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There’s many different types of governments in fantasy and each one of them impacts the people who live under them. Out of all of them, the fantasy monarchy is the most popular. Appearing across many worlds like the Mushroom Kingdom, Skyrim, and Middle-earth, the monarchy is practically synonymous with the genre.
Why is the monarchy the go-to when there’s many other forms of governments? Perhaps it’s due to the story of King Arthur and Camelot or The Lord of the Rings, which both laid the foundations for the genre as we know it today. Many stories show strong kings leading their armies in war or battling dragons and sorcerers.
While it’s the one you most see, the idea of the fantasy monarchy is a tad more complex than it seems at first glance. This government form has its own variants, with two polar opposites: the constitutional and absolute. Many monarchies within the genre fall somewhere in-between the two.
Regardless of which variant you use, a monarch reigns over the kingdom. He may rule for many decades or just a few years but the kingdom at the end of his reign is different than it was when he assumed the throne. The monarch is the head and leader of the ruling family and he has two objectives:
This article is part one of our series looking at fantasy governments.
If you like this article and want to read more, we have plenty of great ones for you to peruse. They can be found on our blog page.
Let’s begin with the one that is the most dominant variant of the fantasy monarchy: the absolute. This is where the king commands power far greater than anyone could comprehend of. His word is law and failing to comply leads to punishment. The absolute monarchy is the one you see the most in the genre.
Based off on France during the Bourbon dynasty, especially that of King Louis XIV, the absolute monarchy’s power mirrors that of an autocrat. All executive, legislative, and judicial powers are his and his only. Deeply religious, they believe they’ve been granted divine blessing to rule and work to enforce what they consider is their deity’s will. They brook no dissent though the wise ones are willing to listen to different viewpoints though they have the final word.
Absolute monarchs have the power to shape society exactly as they see fit. That means they can alter the laws of the kingdom, strip members of the nobility of their positions should they fall out of favor, order whole groups of people to be displaced at a whim and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
Though he may have a royal council that advises him, the monarch can choose whether to ignore his advisers’ recommendations or listen to them with the expectation they fall in line behind him once he’s made up his mind. This is especially valid in wartime where he may override his military commanders to make a move he believes will prove fatal to his foe. Should any of his commanders disobey, they may wind up being executed.
One thing all absolute monarchs seek is greater glory. They have an overdriving ambition to push the boundaries of their kingdoms ever further at the expense of other nations. Many times, they will push for war to add more land under their control so they can boast about how powerful their kingdoms are and to send a message to would-be enemies that it is futile to oppose their might.
On the other end of the fantasy monarchy spectrum is the constitutional variant. Unlike the absolute, this one places limits on the powers of the monarchy. As such, he cannot make all decisions by himself. Instead, he must share power with a group of another people like those of the legislative branch or his royal council. This form of the fantasy monarchy is quite rare in the genre.
Besides restricting what the monarch can do, the constitutional monarchy guarantees rights to everyone, regardless of social position. This means that a simple peasant has just as many rights as the most powerful noble.
The constitutional monarchy establishes a separate legislative and judicial branch, leaving the king with only the executive powers. If he wishes to enact sweeping changes that affects the whole kingdom, they must be approved by the legislators and upheld by the judiciary. The only way to get his agenda through is to cajole the legislators into supporting him, usually by cutting a deal with them.
While he may be limited in what he can do domestically, the monarch is free to do what he wants abroad. He can declare war, make treaties, or make deals with other countries. While his foreign advisers give their opinions on what he ought to do, the king has the final word on the matter since only the powers of the executive belong to him.
For those who desire to go down in history as a great king, constitutional monarchs work zealously to not only advance their kingdoms’ interests but to chart them on a path to unseen splendor and glory. They do so by becoming an economic or military superpower or a combination of both.
Just like with any government in the genre, it’s essential that you take the time to flesh out the monarchy when worldbuilding. This is mostly for you, as it’s a fundamental goal to establish the framework in which your world operates. Don’t just consider the reigning monarch, include his family as well. Who is he married to and does he have any children? What about siblings?
Traditionally the monarch is the leader of the ruling family that goes back generations. Show how the current dynasty rose to power. Did their ancestors lead a revolution against the previous regime that led to them seizing the throne or were they the first ones to unify the country?
Write a timeline of each monarch’s reign and show important events that occurred as they sat on the throne. These events could consist of a major war, a rebellion, a technological breakthrough, or a sickness that swept the kingdom. However detailed you want to go is up to you.
How has the country changed through decades and centuries of royal rule, especially that of the family in power? Are people better off now or not? Has the kingdom’s technological level advanced or regressed? Has the dynasty’s policies over the years in power made the kingdom stronger or more vulnerable to attack from hostile neighbors?
You might be wondering how much information to include in the story. While it’s tempting to dump it all into your novel or video game, you only want to include those relevant to the story. Weave them into your tale in an exciting way that makes your audience want to learn more.
The role the fantasy monarchy plays in the story is dependent on how it’s structured. For those that revolve around palace intrigue and national politics, the monarchy will be a key player in what transpires, especially if the capital city is a major setting. If your tale takes place far from the corridors of power, the monarchy will play a little role, if it even appears at all. Just because it may not appear in your tale doesn’t mean your characters aren’t affected by the decisions the monarchy makes.
As for the current sovereign, show how long he’s been in power when your story begins. What is his relationship like with his family and advisers? How do everyday people perceive him? Do they think he’s a good king or do they think he’s too easily influenced by his advisers who may not necessarily have the kingdom’s best interests at heart?
The king isn’t the only member of the monarchy that plays a role in the story. The queen and their children play a role and it’s up to you to define what that role is. Are they popular among the public or not? What do they do when not at royal functions?
There are two ways the fantasy monarchy impacts the story and the first one is to be a friendly ally with the protagonist. The monarch works hand-in-hand with the hero to eliminate threats both within and outside the realm by giving him money, weapons, and information. They stand united against the rising darkness and are willing to put their lives at risk to vanquish evil.
The other way the monarchy steers the tale is to be an antagonist. Playing the role of the villain, the monarch schemes to stop the hero from taking control of the throne from him. The more he views him as a threat, the more vicious tactics he adopts to take him out. From the beginning to the end, the two sides clash before facing each other for the final showdown with the fate of the kingdom hanging in the balance.
The fantasy monarchy is the most popular form of government in the genre for a reason. People love watching heroic kings leading their armies against the forces of evil. On the other hand, they also like seeing villainous monarchs scheme against their rivals and just as they’re on the cusp of finally winning, they lose it all.
There’s a spectrum of the different types of monarchies. At one end is the absolute, where their powers rival that of a dictator. The constitutional is at the other end and they’re limited in what they can do. Each end has profound ramifications for not just the whole kingdom but for everyone who resides within.
When it comes to worldbuilding, it’s imperative to construct a fantasy monarchy, seeing that it’s a major reason why the kingdom is either flourishing or falling into ruin. The country isn’t just living with the decisions the current sovereign makes; it’s also living with those made by past monarchs.
Depending on how you structure your story, the monarchy may or may not play a role in it. In some stories, it plays an active role resembling that of a character where it works to advance its agenda and long-term goals. In other tales, it barely shows up at all with only a few people mentioning the ‘royal family in the distant capital’.
Now, it’s time for you to roll up your sleeves and get to work on creating a fantasy monarchy that may become legendary one day…
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Sunfire
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