[Glorantha] Legitimacy (from Outlaws & Orlanth's Parentage)

Just to clarify my point, legitimacy is a much wider concept than parentage and succession (even for Yelmites).

The concept is tied up with your mandate (to borrow a democratic term) and the perception of your subjects.

To explain in context with Orlanthi society, Orlanth claims universal kingship by a sequence of contests ending in regicide. As a mythic model of legitimacy, regicide is inherently flawed, not least because it implies that anyone can rule.

But Orlanth's legitimacy is not just based on regicide, it is based on a belief that empirical rule is inherently unjust: it makes all people subject to one man and flies in the face of freedom. Orlanth is questioning Yelm's legitimacy, and the principle of birthright.

This is where the Clan/Tribe building myths come in, they contrast with Divine Rule and emphasise unity and rule by consensus.

The consequences of the death of Yelm and the subsequent quests and compromises go some way to redressing the "might is right" / "Divine Rule" balance but there is always an inherent principle in Orlanthi society, if the king/high king/chief gets to big for his boots he can be framed as an emperor and killed.

Also, to take this to a purely symbolic level, there is an unconscious connection with regicide and ritual sacrifice. This type of symbolism can effect the mindset of the people, leading to an unspoken principle that every king will reach a point where he either steps down or must be killed.

For further reading on such vagaries of legitimacy I would recommend Roberto Calasso's "The Ruin of Kasch", ostensively a book on the French revolution in relation to legitimacy but in keeping with Calasso's other books it delves deep into symbolism and mythology, specifically vedic sacrifice.

Jamie
Orlanth.Umathi Received on Fri 05 May 2006 - 10:10:56 EEST