User blog:Tupka217/Ancient Pet Peeve, part II

Years back, I did a blog on some unrealistic uses and practices of monarchy in YJ. Since Outsiders brought us a new one, some more gripes from this not-that-much-of-a-royalist-but-too-lazy-and-indifferent-to-be-a-republican...


 * ''Gentle reminder that, because these are fictional countries with fictional histories in a fictional world, they can of course be different from our own monarchies. And many of these real world cases are so rare most countries never had any.

Markovia
I was glad the addressed the regent issue, which bugged (and still bugs) me about Vlatava. Monarchs have to be 18 years old to rule, and Gregor has only just had his 17th birthday - the regent would be in charge for a little under a year. They point that out explicitly.... and then have a coronation a couple of episodes later. Aargh.

The coronation, throne ascension, investiture, anointing or whatever the inaugeration ceremony is called (it varies per country, as not all have a crown or throne) does not happen until the new monarch is 18. Though they might be informally referred to as King Gregor or Queen Perdita if their regent/council of regents is not a royal, they are not actually King or Queen, and are not crowned yet. They'd still be prince and princess.

Barom DeLamb is a decent enough choice as a regent. Though he is not a member of the Royal Family or the Royal House, he is a high ranking official with experience in government and is related to the heir. How much damage he could do is in the air. Gregor can just exile people at a whim, but in later episodes mentions the ministers that limit his power. In the comics, Markovia was an absolute monarchy until the 1980s, and it's not quite clear how much this version is absolute and how much is constitutional.

Vlatava, revisited
As she is in her teens, Perdita would still be finishing her education. She would probably not attend any official matters of state like a trade conference, which requires technocrats and diplomats. She might be used by the government as a PR stunt to open doors though, as she's obviously a highly prolific celebrity. That would not require her to attend the full thing. As she's a minor, she can't sign any treaty anyway.

Fun bonus fact: despite being neighbors, despite being on good terms and despite being invited to the pre-coronation reception, Perdita cannot actually attend the coronation. No head of state can be invited to an inaugeration - the new monarch should outrank everyone. Royal guests invited to inaugerations are usually the Crown Prince(ss) or other heirs-apparent, or if they lack kids of age, the consort. Unmarried monarchs would usually send a sibling to represent them. Exceptions are made for principalities and grand duchies, or if there are monarchies within the realm (like the Commonwealth).