Forms of government of the factions in EB

**LotW89** · 06-16-2008, 20:25

What forms of government had the factions of EB?
I know, that the Romans were an republic. In Germania was a democratic government I think. But what about other factions, like the Saka Rauka or Yuezhi? Monarchies?
Would be nice if someone have a list with the whole factions and their form of government

**blitzkrieg80** · 06-16-2008, 20:56

Germanic tribes did not practice democracy, even if they were more democratic than other cultures. A military democracy is not a democracy in the technical sense, and the warrior aristocracy makes it much less so. In fact, only 'Free' men had the right to vote at the 'Thing', which meant they had to be fighting men able to bear weapons. Thus a slave would not have a vote. In later times, those who were not 'free' might be allowed to attend the Thing, but they could not bear weapons. Only those who have the ability to 'weapon-take' can 'play' their weapons on their shield and have any symbolic say at the meeting.
The best definition of their government is mostly a Big Man system: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_man_%28anthropology%29. Noble families would arise who were thought to possess 'luck' and/or achieved success through wealth and/or glory. The military system as we know it in the democratic Thing was important but it would be wielded by the 'Wise' (law-speakers who were almost priest-like in nature, since justice was under the protection of the gods), as well as elders and prominent men who like today used family and friends, influence through numbers (popularity), bribes (gift-giving) and force (intimidation- not legit, but it would happen) to secure results. Communities theoretically have the ability to stand against the tide but hardly ever do so in such cases. I relate it more as a pep-rally where items are brought forth to help morale- but i suppose a very stupid lord might raise an issue that would bring ire.

**Don Julio Anejo** · 06-17-2008, 09:56

Well, for starters, you could find just about any government in Greece at the time...

**MarcusAureliusAntoninus** · 06-17-2008, 20:36

The successors were all militaristic monarchies. Roma and Kart-Hadast were republics. The Arverni were a monarchy, but the Aedui were kind of a democratic monarchy. Pahlav had a feudal system with a monarchy.

**LotW89** · 06-22-2008, 22:36

Thanks for the answers^^
Didn't thought, that Aedui and Arverni were different in the government...

**Centurio Nixalsverdrus** · 06-23-2008, 00:04

Makedonia was a monarchy, though the wannabe-king had to rely on the support of the assembly of the army. That could normally be ensured though with a bit of success in war.

Koinon Hellenon didn't have a government at all I think, they were an alliance of city-states. Athens was a "democracy" with voting rights for free men, Sparta was a Kingdom I think and Rhodos I don't know. A democracy as well iirc.

Epeiros a monarchy as well I think. Though I believe the monarch needed some form of acclamation too. To be more precise, he was the King of the Molossians, and the Leader of the Epeirote League. Correct me if I'm wrong.

In the Seleukid Kingdom it relied very much on your personal relation to the King what you could do for a career in the kingdom. Iirc the King put his best friends / closest relatives into the important jobs, but that might as well be said for every monarchy though...

**LotW89** · 06-26-2008, 18:57

Pahlava and Baktria were also monarchies I think?
And Saka Rauka, I don't know. Nothing but nomads

**The Celtic Viking** · 06-26-2008, 23:05

Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

The successors were all militaristic monarchies. Roma and Kart-Hadast were republics. The Arverni were a monarchy, but the Aedui were kind of a democratic monarchy. Pahlav had a feudal system with a monarchy.

Allow me to make a minor correction: the Arverni elected their monarch too. That much I've learnt from EB, and I can quote the faction description if you wish. Eh, hell, I'll do it anyway.

Originally Posted by Arverni Faction Description

Verrix, great king, god-king, and rightful master of all the world, your people salute you. You are Arvernos in the flesh. The elections organized by the under-kings and popular assembly of warriors, and the tribal elections, have revealed the true Verrix.

(Emphasis added by me.)