How did kings became kings?

Question

How did kings became kings?

Answer 1

Originally through military campaigns and conquering weaker opponents to take their land and control of their income..then they said God had appointed them.

Answer 2

Either:

1. their father/mother/grandfather/grandmother passed the throne to them after they died

2. they conquered the land

3. everyone thought the king was a dud so overthrew him and place another guy on the throne.

Answer 3

Nowadays, it's usually because one of your parents was king or queen.  Historically, though, the 2nd most common method after heredity was conquest - that is, overthrowing the previous king through war.

There have also been several kings who were elected to take a vacant monarchy, usually by nobility of that country.

Answer 4

Well now, they were either born into it or they conquered the old king and got the power.

Answer 5

Daddy was one!

Answer 6

Kings in early history were usually landowners (on a fairly large scale) who proclaimed themselves kings and provided protection for people who lived in their "kingdom" from invaders of other lands. In exchange for this protection, they required allegiance from the people and expected them to fight if another group invaded. For example, after the Roman Empire fell (around 400 A.D.), many monarchies sprang up in Britain. Britain did not become unified under one "king" until the invasion of the Normans in 1066.

Answer 7

They said or a religious cleric said:  God wants you to be king.  It wasn't all fun and games.  i read where they killed the king and all his off spring and his wives during a prolonged drought.  He was blamed for bad weather.  Loved him when it rained and heaven help him if there was a tornado I guess.

Earthquakes was another sign from God that he wasn't the one they wanted.  Especially if a bunch died.  He better make a run for it.

Answer 8

They would become kings if they were the firstborn sons of the present king.

Answer 9

Birthright.

Answer 10

An interesting question. Hereditary rights and elections are common (the latter ones today take place only in Malaysia whose kings reign for five years, but in Europe the Holy Roman Empire had elected Emperors until the last one laid down the Crown in 1806 and chose the title of Emperor of Austria).

However, these days we see more and more hereditary president who are actually monarchs in all but name. North Korea's Kim Jong Il is the best know example. His father was Kim Il Sung, founder of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Another example is Syria, where President Assad stepped in after Dad's death. Egypt's President Mubarak prepares the succession of his son and so does Libya's dictator Muhammad al Khadafi. Singapore's Prime Minister followed his father in this office (with a short gap of another mate who held the office for a couple of years.)

These hereditary presidencies may one day drop the title and become monarchies. In Kazakhstan there is already talk about creating a new Central Asian Monarchy. It might be only a matter of time.

Answer 11

Having the strongest gang

Answer 12

You will find the meaning of this term widely divergent depending on circumstances.  As an english word it is Norse in origin evolving from kind of sounds that make up germanic terms - ie - Konig (umlaut over the "O").  Originally some major warlike leader, bigger, stronger, or with more members in his tribe, would raid his neighbours, make off with the women and cattle and acquire more land and wealth. As a rule of thumb, the title went to the guy with more muscle and wealth - As this man had descendents, his title was passed down, usually to his eldest, and as time went by this role became divinely sanctioned -

Read the King plays of Shakespeare to acquait yourself with the common uses of title in Western Civilization.  In an amazing quirk of history, there have been individuals whose force of personality was so great that their personal name became a synonym for "king" -  the word Caesar, Kaiser, and Czar are the same.  Today, the Queen of England is the wealthiest person in england,  and her title can (with a little juggling) be traced to King David.  Great personal wealth, combined with great military power, and the allegiance through a cult of fear or personality is enough to acquire kingship in the middle ages.  Keeping it is quite another matter.  You might google the term, The Feudal Contract - and you should find a limitless archive of examples.