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All forms of governments in fantasy have one thing in common: they’re staffed with people. Everyone who works for the government has a title, regardless of where they sit in the hierarchy. They’re responsible for ensuring that the laws of the land are followed by the populace. However, some are in key positions of power where they can create or shape the laws any way they see fit. One such group of people is the fantasy royal council.
The royal council government is an offshoot of the monarchy, where the most powerful of the nobles serve the king directly. It is the medieval era-equivalent of the presidential cabinet, in which he staffs the top government positions with people loyal to his agenda.
One crucial difference between the two is that the presidential cabinet has a fixed term, where people can serve only for a specific period of time. Those who serve the king can do so for as many years as the monarch sees fit, as long as they stay on his good side. He can dismiss them anytime for any reason.
In worldbuilding, the fantasy royal council is nearly as powerful as the sovereign it serves. His advisors represent him on foreign trips, speaking on his behalf to other countries. They do the same for domestic affairs, when they create laws that help or hinder citizens after getting the king’s approval.
Bringing the royal council in the story can lead to exciting storylines. There’s always the classic power struggles and intrigue between fellow members as they scheme to gain favor with the king or the true power behind the throne. Also, they’re seen as the monarch’s closest confidantes and allies which means their presence in the story can be either good or bad.
This is the tenth article in the series chronicling the various kinds of fantasy governments. If you want to check out our many other articles, you can find them on our blog page.
A fundamental fact of the fantasy royal council is that all members are appointed by the king. He does so for a multitude of reasons that range from rewarding powerful nobles for their loyalty to placing lords and ladies whose support he cannot afford to lose in strategic positions. The king makes the appointments himself or having consulted with people he knows he can trust.
Each advisor presides over something the monarch considers integral to the kingdom. The parts they’re in charge of consists:
These are just several of what you might see in a council though the names used for them may vary by world though they must keep him updated on the latest going-ons. There’s no fixed number of members; that number fluctuates as the sovereign changes his focus throughout his reign. The nobles who serve on the council continue using the titles they’re known as like lord or lady
The fantasy royal council is led by someone who serves the king as his personal representative to the council. His title differs world-to-world but despite which title he goes by, he performs the same function. He presides over the meetings in his absence and he sets the agenda, after having already consulted with the monarch.
If the country has a weak king, it’s usually his personal representative who’s running the show from behind the scenes. He makes all the important decisions and the king has no choice but to acquiesce since he’s not really the one leading the kingdom and doesn’t attend council meetings on a regular basis.
On the other hand, if a strong king sits on the throne, he plays an active role in the deliberations of the council and attends as many of its meetings as he can. He’s in firm control of the proceedings from beginning to end and the nobles know not to oppose him. In his absence, his representative assumes leadership though all know the king is in charge.
When you compare the royal council to the king in worldbuilding, you see it’s nearly as powerful as he is. Those who sit on the council are considered part of his inner circle. Everyone inside and outside the kingdom regard them as his emissaries and that it would be foolish to cross them.
While they may bicker among themselves, particularly on heated topics like going to war, the advisors present an united front to all outsiders. They know everyone is watching them, hoping to get a little insight into how things are shaping up within. As such, they project an aura of strength and confidence that disarms all would-be observers hoping to gauge what’s going on within the council.
The councillors dutifully work at their positions, holding many meetings with their subordinates to discuss policy and sorting out nettlesome issues. While they generally try to deal with them themselves, there are times where they must bring serious ones to the king’s attention which they do at the next meeting. They discuss them with their peers and the king himself, hoping for some guidance. When the king communicates his wishes on how they’re to be dealt with, the councillors must follow his wishes even if they think he’s wrong, lest they be stripped of their position.
In domestic matters, the royal council’s power is second only to the king himself. His councillors can issue sweeping changes that affect everything within their sphere of control on his behalf though of course they must have received authorization to do so. This includes raising or lowering taxes, increasing or decreasing imports, and many others. Opposing them is tantamount to going against the king, which spells doom for those who do it.
When it comes to interacting with other countries, the fantasy royal council is the monarch’s most important dignitaries. His advisers speak on his behalf, communicating his wishes to other leaders. While they’re empowered to negotiate deals and treaties, the king has the final say in those matters. In rare cases, they can mediate conflicts between two nations and come up with a settlement that satisfies both sides.
Incorporating a royal council in the story can generate riveting and compelling plotlines. It only works if the tale features the monarch in a major role or the capital city is a prominent setting. The audience gets a glimpse in the inner workings of the royal government and how different people with different motives make decisions and strategic moves.
There’s always the classic power struggles between members as they scheme to cement their grip on power and eliminate their rivals. Such struggles are especially more pronounced in times of turmoil like civil war or a war against a hostile neighbor who means to destroy them. Nobles constantly maneuver themselves into positions favorable to them and will switch sides only if the move benefits them.
How does the protagonist fare against the royal council? It depends on who said protagonist is. If he is the king working to protect his kingdom from its enemies, he expects his advisers to follow his actions. That is, they help him keep his people safe from harm.
Naturally, there’s bound to be at least one or more members who’s willing to betray his king in exchange for power or money. This brings intense drama as the betrayal comes at the worst time for the monarch and he’s either deposed or forced to flee to regroup. The exiled sovereign then must endeavor to reclaim control and get vengeance on those who wronged him.
What if the hero is someone else, say a knight far removed from the capital? Perhaps he’s a key player in a movement opposing the monarch because he’s corrupt? In that case, the fantasy royal council would be major antagonists, working to quell the movement so it and the king can remain in power.
It’s up to you to determine the role it plays in your story. Just remember that the members of the council are part of the king’s inner circles, which can be viewed either good or bad.
The fantasy royal council is part of the monarchy. His councillors advise the monarch on the important matters of the kingdom and look to him for leadership. Composed of the most powerful nobles in the kingdom, they help him lead the country and are considered extensions of his will.
Members of the council serve as long as they remain in good standing with the monarch. Each member is tasked with managing a part of the kingdom and are duly expected to provide regular reports to both him and his personal representative, the secondary leader of the council.
While not as powerful as the king himself, the fantasy royal council nevertheless holds enormous sway both over the country and abroad. It can issue laws or make changes that affect people’s lives, after having first obtained permission from the monarch. His advisers represent him in other countries, conveying his sentiments to foreign leaders and making deals that he can either accept or refuse.
There’s many avenues to use the royal council in the story. It can be a force of good, working with the protagonist to defeat a threat to the kingdom. On the flip side, it can be a major antagonist, scheming against the king or the hero to stop him. Only you can define how it’ll play in your tale.
You can’t go wrong with bringing a fantasy royal council into your world, so what are you waiting for?
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Sunfire
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