porphyrogenitism

noun

The principle of succession in royal families, especially among the Eastern Roman emperors, by which a younger son, if born after the accession of his father to the throne, was preferred to an elder son who was born prior to it.

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Meanings

nounporphyrogenitism (uncountable)
  1. rareuncountableThe principle of succession in royal families, especially among the Eastern Roman emperors, by which a younger son, if born after the accession of his father to the throne, was preferred to an elder son who was born prior to it.

    The doctrine of Porphyrogenitism, congenial to popular sentiment, and not without some foundation in principle, prevailed influentially and widely in many countries.

    1851, Francis Palgrave, The History of Normandy and of England
    1 more example

    The only legitimate spouse for a Ptolemy was a princess of the royal house, and generally a daughter not of a crown prince, but of a consecrated king. The evidence of this porphyrogenitism in the dynasty is quite clear.

    1915, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, volume 2

Origin

From porphyrogenite + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

porphyrogenitism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/porphyrogenitism

MLA

“porphyrogenitism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/porphyrogenitism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “porphyrogenitism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/porphyrogenitism.

Source: porphyrogenitism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.