiple thrones. That possible?

Thanks much,

matt

Sure why not? For example, James VI of Scotland took the throne of England as James I. Henry II King of England was Duke of Normandy by inheritance and Duke of Aquitane by Marriage to Eleanor. The War of Spanish Succession was triggered when the grandson of Louis XIV of France claimed the throne of Spain (1701-1714): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Spanish_Succession

For that matter Philip II of Spain was King of England by Marriage for a while.

Anyway all kinds of multiple inheritence, capture, election and Kingship by marriage are possible. In the Sixteenth Century one French Prince was elected King of Poland and then had to hurry back unexpectly to be King of France...IIRC.

HeronW · Feb 22, 2008

Hey, it's your world! Just make sure EVERYONE between Aithlynn and the 3 thrones are dead and gone, or invalid for accession due to deathly illness, raving madness, or a firm and heartfelt desire to not be related and live to a ripe old age. :}

Think Shakespeare's Richard III who worked his way to the throne over 12-13 bodies: putting Clarence in a butt of Malsey, killing the 2 princes and burying them in the tower, etc.

Higgins · Feb 22, 2008

HeronW said:
Hey, it's your world! Just make sure EVERYONE between Aithlynn and the 3 thrones are dead and gone, or invalid for accession due to deathly illness, raving madness, or a firm and heartfelt desire to not be related and live to a ripe old age. :}

Think Shakespeare's Richard III who worked his way to the throne over 12-13 bodies: putting Clarence in a butt of Malsey, killing the 2 princes and burying them in the tower, etc.

Or you could just be Holy Roman Emperor and have 4 or 5 Kingdoms and Archduchies and what not by simple inherence (along with your
inbred genes):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_I,_Holy_Roman_Emperor

mhughes · Feb 22, 2008

Awesome! Thanks for the replies folks. That is exactly what I was looking for - real life examples to prove I wasn't stretching too much

I'll have to re-read my Shakespeare. Bad prof in college really turned me off the Bard. Bleck.

waylander · Feb 22, 2008

Try following the twisted path that led George I to the throne of England.
It all depends on the laws of succession in your world. Can 'bastard' children (acknowledged or unacknowledged) inherit, can daughters inherit?
In the real world it all depended on whether the claimant to the throne could get enough backing from the nobles with the decent-sized armies.

Ravenlocks · Feb 22, 2008

If the inheritance rules would allow that individual to inherit, then yes. Since you're writing the rules, you can write them so she's eligible.

Plot Device · Feb 22, 2008

SQUIGGY: Laugh all you want, girls. I happen to be 56th in line for the throne of Poland!

LENNY: Yeah. The way we figure it, one good plague and the crown is in the bag.

Plot Device · Feb 22, 2008

I imagine it would come down to whatever way the laws regarding the lines of succession for each nation have been written. So start writing some make believe laws for all three of your make believe lands.

MattW · Feb 23, 2008

An orphan with noble heritage? Novel! :tongue

The idea that she's linked to 3 thrones is cool. If her mother was a bastard child herself, maybe the pairing with her father was an attempt at legitimacy?

mhughes · Feb 23, 2008

MattW said:
An orphan with noble heritage? Novel!

The idea that she's linked to 3 thrones is cool. If her mother was a bastard child herself, maybe the pairing with her father was an attempt at legitimacy?

Well, I hope it does turn into a novel...oh, that's not what you meant

Yeah, I know it is not the most original of plots. It was one of my worries when I was outlining this thing, but I'm comfortable now. The actions of the other main characters revolve around her and her heritage, but that's not the key part of the story. There's a lot else happening. I hope I can make it come across that way.

As for the father/mother - the mother didn't realize she was a bastard child until later in life. At which point she promptly threw away her life in an ill-advised attempt to claim the throne.

Perle_Rare · Feb 23, 2008

Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots styled herself Queen of Scotland, France and England which got her promptly beheaded by Elizabeth I... Of course, in thise case, the French crown came through marriage...

But certainly. Make sure your inheritance laws are defined and make it happen. Why not?

Judg · Feb 23, 2008

While we're on royal questions, what is the feminine of "Sire"?

Repeat after me, there are no stupid questions, there are no stupid questions.

Pthom · Feb 23, 2008

I think it's "Dame". As this Wikipedia article explains.

Which, later, became "my dame," then "madam." Just as "sire" became "sir."

I think.

Judg · Feb 23, 2008

Well, that article didn't seem to be referring to a queen, but I wiki'd (sp?) around a bit and found this one.

You were on the right track with Madam. Seems weird though to me. Madam or Ma'am for the Queen? You'd think she'd have her own word.

Judg · Feb 23, 2008

And this protocol guide, which says Madam and doesn't mention Ma'am. Go figure.

JimmyB27 · Feb 25, 2008

Judg said:
Well, that article didn't seem to be referring to a queen, but I wiki'd (sp?) around a bit and found this one.

You were on the right track with Madam. Seems weird though to me. Madam or Ma'am for the Queen? You'd think she'd have her own word.

When I was in the air cadets, I nearly met our Queen (can't remember why I didn't go in the end). When we were being briefed on how to act, we were told to call her 'Your Royal Highness' the first time, and 'Ma'am' after that.

Sarpedon · Feb 25, 2008

In russia, the peasants referred to the Tsar and Tsarina as 'Papa' and 'Mama,' even to their faces (on the rare occasions that a peasant said anything to one of their monarchs)

Question on Rights to the Throne

mhughes

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Higgins

HeronW

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Higgins

mhughes

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waylander

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Ravenlocks

How novel.

Plot Device

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Plot Device

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MattW

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mhughes

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Perle_Rare

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Judg

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Pthom

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Judg

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