legitimism

/ləˈdʒɪtəmɪzəm/
noun
  1. The political belief that a country's rightful ruler comes from a traditional royal family, especially one that has been overthrown.
    • Some historians argue that legitimism slowed the growth of democratic governments in Europe.
    • Legitimism in France supported the Bourbon family long after the revolution.
    • The group's legitimism led them to reject any leader who was not from the old royal line.
  2. A general principle of supporting established or traditional authority, especially in matters of inheritance or succession.
    • In some cultures, legitimism means that only the eldest son can inherit the throne.
    • The debate over the monarchy was really a debate between legitimism and modern democracy.
    • His legitimism made him oppose any change to the company's founding family leadership.
What does "legitimism" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean