Lines of Succession

[mongrel_8]

I recently read in Archaeology that the Picts in present-day Scotland had a line of succession that went from the cheiftain to his sister’s son. When the Scots came from Ireland, they switched it so that the line of succession went from father to son.
So my questions are:

1. Why did the Picts have this type of succession?
2. Does this type of succession show a society where women have more power?
3. Did (or do) any other cultures in the world have a type of succession where power didn’t go from father to son?

[Threadkiller]

*Originally posted by mongrel_8 *
I recently read in Archaeology that the Picts in present-day Scotland had a line of succession that went from the cheiftain to his sister’s son. When the Scots came from Ireland, they switched it so that the line of succession went from father to son.
So my questions are:

1. Why did the Picts have this type of succession?
2. Does this type of succession show a society where women have more power?
3. Did (or do) any other cultures in the world have a type of succession where power didn’t go from father to son?

Why? in this particular case I really don’t know. I have heard that, unlike father-son succession you really know that the child contains blood of the royal line.

Other cultures? Sure. Try a google search for sister son succession. It turned up the following:

In addition, the Hambukushu rule of succession in which the chief’s eldest sister’s son was heir to the chieftainship had led to a great many splits and migrations.

They don’t get into details.

[Northern_Piper]

I believe that matrilineal succession was the case in Ancient Egypt, which is why the Pharoahs tended to marry their sisters.