How did European monarchs get elected?

Answer 1

First, by birth. The son of the previous king normally succeeded his father. France did not accept female heirs, even if there was no son. England and the Habsburg monarchy did (Elizabeth and Maria Thersa). In the middle ages, election by nobles entered into the process. The Holy Roman emperor was elected by seven electors. If kings were deemed incompetent, nobles were known to overthrow them and install a new ruler. But even here they tended to elect somebody related to the previous monarch. After all that was the principle that had given the nobles their positions of power and they did not want to lose it.

Answer 2

Kings came into power a number of different ways. In many cultures, the right to rule was considered part of the king's blood. When a king died, his eldest son would become king. This is called hereditary succession. If the king didn't have an eldest son, then his brother or another male relative may be appointed king. Sometimes kings came into power through assassination or by conquering lands in war.

Answer 3

Western Europe was in chaos after the fall of the Roman Empire and what developed was a patchwork of small holdings of strong men who could hold onto the land with armies. When one attacked the other to gain more power and land it was the strongest who became the "king" of the holdings of the other man. In this way large regions were gained by one man., but to hold on to these holdings he had to make alliances with the other men who held land around him so he had to give things in return for the alliances. This often resulted in titles, marriage to a daughter, or estates. If one the men decided he wanted more he would form a new alliance to attack the "king" and try to take what he had.

Answer 4

The very nature of Monarchy is that there are no elections as in a democracy, the way in which a Monarch comes to power is through birth right also male children take presidence over females.

Answer 5

the people vote