RD&D - Royal Birth - Part 1

Exploring royal childbirth. Modern doctors reveal the mystery behind why Mary Tudor was unable to give birth, and offer explanations for the tragic tale of Queen Anne, who despite enduring 17 pregnancies, had no heir to survive her. Also revealed is the battle between midwives and obstetricians which ultimately brought Queen Victoria to the throne.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• royal
• deaths
• diaseases
• birth
• mary
• tudor
• bloody
• anne
• stuart
• charlotte
• victoria

[maria610421]

Let me guess, a fantom pregnancy; another mental illness.

[docnarchy]

@maria610421 No. In this case, it was a wrong diagnosis, not exactly mental illness. Certain symptoms of her illness were similar to these of a normal pregnancy. She was desperate to have an heir.

[InnannasRainbow]

Good heavens, you know, it's truly a miracle that humanity has survived despite our best efforts to eradicate ourselves. Not intentionally eradicate ourselves, of course.

[gidetisms]

also known as a hysterical pregnancy, correct?

[mozarttheraver123]

Wow - have been looking for this for ages! Thanks*

[SuperGreatSphinx]

Many late-medieval countries of Europe were officially elective monarchies, but the same family had held the throne already even for centuries, and that hybrid situation should be described as pseudo-elective, virtually hereditary monarchies, the succession system being in slow transition. Most of those hybrid monarchies became officially hereditary in the early modern age.

[SuperGreatSphinx]

One method was for the incumbent monarch to have his chosen heir (son, daughter, brother, sister, or other relative) elected during the lifetime of the incumbent, while he was still able to wield his influence to direct the election to the desired result.

[SuperGreatSphinx]

Elective monarchy can practically function as a hereditary monarchy, for example in case of eligibility being limited to members of one family (or even further, if allowed by the rules of precedence in the election). This has happened historically, usually slowly, in many past elective monarchies.

[SuperGreatSphinx]

An agnate is a kinsman with whom one has a common ancestor by descent in unbroken male line. Cognatic succession previously referred to any succession to the throne or other inheritance which allows both males and females to be heirs, although in modern usage it specifically refers to equal succession by seniority regardless of gender.

[SuperGreatSphinx]

Historically, there have been differences in systems of succession, mainly revolving around the question of whether succession is limited only to males, or if females are also eligible to succeed. Agnatic succession refers to systems where females are neither allowed to succeed nor to transmit the succession rights to their male descendants.

[SuperGreatSphinx]

Hereditary monarchies most usually arrange succession by a legislated, definite order of succession so that it is well-known beforehand who will be the next monarch. Nowadays, the typical order of succession in hereditary monarchies is based on some form of primogeniture, but there exist other methods such as seniority, tanistry and rotation, which were much more common in the past.

[SuperGreatSphinx]

For example, when the king or queen of a hereditary monarchy dies or abdicates, the crown is usually passed to the next generation, i.e., his or her child, typically in some order of seniority. When that child dies, the crown is in turn passed to his or her child, or, if no child exists, a sister, brother, niece, nephew, cousin, or other relative.