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Grand Viziers
Apr. 13th, 2006 01:17 amGrand Viziers are always sneaky, deceptive, power hungry bastards. Everyone knows this. I've heard various theories as to why, maybe it's in the hat.
Then recently, I was thinking about one of the stories I have yet to write, which involves an unlikely person becoming a king. Well, ferret, really. But that's beside the point. The thought process goes as follows.
You're a king. Most of your vassals are ambitious aristocrats, who figure they can do your job as well as you can.
Now, especially if you're new to this whole king thing, you need somebody who can think like they do, so you know what they're going to do, so you can counter it.
And who better to pick than the most cunning and deceptive and ambitious bastard of the lot? So you make him your advisory.
Now you only really have to watch out for one guy, because he'll be trying to stop all the other guys from seizing power, since he wants it for himself. And he's right there, where you can watch him. And he's invested in your rule, for now, because you gave him power. Sure, he's going to try and use that against you, but that's when you have to hope you're at least as cunning as he is. Because otherwise, you're screwed.
But as long as the other nobles can keep him busy, or as long as you can make it more valuable for him to keep you in power than to fight against you, you've eliminated a major threat to your power and gained an ally. Not a reliable one, but at least you know he's untrustworthy.
Then recently, I was thinking about one of the stories I have yet to write, which involves an unlikely person becoming a king. Well, ferret, really. But that's beside the point. The thought process goes as follows.
You're a king. Most of your vassals are ambitious aristocrats, who figure they can do your job as well as you can.
Now, especially if you're new to this whole king thing, you need somebody who can think like they do, so you know what they're going to do, so you can counter it.
And who better to pick than the most cunning and deceptive and ambitious bastard of the lot? So you make him your advisory.
Now you only really have to watch out for one guy, because he'll be trying to stop all the other guys from seizing power, since he wants it for himself. And he's right there, where you can watch him. And he's invested in your rule, for now, because you gave him power. Sure, he's going to try and use that against you, but that's when you have to hope you're at least as cunning as he is. Because otherwise, you're screwed.
But as long as the other nobles can keep him busy, or as long as you can make it more valuable for him to keep you in power than to fight against you, you've eliminated a major threat to your power and gained an ally. Not a reliable one, but at least you know he's untrustworthy.
