ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the evolution of the rules governing female succession to the English throne between the twelfth and the early seventeenth centuries. It considers the significance of a series of historical and legal precedents advanced by Crown and Parliament which anticipated, enabled, and even undermined the advent of regnant queenship in Tudor England. Contemporary debate surrounding a woman’s ability to inherit or transmit a claim to the throne is also examined. This focus on female inheritance highlights other important developments in English succession law, such as the use of parliamentary statute to settle the succession in periods of dynastic uncertainty. This approach also complements recent studies on female kingship by identifying a number of moments when women held a strong claim to the throne in English history.
