Board Thread:Skyrim/@comment-121.75.171.109-20170617035805/@comment-178.155.144.5-20180212133415

Well. How can there be more then one in line for succession? In a hereditary monarchy it will always be the oldest living child (or sibling, if no issue exist), whom gains the crown. If you read "a brief History of the Empire" it becomes clear, that the crown goes to the oldest male issue, and only to a daughter when a male is missing. - This is quite ordinary in semi-sallic law.

Yet! - It is unclear wether the Mede Empire is a hereditary monarchy or an electoral monarchy. Given that Titus Mede I. was elected emperor would give creedence to it being the latter. Also it is said by Ocato in Oblivion, that Martin Septim must be accepted by the Elder Council, but this is simply a formality. In an electoral monarchy it is normal to elect the oldest son of the former monarch anyway, but he still needs to be elected, where in a hereditary monarchy he automatically becomes monarch after his father's death. - Know it could be said that Titus Mede I and Martin Septim both were extreme examples, so maybe they don't count? - Also; Titus Mede did chance the constitution of the Empire by decreasing the power of the Elder Council.

Alas I suspect, that the Empire is indeed an electoral monarchy. Now why would it appear otherwise? - In the days of the Septim Empire alot a bad emperors were elected, but to the Elder Council, it seemed like the Septims had divine right to rule, as only a "Dragonborn Emperor" could light the Dragonfires. Maybe it is the norm in imperial history to treat emperors of the dragonblood as hereditary, while when such emperors lack, it is more common to elect an emperor based on politics.

Also the Empire is not really one state. It is a federation because the provinces are represented in the council, whom, if not elects, then redifies the emperor. In the Roman Empire, the senators were all from Roma, with only a few from Italia. None from Hispania, Anatolia, Dalamtia, Gallia or whatever. - The reason why you want a council, like the Elder Council, is to create consensus among all the different peoples and to keep the provinces in check. - In an "imperial federation", such as the Holy Roman Empire (which clearly is an Empire, and those who say otherwise are have a narrow 19. century view of the term), which did indeed have nobility, different peoples and even it's own countries within this "larger country". - Now why did the Holy Roman Empire's Reichstag almost always elect the son of the former emperor? - Because it created stability, and because those who had power would then stay in power.

Alas I think it obvious that the Empire of Cyrodiil, or the Third Empire, og the Mede Empire, is an electoral monarchy. In days past they used to elect their emperors on basis of divine right (dragon blood) hence why the line of succession was very important to Ocato, but in these days it is unclear by what right the Mede Dynasty claim the throne time after time, besides medieval ideals, such as "always electing the son".

Now why would they not elect a Mede emperor? - With the Mede's is the loss to the Aldmeri Dominion associated. Some, especially us players, may even associate the Empire's decline to the Mede's (which is unfair). So maybe some of the councilors wants new blood on the throne to sent the Aldmeri and, even more important, their own citizens a message, that the Empire is fit for fight again. Then again. If the Elder Council is stupid enough to elect a new family to the throne the Empire wil clearly fail. The strengh of an empire, or even a modern country, is not based on it's main leader, such as an emperor, but on the efficentcy of it's institutions. - If the politicians of the Empire begins to fight amongst themselves on getting their "man" on the throne, it will weaken the Empire's others institutions, while simply electing, and then controlling and guiding, the next Mede Emperor is way better as he is simply a symbol of the Empire's power and soul. If you read the Black Horse Courier in Oblivion it is said that Emperor Uriel Septim VII. hadn't done any real "emperor-work" for several decades because of his old age. Did the Empire fall because of this? No! Did it fall apart when no Septim heir was in sight and the politicians began their infighting? Indeed!

Therfore I shall find it extremly strange if an emperor, whom is not Titus' son, is emperor in the next game. - It is simply too stupid. - But maybe that's what Bethesda wants?