How were pretenders to the throne handled in different societies?

Pretenders to the throne were typically handled through imprisonment, execution, or forced exile, varying across different societies and eras.

In many societies, pretenders to the throne were seen as significant threats to the reigning monarch and the stability of the kingdom. As such, they were often dealt with harshly. In medieval Europe, for instance, pretenders were typically imprisoned or executed. This was the case with Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck, both of whom claimed to be the rightful heirs to the English throne during the reign of Henry VII. They were seen as significant threats to the Tudor dynasty and were dealt with accordingly; Simnel was pardoned and given a job in the royal kitchen, while Warbeck was hanged.

In other societies, pretenders were forced into exile. This was often the case in the Byzantine Empire, where pretenders were frequently blinded or mutilated to make them ineligible for the throne, and then sent away. This was seen as a more humane alternative to execution, and it also served to remove the threat without making a martyr of the pretender.

In some cases, pretenders were allowed to live in relative peace as long as they did not actively pursue their claims. This was often the case in China during the Ming and Qing dynasties, where pretenders were sometimes allowed to live as private citizens as long as they did not pose a direct threat to the emperor.

However, the treatment of pretenders could also be influenced by political considerations. For example, during the Wars of the Roses in England, both the Yorkist and Lancastrian factions had pretenders to the throne. The way these pretenders were treated often depended on the balance of power at the time. When the Yorkists were in power, Lancastrian pretenders were treated harshly, and vice versa.

In conclusion, the treatment of pretenders to the throne varied greatly across different societies and eras, but it was generally harsh and aimed at neutralising the threat they posed to the reigning monarch and the stability of the kingdom.