American Backcountry Leadership: The Rule Of Tanistry

The degradation of these unfortunate older people in the backcountry made a dramatic contrast with the deference given to patriarchs such as Patrick Calhoun, and to mountain grannies such as Aunt Genevy Rogers. Similar dualities have existed in many cultures, but in the backcountry this disparity was exceptionally strong. It derived from an ancient custom deeply imbedded in the culture of North Britain, where it was called the rule of tanistry. 

In North Britain, from time immemorial, the rule of tanistry (or thanistry, as in thane) had long determined the descent of authority within a clan. It held that “succession to an estate or dignity was conferred by election upon the ‘eldest and worthiest’ among the surviving kinsmen.” Candidates for this honor were males within the circle of kin called the derbfine—all the relatives within the span of four generations. By the rule of tanistry, one man among that group was chosen to head the family: he who was strongest, toughest and most cunning. This principle became an invitation to violent conflict, and the question was often settled by a trial of strength and cunning. The winner became the elder of his family or clan, and was honored with deference and deep respect. The losers were degraded and despised—if they were lucky. In ancient days they were sometimes murdered, blinded or maimed. 

This rule of tanistry had long existed throughout parts of Ireland and Scotland. For many centuries it had been formally invoked to decide the descent of the Scottish crown. Tanistry caused much violence in the history of North Britain. It was also a product of that violence, for it was a way of promoting elders who had the strength and cunning to defend their families, and command respect. But those elders who were unable to do so became a danger to their people. They were degraded and even destroyed. Here was yet another custom by which the culture of North Britain adapted itself to conditions of chronic disorder. By the rule of tanistry, families, clans and even kingdoms gained strong leader who were able to protect them. 

The principle of tanistry operated in North Britain on two levels. It was used in a formal way to settle the descent of high office–in Scotland, even monarchy. At the same time it also existed as a broad principle of eldership which sorted the old in to two categories–the strong who were respected and honored; and the weak who were degraded and despised. In some other cultures, the respect given to age tended to be a form of ascription. In the borders and backcountry it had more to do with achievements of a special kind that stressed cunning, force, power and the manipulation of others.

…These border and backcountry age ways differed from the customs of other regions in British America, and also from attitudes in our own time. But they were not unique. Similar patterns have also appeared in many human cultures which survive precariously on the edge of insecurity. It was this factor that lay behind the principle of tanistry in North Britain, and that also caused Patrick Calhoun to be honored in the Long Cane, and Aunt Genevy to be instantly obeyed, whilst the “silent, childish, and morose” old man in his cabin and the wandering old women of the woods were neglected and despised until death at last overtook them. 

-Excerpt from “Albion’s Seed: Four British Folkways in America” by David Hackett Fischer