The Frithian kings have unified Scotha and now rule a hundred planetary systems. Within his interstellar realm, a Frithian king is stronger than the Terran Emperor is in his because the latter, although theoretically omnipotent, cannot possibly govern such a large domain in any detail. Thus, the Frithian king is a big fish in a (comparatively) small pool whereas the Emperor is a big fish in an ocean. I could expound here on my experience of big fish in small pools but that would take us away from our current Andersonian context and maybe belongs on another blog.
The king must heed the "...sort of parliament..." (p. 253) of the great nobles which in turn must respect the rights of commoners although, below them, there are slaves and subject peoples. Maybe, after a revolution or two, Scotha will be able to approach some kind of democracy? But first the interstellar ambitions both of the warrior aristocrats and of lesser folk currently unable to better their lot at home must be curbed and fate allots that latter task to Dominic Flandry.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I agree, Terran Emperors, even the strongest willed of them, are simply big fishes in the vast ocean which was the Empire. That severely limits what they can do. I recall Stirling saying such men would be spending their days reading/annotating reports and presiding over committee meetings.
I don't like revolutions. FAR more often than not, the results of a revolution has been horrifying--with us seeing wars, civil wars, massacres, tyranny, etc. I would far prefer gradual reform and compromise ameliorating matters on Scotha.
Ad astra! Sean
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