usurper
noun
- illegitimate or controversial claimant to state power
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /juˈsɜɹ.pəɹ/ / /juˈzɜː.pə/
noun
Etymology: From Middle English usurper, usurpour, usurpur, from Middle French usurpeur; equivalent to usurp + -er.
- One who usurps.
“The fact that the Yongle emperor was therefore a usurper, regicide and nepoticide (nephew-killer) made compiling the Veritable Record – or official history – of his reign a most dangerous scholarly post. The official given this ticklish task managed to survive several drafts, finally producing one that pleased his master as it omitted the dead nephew's reign altogether.”