This volume focuses on communication of legitimisation in the course of changes of rule and sovereignity. Different approaches discuss relevant situations, which are well suited to investigate the respective dimension of the topic. The time span covers investigations from ancient to contemporary history. Thus, the term of liberty as category of political legitimisation in the Late Roman Republic and Early Roman Empire is focused as well as the legitimisation of rule in the speeches of Appian and Cassius Dio. Concerning early modern times, the issues range from political language during the French wars of Religion and at the diets of Schleswig and Holstein in the 17th and 18th centuries to the use of symbols and political concepts in the Helvetic Republic, conditions for legitimisation for the new ruler in Salzburg and Wurzburg as well as the regional political culture in Dithmarschen in early 19th century. The essays about jubilees and anniversaries of rulers in the German Empire and the question about the Empire as "organism" or "mechanism" are based within modern and contemporary times. These epoch-spanning essays become reflected in a linguistic analysis of political strategies.