THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING: THE MEANING AND HISTORY OF A FAMOUS PHRASE

Introduction

Have you ever heard the phrase “the king is dead, long live the king”? Do you know what it means and where it comes from? In this article, we will explore the origin, meaning, and usage of this famous phrase that has been used for centuries to announce the death of one monarch and the accession of another.

Origin of the Phrase

The phrase “the king is dead, long live the king” was first used in French as “Le roi est mort, vive le roi!” It was first declared upon the accession to the French throne of Charles VII after the death of his father Charles VI in 1422. According to Wikipedia 1, the phrase arose from the law of le mort saisit le vif, which means that the transfer of sovereignty occurs instantaneously upon the moment of death of the previous monarch. Therefore, the phrase simultaneously announces the death of the old king and salutes the new king.

The phrase was also used in England, where French was the primary language of the nobility at the time. The phrase was quickly adopted as a way of expressing the continuity of the monarchy and avoiding any potential disputes over the succession. The phrase was first used in English in 1272, when Henry III died while his son, Edward I, was fighting in the Crusades. The Royal Council proclaimed: “The throne shall never be empty; the country shall never be without a monarch.” Thus, Edward was declared king immediately, even though he was not present in the country.

Meaning of the Phrase

The phrase “the king is dead, long live the king” has a literal and a figurative meaning. Literally, it means that the previous king has died and the new king has succeeded him. It also implies that the new king is wished a long and prosperous reign. Figuratively, it means that the old order has passed away and a new order has emerged. It also implies that the new order is better than the old one, or at least that it deserves respect and loyalty.

The phrase can be used to refer to any situation where there is a change of leadership, power, or status. For example, it can be used to describe the transition from one political regime to another, from one technological innovation to another, or from one cultural trend to another. The phrase can also be used ironically or sarcastically to mock or criticize the change that has occurred.

Usage of the Phrase

The phrase “the king is dead, long live the king” has become a popular phrasal template that can be modified to suit different contexts and purposes. For example, the phrase can be used to replace the word “king” with any other noun, such as “president”, “queen”, “boss”, “star”, “hero”, etc. The phrase can also be used to replace the word “dead” with any other adjective, such as “gone”, “retired”, “fired”, “defeated”, “dethroned”, etc. The phrase can also be used to replace the word “long” with any other adverb, such as “soon”, “never”, “always”, “hardly”, “barely”, etc.

Some examples of how the phrase can be used are:

The president is gone, long live the president! (to express the continuity of the presidency after an election or a resignation)
The queen is retired, long live the queen! (to express the admiration for the queen after her abdication)
The boss is fired, long live the boss! (to express the relief or joy after the dismissal of a bad boss)
The star is defeated, long live the star! (to express the admiration or sympathy for a celebrity after a loss or a setback)
The hero is dethroned, long live the hero! (to express the irony or disappointment after the downfall of a role model)

Conclusion

The phrase “the king is dead, long live the king” is a famous phrase that has been used for centuries to announce the death of one monarch and the accession of another. The phrase has a literal and a figurative meaning, and it can be used to refer to any situation where there is a change of leadership, power, or status. The phrase has also become a popular phrasal template that can be modified to suit different contexts and purposes. The phrase is a powerful and versatile way of expressing the continuity and the change that occur in history and in life.