The Many Faces of Awakening: A Structural Typology of Sleeping Beauty–Prince Relations

Bibliometric studies typically identify the "Prince" of a Sleeping Beauty (SB) based on citation bursts or co-citation proximity, implicitly assuming that the awakener is a singular, structural mediator of dormant knowledge. This study challenges this assumption by decoupling bibliometric visibility from structural genealogy. Applying Main Path Analysis (MPA) with a Local Forward search to six canonical SB–Prince pairs from the hard sciences, we reconstruct the actual backbone of knowledge transmission underlying these awakening events. The analysis reveals a striking discordance between citation metrics and topological reality: the bibliometrically identified Prince frequently occupies a position inconsistent with the awakening narrative—ranging from partial mediation to complete disconnection from the SB's lineage. Based on these topological signatures, we propose a structural typology of awakening mechanisms comprising six distinct categories: Structural Founder, Catalyst, Reflexive Consolidator, Internal Evolver, Surrogate Prince, and Rival Prince. These findings demonstrate that standard metrics primarily measure who captures attention (visibility), whereas structural topology reveals who transmits intellectual heritage (genealogy). We argue, therefore, that the metaphor of the Prince requires functional redefinition to distinguish between actors who broadcast a signal and those who structurally advance the knowledge domain.