usurper

An usurper is a person who obtains or exercises political, administrative, or religious authority in a manner widely regarded as illegitimate. Usurpation typically involves seizing power from an incumbent by force, coercion, manipulation of succession, or exploiting a vacancy, rather than through established legal processes or hereditary right. The term carries a strong normative judgment, and its applicability depends on a society’s laws, institutions, and prevailing political perspective.

Etymology: From Middle French usurper, ultimately from Latin usurpare meaning to seize for use; the word emphasizes the act of taking power for one’s own use rather than succeeding according to rightful procedure.

Usurpers appear in many settings, including monarchies, republics, and religious hierarchies. The label is often deployed by opponents or later governments to delegitimate a claimant. In constitutional systems, acts by an alleged usurper may be questioned, reversed, or condemned, and the legitimacy of the ruler can become a matter of political debate, legal challenge, or historical revision.

Because usurpation is a judgment about legality and propriety, whether a figure is deemed an usurper can vary by perspective and time. The concept is distinct from mere succession disputes, as it emphasizes illegal seizure and retention of power outside recognized rules.