Revision as of 03:26, 11 January 2020 by Honeyfur(Message Wall | contribs)(Yes, they are. Particularly in fiction. If something is not mentioned in the franchise, it is not always needed to include on the articles.)
The Ruler of Pride Rock is the formal title given to the absolute monarch of the Pride Lands. Being an absolute monarch, the king or queen is vested with full executive and judicial control.
The official residence of the monarch is Pride Rock, where the king or queen lives with his or her faithful subjects, the lionesses and other lions, as well as his or her family.
There are no set duties for the monarch, nor are there any obligations that must be fulfilled. The monarch has absolute authority over any executive or judicial decisions, leading to some monarchs, most notably Scar, misusing their power. The wisest of the monarchs regulate predation within their lands, ensure that there is enough water to go around, and settle arguments among the Pride Landers.
Succession to the throne
The order of succession is based on equal primogeniture, meaning inheritance by the oldest surviving child without regard to gender. The heir apparent is usually the eldest. However, it would be within the monarch's prerogative (as absolute monarch) to amend the line of succession, include non-family members, or completely exclude royals from the line of succession altogether.
In order to ascend to the throne, the heir apparent must walk to the top of Pride Rock and roar over his or her kingdom. The lionesses in turn will roar back to signify their acceptance of the new monarch.
Usurpers
A special, non-canon case is presented in the German audio story Fight for the Throne, in which Kesho the cheetah challenges Simba to a fight in the Valley of the Thousand Eyes in order to gain the title of king. After winning the fight through deception, Kesho usurps the throne and banishes Simba, Nala, and their son Kopa to the jungle. However, with the help of an elephant named Kia, the royal family forces Kesho to admit his deceptive ways, and the Pride Landers support the return of their true king and his family.
Mufasa is the eldest son of the past monarchs. He remains one of the wisest kings to rule Pride Rock, though he dies a premature death at the claws of his younger brother, Scar.
Scar is the youngest son of the past monarchs. In order to gain his right to the throne, he kills his brother Mufasa and exiles his nephew Simba. He later dies at the claws of his own minions, the hyenas, after being defeated by Simba.
Simba is the only son of Mufasa and Sarabi, and the rightful heir to the throne in the first film. He defeats the evil usurper Scar in order to fulfill his birthright. He is the current king of the Pride Lands.
Kovu is the mate of Kiara. Though originally an Outsider, Kovu betrays his pride in order to support Simba's rule as king and be with the king's daughter, Kiara.
