morganatic

/,mɔ:gə'nætik/

Thân thiện

A king marries a commoner in a morganatic union.

Definition

Adjective: - Describing a marriage between two people of unequal social rank, particularly when one partner is of royal or noble birth and the other is of lower status. This type of marriage is legally valid, but it carries the specific condition that the lower-ranking spouse and any children from the union do not inherit the titles, privileges, or property of the higher-ranking partner.

Usage

The adjective "morganatic" is used almost exclusively to modify the noun "marriage" or related terms (e.g., "union," "wife"). It is a formal, historical term. - It describes the legal and social nature of the marriage contract itself. - It implies a specific, pre-arranged agreement regarding succession rights.

Examples

• The prince contracted a morganatic marriage with a commoner, so their children were excluded from the line of succession.
• She was his morganatic wife, entitled to respect but not to the crown.
• Historians noted several morganatic unions among European royalty in the 19th century.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in historical and legal contexts discussing royal lineages and inheritance laws.
• A spouse in such a marriage may be given a lesser title as a courtesy, but this does not change the fundamental morganatic condition regarding inheritance.

Variants and Related Words

• Morganatically (adverb): In a morganatic manner.
  • He married morganatically, ensuring his throne would pass to his brother's line.

Synonyms

• Left-handed marriage: An informal, historical synonym referencing the tradition that in such a ceremony, the higher-ranking groom might give his left hand instead of his right.
• Unequal marriage: A more general, descriptive term.

Notes on Meaning

• The core concept is the legal validity of the marriage combined with the explicit denial of inheritance rights for the lower-status family line.
• It is distinct from a secret or illegitimate union; a morganatic marriage is publicly acknowledged but with legally defined limitations.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. (of marriages) of a marriage between one of royal or noble birth and one of lower rank; valid but with the understanding that the rank of the inferior remains unchanged and offspring do not succeed to titles or property of the superior

Từ đồng nghĩa

• left-handed