possibility and kings
Jan. 8th, 2018 11:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
marycatelliPondering how this society has its kings . . .
I'm pretty sure they don't go in for coronations, still less anointings -- they still think of knightings as foreign folly, you're a knight because you fight -- but they have to do something, because I have to have something where the main character is declared king over his younger half-brothers.
Their mother minds. I have to decide whether her belief that her higher birth -- and she does come from much higher stock than the main character's mother -- means her sons are more fit is a curiosity or a serious consideration for others. I know that there were times in Chinese history where polygamy complicated the succession because the son of a woman of higher birth is obviously more fit than one from a lower-ranking wife. The Byzantine belief that a son born after his father became the emperor -- a porphyrogenitus, born to the purple -- has a superior claim is kinda moot since his father was king when he was born. And both cultures would probably be regarded as rather decadent by this kingdom.
I think they may hail him. I know some Scandinavian kings were chosen among all the dead king's sons that way, and my main character has the advantage of age.
I'm pretty sure they don't go in for coronations, still less anointings -- they still think of knightings as foreign folly, you're a knight because you fight -- but they have to do something, because I have to have something where the main character is declared king over his younger half-brothers.
Their mother minds. I have to decide whether her belief that her higher birth -- and she does come from much higher stock than the main character's mother -- means her sons are more fit is a curiosity or a serious consideration for others. I know that there were times in Chinese history where polygamy complicated the succession because the son of a woman of higher birth is obviously more fit than one from a lower-ranking wife. The Byzantine belief that a son born after his father became the emperor -- a porphyrogenitus, born to the purple -- has a superior claim is kinda moot since his father was king when he was born. And both cultures would probably be regarded as rather decadent by this kingdom.
I think they may hail him. I know some Scandinavian kings were chosen among all the dead king's sons that way, and my main character has the advantage of age.
no subject
Date: 2018-01-09 01:43 pm (UTC)"IT's all rather confusing, really."
Of course that's my reaction to almost anything of heredity/genealogy. Second cousin twice removed? If he was removed, what fool let him back in that he need to be removed again?! Yeah, I know, that's not how it works. Still, Relativity is easier than relatives. Even with weirdly varying clocks and measuring sticks.
no subject
Date: 2018-01-10 01:07 am (UTC)