Kingmaker
From Academic Kids
Kingmaker refers to a person or group that has great influence in a royal succession, without being a viable candidate. By analogy, it is also used to refer to those with the ability to influence the selection of Presidents, Governors Corporate Chief Executive Officers and the like.
Usages of interest and importance include:
- In the history of the Middle Ages and Rennaissance Kingmaker refers to nobles who used political, religious and/or military means to interfere in a succession.
- In the history of the Wars of the Roses in England, The Kingmaker refers to Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick.
- In Georgia politics, Roy Vincent Harris was known as a Kingmaker.
- In Japanese politics, Kakuei Tanaka was often termed Kingmaker.
- Kingmaker is often applied to the activities of Karl Rove.
- Kingmaker is a 1974 board game concerning the Wars of the Roses.
- In a game, Kingmaker may refer to a King-maker scenario.
