In Eswatini, no king can appoint his successor. Instead, the Liqoqo, an independent traditional council, decides which of the wives shall be "Great Wife" and "Indlovukazi" (She-Elephant / Queen Mother / Doctor). The son[further explanation needed] of this "Great Wife" will automatically become the next king.[1]
King of Eswatini | |
---|---|
Incumbent | |
Mswati III | |
Details | |
Style | His Majesty |
Heir apparent | None |
First monarch | Ngwane III |
Formation | 1750s |
The "Great Wife" is chosen after the death of the king and must be of good character. Her character affects her child's chances of ascending to the status of king. According to Swazi culture, a son cannot be the heir if his mother is not of good standing. She must not bear the maiden name of Nkhosi-Dlamini as Dlamini is the name of the Royal House of Eswatini[further explanation needed] and she must not be a ritual wife (see next paragraph).[2]
The king currently has 11 wives, (2 have permanently left him and 2 are deceased) 36 children and 13 grandchildren.[3] A Swazi king's first two wives are chosen for him by the national councillors. These two have special functions in rituals and their sons can never become kings. The first wife must be a member of the Matsebula clan, the second of the Motsa clan. These wives are known as tesulamsiti.
A royal fiancée is called liphovela, or "bride". They graduate from being fiancées to full wives as soon as they fall pregnant, when the king customarily marries them. However, the traditional marriage, known as “Ludvendve” (marriage to the king) only follows later.[4]
In traditional Swazi culture, the king is expected to marry a woman from every clan in order to cement relationships with each part of Eswatini. This means that the king must have many wives.[2]