Over on Tower of the Hand, I’ve written the first of my new series of historical/political essays, this time focusing on the monarchy of Westeros (for my five-part series on the Hands of the King, see here). This first essay tries to figure out what kind of monarchy the Seven Kingdoms has – is it hereditary or elective? Absolute or constitutional? Weak or strong?
Very interesting. Enjoyed your post. Looking forward to the analysis of the use of dragons to support the monarchy of Westeros.
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
Interesting…so Westeros is more Mediaval England than France? What’s your best source on the state diuring the middle ages?
Well, the Reach has a lot of the signifiers of High Medieval France, but yes, Westeros is heavily based on England (geography, the Targaryens as Norman invaders, the North/South political and cultural divide, etc.).
Sources:
Richard Bonney, The European Dynastic States, 1494–1660 is pretty good for a start
Reynolds, Susan (1997) “The Historiography of the Medieval State”, in M.Bentley (ed.), A Companion to Historiography is a good overview of the historical debate
State formation in early modern England, c. 1550–1700. By Michael J. Braddick. for the flip side
I look forward to the next essay.
I would add that the Ironmen had an elected monarchy traditionally, and again with Euron.
Yes, which is true. I’ll bring that up in the Conciliarism essay.