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> the coronation involved peasants giving the crown to their king and the king promising to do good by them. It was still hereditary and all that, but rather th

> the coronation involved peasants giving the crown to their king and the king promising to do good by them. It was still hereditary and all that, but rather than power coming from God it came from people. How can it be both hereditary and given by the people? Could they have choosen to give it to someone else? Did they ever? Because if not, then that is just set decoration.

aidenn0 1y ago
In some places a priest of some sort would crown the ruler, thus signifying that they derive their legitimacy from a deity. Having a representative of the common people perform the ceremony is not devoid of meaning.
Swizec 1y ago
> How can it be both hereditary and given by the people? These are medieval times. Just that power wasn’t granted/legitimized from god was a huge innovation for the times. Here’s the ritual, from Wikipedia: > The peasant, sitting on the Stone, was representing the people during the ceremony and he had to ask in Slovene: "Who is he, that comes forward?" Those sitting around him would reply: "He is the prince of the land". > "Is he an upright judge seeking the well-being of the country; is he freeborn and deserving? Is he a foster and defender of the Christian faith?" the representative of the people had to ask them. "He is and he will be", they would reply. > "By what right can he displace me from this my seat?" he had to ask them and they would reply: "He will pay you sixty denarii and he will give you your home free and without tribute". > The peasant then had to give the duke a gentle blow on the cheek (un petit soufflet), after which the duke was allowed to draw his sword, mount the Stone and turn full circle, so as to face ritually in all directions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince%27s_Stone#Democratic_procedure https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince%27s_Stone#Democratic_pr... But I mean it’s not like the other kings/rulers in Europe actually got their power from God. That’s just a story we tell. Coronations are about pomp and tradition, power comes from having a local monopoly on violence.

aidenn0 1y ago

In some places a priest of some sort would crown the ruler, thus signifying that they derive their legitimacy from a deity. Having a representative of the common people perform the ceremony is not devoid of meaning.

Swizec 1y ago

> How can it be both hereditary and given by the people? These are medieval times. Just that power wasn’t granted/legitimized from god was a huge innovation for the times. Here’s the ritual, from Wikipedia: > The peasant, sitting on the Stone, was representing the people during the ceremony and he had to ask in Slovene: "Who is he, that comes forward?" Those sitting around him would reply: "He is the prince of the land". > "Is he an upright judge seeking the well-being of the country; is he freeborn and deserving? Is he a foster and defender of the Christian faith?" the representative of the people had to ask them. "He is and he will be", they would reply. > "By what right can he displace me from this my seat?" he had to ask them and they would reply: "He will pay you sixty denarii and he will give you your home free and without tribute". > The peasant then had to give the duke a gentle blow on the cheek (un petit soufflet), after which the duke was allowed to draw his sword, mount the Stone and turn full circle, so as to face ritually in all directions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince%27s_Stone#Democratic_procedure https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince%27s_Stone#Democratic_pr... But I mean it’s not like the other kings/rulers in Europe actually got their power from God. That’s just a story we tell. Coronations are about pomp and tradition, power comes from having a local monopoly on violence.