The Royal Council

[johnhughthom]

Polyxenidos Lykikos stands once again

Before I make my point I would just like to clarify one thing. When I argued against sacking and looting Alexandria I asked you all to reflect on the name of the city, some of you have told me it is foolish to make decisions based on a name. As I'm sure most of the intelligent men in the room realised I asked you to consider the name to jog your memories on it's history. I shall have to remember some of you don't grasp such subtleties. a quick glance at Cunobelinus' messenger and Timarchos I would also like to add that I have been disappointed to hear a few of you talk about bringing Alexandros' body back to Babylon. I am a proud citizen of that great city and would love for him to be interred there, but the fact is he rests in Alexandria and when we take that city we should leave him in peace, it is unseemly to drag a mans body across the world. Give him the dignity he deserves in death, the Ptolemies are certainly incapable of it.

My apologies for my long windedness I will get to my main point now. This talk of Pergamon's past has made me consider the future of the Arche Seleukeia. While we may have a great Basileus, and an heir who looks like he will become just as great, that may not always be the case, all it takes is one bad son to destroy a dynasty. Look at the founding of our empire for what happens if a great leader dies with no strong natural heir. We have a room full, mostly, of capable men. Shouldn't we choose from amongst each other who would be best to rule the empire? Let me make clear that my loyalty for the future is with Sarpedon and I pledge to vote for him if this edict was to pass, I am thinking further down the road.

So my edict: Edict2.3 Every council session a vote is made amongst the strategoi to decide faction heir.

Lykikos sat, wondering if he had gone too far with his radical proposal, and if he had left it too late in the session to get it seconded