Born in the purple
Encyclopedia
Traditionally, born in the purple was a term used to describe members of royal families
although the term was later expanded to include all children born of prominent or high ranking parents. The parents must be prominent at the time of the child's birth so that the child is always in the spotlight and destined for a prominent role in life. A child born before the parents become prominent would not be "born in the purple."
In this sense, the parent's prominence predetermines the child's role in life. A royal child, for instance, is denied the opportunity to an ordinary life because of his parent's royal rank. An example of this usage can be seen in the following discussion comparing the German Kaiser
William II with his grandfather, William I, and his father, Frederick III
:
The color purple refers to Tyrian purple
, restricted by law, custom and the expense of creating it to royalty.
To be "born in the purple" is often seen as a limitation to be escaped rather than a benefit or a blessing. Rarely it may be used to describe someone born with immense talent that shapes their career and forces them into paths they might not otherwise wish to follow. An obituary of the British composer Charles Hubert Hastings Parry complains that his immense natural talent (described as being "born in the purple") forced him to take on teaching and administrative duties that prevented him from composing in the manner that might have been allowed to someone who had to develop their talent.
The classic definition restricted use of the term specifically to the legitimate offspring born to reigning monarch
s after they acceded to the throne
. It did not apply to children born prior to their parent's accession
or, in an extremely strict definition, their coronation.
The concept derives from the Roman Imperial
and Byzantine concept of Porphyrogenitos
under which children born to reigning emperors held superior rights to the throne over siblings born before their father ascended the imperial throne. This the term is sometimes associated with the rareness and great expense of purple dye in the ancient world. In the Byzantine Empire being Porphyrogenitos very specifically meant being born in the Porphyra or purple chamber of the Imperial Palace, a room which Anna Comnena said was "set apart long ago for an Empress's confinement" and which was decorated with expensive porphyry marble.
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
although the term was later expanded to include all children born of prominent or high ranking parents. The parents must be prominent at the time of the child's birth so that the child is always in the spotlight and destined for a prominent role in life. A child born before the parents become prominent would not be "born in the purple."
In this sense, the parent's prominence predetermines the child's role in life. A royal child, for instance, is denied the opportunity to an ordinary life because of his parent's royal rank. An example of this usage can be seen in the following discussion comparing the German Kaiser
German Emperor
This article is about the emperors of the German Empire. For full list of German monarchs before 1871, see List of German monarchs.The German Emperor was the official title of the Head of State and ruler of the German Empire, beginning with the proclamation of Wilhelm I as emperor during the...
William II with his grandfather, William I, and his father, Frederick III
Frederick III, German Emperor
Frederick III was German Emperor and King of Prussia for 99 days in 1888, the Year of the Three Emperors. Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl known informally as Fritz, was the only son of Emperor William I and was raised in his family's tradition of military service...
:
Compare this with his grandfather, the old Emperor, who, if he had not been born in the purple, could only have been a soldier, and not, it must be added, one who could have held very high commands. Compare him again with his father; the Emperor Frederick, if he had not been born in the purple, though he certainly showed greater military capacity than the old Emperor, nevertheless would probably not have been happy or successful in any private station other than that of a great moral teacher.
The color purple refers to Tyrian purple
Tyrian purple
Tyrian purple , also known as royal purple, imperial purple or imperial dye, is a purple-red natural dye, which is extracted from sea snails, and which was possibly first produced by the ancient Phoenicians...
, restricted by law, custom and the expense of creating it to royalty.
To be "born in the purple" is often seen as a limitation to be escaped rather than a benefit or a blessing. Rarely it may be used to describe someone born with immense talent that shapes their career and forces them into paths they might not otherwise wish to follow. An obituary of the British composer Charles Hubert Hastings Parry complains that his immense natural talent (described as being "born in the purple") forced him to take on teaching and administrative duties that prevented him from composing in the manner that might have been allowed to someone who had to develop their talent.
The classic definition restricted use of the term specifically to the legitimate offspring born to reigning monarch
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
s after they acceded to the throne
Throne
A throne is the official chair or seat upon which a monarch is seated on state or ceremonial occasions. "Throne" in an abstract sense can also refer to the monarchy or the Crown itself, an instance of metonymy, and is also used in many expressions such as "the power behind the...
. It did not apply to children born prior to their parent's accession
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
or, in an extremely strict definition, their coronation.
The concept derives from the Roman Imperial
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
and Byzantine concept of Porphyrogenitos
Porphyrogenitos
Porphyrogénnētos, Latinized as Porphyrogenitus was an honorific title given to a son, or daughter , of a reigning emperor in the Byzantine Empire. However, not every imperial prince or princess was accorded this distinction...
under which children born to reigning emperors held superior rights to the throne over siblings born before their father ascended the imperial throne. This the term is sometimes associated with the rareness and great expense of purple dye in the ancient world. In the Byzantine Empire being Porphyrogenitos very specifically meant being born in the Porphyra or purple chamber of the Imperial Palace, a room which Anna Comnena said was "set apart long ago for an Empress's confinement" and which was decorated with expensive porphyry marble.
Further reading
- Gilbert, Paul. Born in the Purple: The Private World of the Children of Tsar Nicholas II, to be published in 2009. (hardcover, ISBN 0-9737839-5-8). Biography of the children of Tsar Nicholas II of RussiaNicholas II of RussiaNicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
who were all born after his accession.
- Jensen, Lloyd B. Purple of Tyre, Journal of Near Eastern StudiesJournal of Near Eastern StudiesThe Journal of Near Eastern Studies is an academic journal published by the University of Chicago Press, devoted to examination of the ancient and medieval civilisations of the Near East. Appearing in its pages are contributions from scholars of international reputation on archaeology, art,...
, Vol. 22, No. 2 (Apr., 1963), pp. 104–118.