lokariototal

How do they become Emperors and Kings? Because of their military talent, because of their intelligence, or what?

Optiow

Depends. Some are given it by the people, others take it by force and some are just made it randomly.

Toltec

Primogeninture, tanaise, election by junta, coup and invasion. Seem the main ways.

okamido

Because they had the cojones to stand up and say," I am better than you, if you don't believe me, just ask my army."

Edgewaters

If it's hereditary, they're usually born to it.

Or do you mean how is a kingdom created in the first place? Usually it's matter of unifying a bunch of different tribes or mini-kingdoms. Could be a chieftain conquering the other groups, or could be that the groups unify on their own accord because of some external threat. Just depends. Every case is a bit different.

DIVUS IVLIVS

Well, the fact is that for a long, long time in history in a lot of places hereditary monarchy was the only sort of system that people really knew about and cared to continue knowing about. A simple matter then of whoever is in charge (and someone has to be) thus becoming King.

sculptingman

Kings and their ilk have always simply been the ruthless men willing to employ violence without shirking.

Inheritance of kingship only works because you are inheriting the army with it... and even that breaks down and gets you ousted if your father the king failed to teach you to be ruthless enough to hold power.

Aristocracy began as armed hooligans who ran a protection racket... you pay them a regular "tax", and in return they will keep the hooligans the next valley over from coming and raiding your farm, store, village or what have you.

Duchys and petty kingdoms grew up all over, limited to the size of territory over which any given group of hooligans could effectively exercise armed control.

They banded into larger confederations of Feudal fealty as their neighbors did, to effect greater security, evolving into the multilevel management system that is Dukes, Earls, Barons and the nominal King.


But make no mistake... nations are ruled by the people ruthless enough to
win the fear respect of the people they rule.

gus

Well .. they say the Windsors won it to the Tudors in a hand of poker

Oops ... they DON'T say that.
shew!: never mind~

Shangas

Like Edgewaters says, most kings (or queens) are born into it, and the title and all the other trappings, are inherited when the older king/queen dies.

In times gone past, however, a king was most likely the head of a tribe. Tribes went to war with other tribes, chiefs battle chiefs, the winners control more land, get more power, more money, gradually the title changes. There was a time when kings would have to lead their armies into battle. If they were effective military leaders, they became rulers, since the people respected them, and saw that they were a good person to have in times of danger. Or alternatively, a brave warrior might be elected the head of a community because of his ability to protect others. In England, I think this ended with Henry VII, who was the last king (there, at least) to personally lead his men into war, in the 1500s with the War of the Roses...

gus

Now, if you look at Rome, there was a time with kings. There were seven kings. Then, people didn't like kings anymore, and the senate instituted a republic. The republic lasted until it became too corrupted, and needed a leader of some sort, and a high priest, a human god, so that the people wouldn't be too sad against the senate, and make it fall among themselves (with civil revolt).

Emperors (High-Kings, Princes .. &c) like these, however don't last long(er than a couple of centuries, maybe a little more: imperial Rome lasted about 476 years), because it's a rotten kind of government, and their empires are usually already destined to fall.

Royalty may last as a system, however it changes (look at the UK ..), but dynasties don't seem to last long. (I know nothing of the Chinese, however; only Europe.)