Post by wordy on Sept 1, 2010 0:05:46 GMT 10
Royal Power - how to get it, use it and keep it
by Rowena
One of the most popular ways of gaining power, often used by royals, is also the simplest: get other people to do it for you, or at least get them to help with a lot of it. However, this strategy must be used well. It is best executed when one has lots and lots of people to order around, and they are devoted to your cause. Roger of Conté tried to use this method of gaining power but failed, largely because he only had a few people who were (almost) as devoted to his cause as he was. Sure, they were smart nobles, and one will need some of those, but it also helps to have a mass of people who believe whatever you tell them – it doesn’t matter if it’s true. Men at arms who listen to you because they have to aren’t going to cut it.
This strategy has been used well twice in recent Copper Isles history, first by Rittevon of Lenman and Ludas Jimajen to steal the power from the raka, and second by the raka rebellion to steal the throne back from the Rittevons.
Another way to gain power is, of course, the old standby of assassination, also attempted unsuccessfully by Roger of Conté. Although assassination can be utilized best when combined with other methods, it is most successful alone if one is already a member of the royal family (just speeding up the line of succession!) or if one lives in a nation where the
After one has acquired the throne of a country, no matter what method was used, the next step is to make sure it isn’t lost to someone else – clearly not a job the Rittevons did well.
There are basically two choices of how to hold power: make them like you or make them fear you. Making them like you can be difficult, but it is usually the better way to go. A ruler who chooses this method will probably run in to situations in which they have to make a compromise, but overall it is much better than making them fear you. When using this method, one runs the risk of the general populace getting too tired of having a cruel ruler, and deciding to take matters in to their own hands – they’ll just use a different method.