Editing Monarchy (section)

===Hereditary monarchies===
[[File:European monarchies by succession.svg|thumb|alt=Political Map of Europe with Monarchical states colour-coded |Current European monarchies by succession method:
{{legend|#018571|[[Absolute primogeniture]]|size=94%}}
{{legend|#dfc27d|[[Male-preference cognatic primogeniture]], to be changed to absolute primogeniture|size=94%}}
{{legend|#a6611a|[[Male-preference cognatic primogeniture]]|size=94%}}
{{legend|#000000|[[Agnatic primogeniture]]|size=94%}}
{{legend|#f5f5f5|[[Elective monarchy|Elective]]|size=94%}}]]
In a [[hereditary monarchy]], the position of monarch is inherited according to a statutory or customary [[order of succession]], usually within one [[royal family]] tracing its origin through a historical [[dynasty]] or bloodline. This usually means that the heir to the throne is known well in advance of becoming monarch to ensure a smooth succession.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kurrild-Klitgaard|first=Peter|date=2000|title=The constitutional economics of autocratic succession|journal=Public Choice|volume=103|issue=1/2|pages=63–84|doi=10.1023/A:1005078532251|s2cid=154097838|issn=0048-5829}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Kurrild-Klitgaard|first=Peter|title=The Encyclopedia of Public Choice |chapter=Autocratic Succession |date=2004|volume=103|pages=358–362|doi=10.1007/978-0-306-47828-4_39|isbn=978-0-306-47828-4}}</ref>

[[Primogeniture]], in which the eldest child of the monarch is first in line to become monarch, is the most common system in hereditary monarchy. The order of succession is usually affected by rules on gender. Historically "agnatic primogeniture" or "patrilineal primogeniture" was favoured, that is inheritance according to seniority of birth among the sons of a monarch or [[Pater familias|head of family]], with sons and their male issue inheriting before brothers and their male issue, to the total exclusion of females and descendants through females from succession.<ref name="NF T">[https://runeberg.org/nfcj/0023.html Tronföljd], ''[[Nordisk familjebok]]'', vol. 30 (1920)</ref> This complete exclusion of females from dynastic succession is commonly referred to as application of the [[Salic law]]. Another variation on agnatic primogeniture was the so-called semi-Salic law, or "agnatic-cognatic primogeniture", which allowed women to succeed only at the extinction of all the male descendants in the male line of the particular legislator.<ref name="NF T">[https://runeberg.org/nfcj/0023.html Tronföljd], ''[[Nordisk familjebok]]'', vol. 30 (1920)</ref><ref>[[Statens offentliga utredningar|SOU]] 1977:5 ''Kvinnlig tronföljd'', p. 16.</ref>

Before primogeniture was enshrined in European law and tradition, kings would often secure the succession by having their successor (usually their eldest son) crowned during their own lifetime, so for a time there would be two kings in [[coregency]]—a senior king and a junior king. Examples were [[Henry the Young King]] of England and the early [[House of Capet|Direct Capetians]] in France. Sometimes, however, primogeniture can operate through the female line.
[[File:NICAISE Leopold ANV.jpg|left|thumb|upright|King [[Leopold I of Belgium|Leopold I]], an elected founder of the hereditary [[monarchy of Belgium]]]]
In 1980, [[Sweden]] became the first monarchy to declare equal (full cognatic) primogeniture, meaning that the eldest child of the monarch, whether female or male, ascends to the throne.<ref>[[Statens offentliga utredningar|SOU]] 1977:5 ''Kvinnlig tronföljd'', p. 16.</ref> Other kingdoms (such as the [[Netherlands]] in 1983, [[Norway]] in 1990, [[Belgium]] in 1991, [[Denmark]] in 2009, and [[Luxembourg]]<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-15489544 "Overturning Centuries of Royal Rules"] (2011-10-28). ''BBC.com''. Retrieved 2018-11-02.</ref> in 2011) have since followed suit. The [[United Kingdom]] adopted absolute (equal) primogeniture (subject to the claims of existing heirs) on April 25, 2013, following [[Perth Agreement|agreement by the prime ministers of the sixteen Commonwealth Realms]] at the 22nd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32073399|title=New rules on royal succession come into effect|work=BBC News|date=March 26, 2015|access-date=1 August 2019}}</ref>

In the absence of children, the next most senior member of the collateral line (for example, a younger sibling of the previous monarch) becomes monarch. In complex cases, this can mean that there are closer blood relatives to the deceased monarch than the next in line according to primogeniture. This has often led, especially in Europe in the [[Middle Ages]], to conflict between the principle of primogeniture and the principle of [[proximity of blood]].

Other hereditary systems of succession included [[tanistry]], which is semi-elective and gives weight to merit and [[Agnatic seniority]]. In some monarchies, such as [[Saudi Arabia]], succession to the throne first passes to the monarch's next eldest brother, and only after that to the monarch's children (agnatic seniority). 

On June 21, 2017, King Salman of Saudi Arabi revolted against this style of monarchy and elected his son to inherit the throne.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chara|first=Jihan|date=2018-10-01|title=Saudi Arabia: A prince's revolution|journal=European View|language=en|volume=17|issue=2|pages=227–234|doi=10.1177/1781685818803525|issn=1781-6858|doi-access=free}}</ref>