AQA GCSE History · 8145
Paper 2
- Revise: Historic Environment
Having the right to exercise power or rule.
- Revise: Mary Queen of Scots
A monarch’s recognised right to rule, based on factors such as royal descent and lawful birth.
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GCSE History · key term
The recognised right to exercise power or rule.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Paper 2
Having the right to exercise power or rule.
A monarch’s recognised right to rule, based on factors such as royal descent and lawful birth.
Paper 2, Paper 3
The status of being born to parents whose marriage was recognised as valid. Disputes about this status could affect a person’s claim to inherit the throne.
Revise: Situation on AccessionLegitimacy meant being born to parents whose marriage was recognised as valid. It mattered because it affected the right to inherit the throne.
The recognised right to hold a position. In a royal succession, legitimacy could depend on lawful birth and descent from previous monarchs.
The acceptance of a ruler’s or government’s right to exercise authority.
Paper 1, Paper 2
The recognised or claimed right to rule.
Revise: Cyrus the Great's Background and AccessionAccording to Herodotus, Cyrus’ mother was Mandane, Astyages’ daughter. This made Cyrus both a Persian prince and the grandson of the Median king. Such a connection could help explain a claim to legitimacy in Media: Cyrus could be presented as part of its royal family rather than simply an outsider who seized power.
An accepted or justified right to rule, for example through royal descent.
Acceptance that a ruler has a rightful claim to power.
The recognised right to rule, which may rest on inheritance, religious approval, established customs or acceptance by subjects.
An accepted right to rule, which might be justified through election, family connections, religious approval or established practice.
Recognition of someone’s right to rule. Claims of divine favour could help a ruler establish this recognition.
The recognised right to rule.
Paper 1
The acceptance of a government or leader’s right to exercise power.
Paper 1
The recognised right to hold power according to laws or accepted customs.
Revise: Succession crisisNo single basis of legitimacy was accepted by all four claimants. Harold’s coronation settled who initially governed England, but it did not remove the rival claims. Because William and Hardrada could challenge him by force, the succession dispute became a struggle over the defence and control of the kingdom.
Explain why a problem mattered: disputed legitimacy could encourage support for a rival claimant, while debt limited Elizabeth’s ability to defend England.
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