History of governance and public institutions
Module 1: Dynasties
Lecture 1: Dynasty and Dynastic states
KC1:
Dynasty: ruling family, line of kings or princes
Succession
- The defining element of any dynasty is that there was something (positions of power, status etc)
to be passed on the next generation
- Systems of succession:
1. Primogeniture: eldest son inherits all
2. Partible inheritance: family possessions were split amongst sons
3. Seniority succession: eldest surviving brother takes over
4. Lateral succession (differs from previous): successor is elected (e.g. based on
achievements)
- Paternal/maternal lineages: when no male successor, female relative takes over
Dynasties in post-Roman Europe
- Frankia->‘successor state’ to Rome in the West under Merovingian dynasty
- Carolingians take over: Charles the Great (Charlemagne) crowned as Emperor
- Treaty of Verdun(843AD) splits Empire:
- France
- Germany
- Lotharingia (soon splinters)
Reading + reflective questions
Reading
-Dynastic rule (kingship) not by only one strong king, but more often by the use of multiple advisors
Mongol Empire History
-Golden lineage: the Mongol lineage of Chinggis Khan
-The Mongol leaders never forced their subjects to a certain religion
- Splitting of old Mongol Empire over succession century of the Mongol commonwealth (Pax
Mongolica), with 4 different sub-empires.
-Golden Horde: one of the sub-empires
-The Achilles heel of the empire was the succession process for the supreme
office of khan as it generated internecine wars, but the Chinggisid lineage
remained the backbone of the Mongol regime and kept its distinctive status
several centuries after the collapse of the empire.
,Mongol Empire (Chingsssids) Succession
-All male descendants of Chinggis Khan could claim the position of Great Khan (= the golden lineage)
-Successor was chosen by an election by an assembly of the political elite
-During the interbellum periods, the most influential wife of the deceased Khan was designated as
regent
-Lateral seniority system
The Habsburgs Succession
- It was partible inheritance, but in order to compromise the new subjects (annexation of the
Netherlands), traditions of the Habsburgers (Spain) were merged with the traditions of the new
states > composite monarchy.
-Domus Ideology: the Habsburg rulers sought to maintain a sense of continuity and dynastic unity by
intermarrying within the family and maintaining close ties among branches of the dynasty.
-The Habsburgs sought to secure their rule through strategic alliances and the accumulation of
wealth and territories, rather than solely relying on genealogical claims.
Physical lecture
-Reflective questions are similar to exam questions
-Exam is a written exam with essay questions
-PowerPoint from physical lecture will not be uploaded on canvas
What is a state?
-Borders (clear territory)
-Population (permanent population)
-Central government
-Sovereignty
-Other states should recognize you as a state as well
-Monopoly of the use of force (geweldsmonopolie)
Difference country, nation, state
Country is not legal entity,
Nation is culturally entity,
Dynasty: a family, or line of rulers, a succession of sovereigns of a country belonging to a single
family or tracing their descent to a common ancestor
Dynast: one in power; a ruler, lord, chief, member or founder of dynasty
Etymology: study of origin of words
Forms of succession
-Elective monarchy/lateral succession: monarchy ruled by elected monarch, not automatically
through hereditary
-Seniority succession: the order of succession to the throne prefers the monarch's younger brother
over the monarch's own sons. (The oldest in the group/clan/family takes over)
-Primogeniture: the rule by the eldest son. When king dies, his eldest son inheritance his role
-Partible inheritance
What was the role of woman in the Chinggisid dynasty and its succession policies
-Elected succession
-The new ruler doesn’t come to power automatically
-Might take some time to choose new leader
, -In the meantime, the most influential wife (based on criteria) would enter the leader function
-In choosing which child would be elected, the wife plays an important role
Dynasty exist both as:
-An idea (dynastic concept as portrayed in genealogies, funerary architecture)
-A set of social and legal practices (succession, elections, participation in rule)
Main argument of the article:
-Challenge the notion of dynasty understood as a one person in power or family in power group
effort
Module 2: Legitimacy
KC 1: Legitimacy as ascribed attribute
Legitimacy= Right + Acceptance of an authority
Example: Caliphate: The religious legitimation
• Caliph = ‘successor’ (‘successor of the Prophet’)
• Death of Muhammad Political crisis: who shall succeed?
• ‘Ali (cousin and son-in-law)
• Abu Bakr (close companion) supported by the community
• 632: Abu Bakr, 1st Caliph (632-634)
Succession: Political authority over blood ties
Successors: ‘Umar (634-644), ‘Uthmân (644-656), ‘Ali (656-661)
632-661: The Rashidun caliphate (those who guide to the right path)
• Battle of Siffin, 657 (armies of ‘Ali vs Mu’awiya’s)
‘Ali accepts the arbitration (Arbitration of Adruh)
Dispossession of ‘Ali without his military defeat
• ‘Ali remains the 4th caliph (Rashidun caliphate)
• Mu’awiya becomes the 5th caliph (661- 680) Foundation of the Umayyad dynasty
The schism in the Islamic community:
• Sunni (sunna): Caliph can be chosen among any Islamic tribes. Focus on the Prophet’s example
over His familial lineage
• Shi’a (Shi’at ‘Ali: party of ‘Ali): Caliph must be from Muhammad’s tribe, a blood relative
Ali considered the 1st caliph (imam)
• Development of a new religious class: the Ulema
-Claim: only rightful interpreters of Islamic law
-Caliphs emphasised their political legitimacy
• New caliphate: the Ottomans
-Beylik of Osman Ottoman Empire (1299-1922)
-1517: Selim I took the Title of Caliph
-Ottoman caliphate (1517-1922), Istanbul
• No claim to the genealogy of the Prophet
-Religious legitimacy remains important
-Title of protector of the two sacred cities preferred to the title of Caliph
-Religion is part of political legitimacy
• Sultan as the source of law (kanûn)
Module 1: Dynasties
Lecture 1: Dynasty and Dynastic states
KC1:
Dynasty: ruling family, line of kings or princes
Succession
- The defining element of any dynasty is that there was something (positions of power, status etc)
to be passed on the next generation
- Systems of succession:
1. Primogeniture: eldest son inherits all
2. Partible inheritance: family possessions were split amongst sons
3. Seniority succession: eldest surviving brother takes over
4. Lateral succession (differs from previous): successor is elected (e.g. based on
achievements)
- Paternal/maternal lineages: when no male successor, female relative takes over
Dynasties in post-Roman Europe
- Frankia->‘successor state’ to Rome in the West under Merovingian dynasty
- Carolingians take over: Charles the Great (Charlemagne) crowned as Emperor
- Treaty of Verdun(843AD) splits Empire:
- France
- Germany
- Lotharingia (soon splinters)
Reading + reflective questions
Reading
-Dynastic rule (kingship) not by only one strong king, but more often by the use of multiple advisors
Mongol Empire History
-Golden lineage: the Mongol lineage of Chinggis Khan
-The Mongol leaders never forced their subjects to a certain religion
- Splitting of old Mongol Empire over succession century of the Mongol commonwealth (Pax
Mongolica), with 4 different sub-empires.
-Golden Horde: one of the sub-empires
-The Achilles heel of the empire was the succession process for the supreme
office of khan as it generated internecine wars, but the Chinggisid lineage
remained the backbone of the Mongol regime and kept its distinctive status
several centuries after the collapse of the empire.
,Mongol Empire (Chingsssids) Succession
-All male descendants of Chinggis Khan could claim the position of Great Khan (= the golden lineage)
-Successor was chosen by an election by an assembly of the political elite
-During the interbellum periods, the most influential wife of the deceased Khan was designated as
regent
-Lateral seniority system
The Habsburgs Succession
- It was partible inheritance, but in order to compromise the new subjects (annexation of the
Netherlands), traditions of the Habsburgers (Spain) were merged with the traditions of the new
states > composite monarchy.
-Domus Ideology: the Habsburg rulers sought to maintain a sense of continuity and dynastic unity by
intermarrying within the family and maintaining close ties among branches of the dynasty.
-The Habsburgs sought to secure their rule through strategic alliances and the accumulation of
wealth and territories, rather than solely relying on genealogical claims.
Physical lecture
-Reflective questions are similar to exam questions
-Exam is a written exam with essay questions
-PowerPoint from physical lecture will not be uploaded on canvas
What is a state?
-Borders (clear territory)
-Population (permanent population)
-Central government
-Sovereignty
-Other states should recognize you as a state as well
-Monopoly of the use of force (geweldsmonopolie)
Difference country, nation, state
Country is not legal entity,
Nation is culturally entity,
Dynasty: a family, or line of rulers, a succession of sovereigns of a country belonging to a single
family or tracing their descent to a common ancestor
Dynast: one in power; a ruler, lord, chief, member or founder of dynasty
Etymology: study of origin of words
Forms of succession
-Elective monarchy/lateral succession: monarchy ruled by elected monarch, not automatically
through hereditary
-Seniority succession: the order of succession to the throne prefers the monarch's younger brother
over the monarch's own sons. (The oldest in the group/clan/family takes over)
-Primogeniture: the rule by the eldest son. When king dies, his eldest son inheritance his role
-Partible inheritance
What was the role of woman in the Chinggisid dynasty and its succession policies
-Elected succession
-The new ruler doesn’t come to power automatically
-Might take some time to choose new leader
, -In the meantime, the most influential wife (based on criteria) would enter the leader function
-In choosing which child would be elected, the wife plays an important role
Dynasty exist both as:
-An idea (dynastic concept as portrayed in genealogies, funerary architecture)
-A set of social and legal practices (succession, elections, participation in rule)
Main argument of the article:
-Challenge the notion of dynasty understood as a one person in power or family in power group
effort
Module 2: Legitimacy
KC 1: Legitimacy as ascribed attribute
Legitimacy= Right + Acceptance of an authority
Example: Caliphate: The religious legitimation
• Caliph = ‘successor’ (‘successor of the Prophet’)
• Death of Muhammad Political crisis: who shall succeed?
• ‘Ali (cousin and son-in-law)
• Abu Bakr (close companion) supported by the community
• 632: Abu Bakr, 1st Caliph (632-634)
Succession: Political authority over blood ties
Successors: ‘Umar (634-644), ‘Uthmân (644-656), ‘Ali (656-661)
632-661: The Rashidun caliphate (those who guide to the right path)
• Battle of Siffin, 657 (armies of ‘Ali vs Mu’awiya’s)
‘Ali accepts the arbitration (Arbitration of Adruh)
Dispossession of ‘Ali without his military defeat
• ‘Ali remains the 4th caliph (Rashidun caliphate)
• Mu’awiya becomes the 5th caliph (661- 680) Foundation of the Umayyad dynasty
The schism in the Islamic community:
• Sunni (sunna): Caliph can be chosen among any Islamic tribes. Focus on the Prophet’s example
over His familial lineage
• Shi’a (Shi’at ‘Ali: party of ‘Ali): Caliph must be from Muhammad’s tribe, a blood relative
Ali considered the 1st caliph (imam)
• Development of a new religious class: the Ulema
-Claim: only rightful interpreters of Islamic law
-Caliphs emphasised their political legitimacy
• New caliphate: the Ottomans
-Beylik of Osman Ottoman Empire (1299-1922)
-1517: Selim I took the Title of Caliph
-Ottoman caliphate (1517-1922), Istanbul
• No claim to the genealogy of the Prophet
-Religious legitimacy remains important
-Title of protector of the two sacred cities preferred to the title of Caliph
-Religion is part of political legitimacy
• Sultan as the source of law (kanûn)
