On 07Apr2019 1433, Kenneth Barns wrote:

> But the only way Margaret was going to be Emperor was by her own forces
> marching on Capital early in the era (and she forces didn't have the
> cohesion and preparation that Dulinor's did).  Or else by forces on Capital
> deposing Lucan and appointing Margaret WHEN SHE WAS ALREADY ON CAPITAL.
> "Lucan" was no fool - on the day he was announced as Emperor arrest
> warrants were issued for others who might be acceptable candidates, and the
> Moot was shut down.

Shutting the Moot down, which made some sense from Lucan's point of view
at the time, was a serious long-term mistake on his/his faction's part.
It immediately cast the legitimacy of his claim into doubt.

> It was almost a year before "Margaret" became a faction.  THAT was the
> greatest weakness of that faction - by the time it declared itself, it was
> only a regional player.  Any person or world in Core who advocated for
> Margaret to become Emperor would have been committing treason (or been
> accused of having a "really, really bad attitude").  Margaret - the
> individual - might have been noble and wise, etc, etc; "Margaret" the
> faction never had anything to offer anyone outside of Delphi and adjacent
> sectors.

Oh, I'm not claiming she'd have a chance in the short term. In the long
term, however, (and she/her faction were playing a long game right from
the start), she was the clear best choice. She had a claim by blood,
she'd have had a proven record of good governance by the time the dust
started to settle, and would probably have been the strongest faction
standing.

If Lucan had had a lick of sense he'd have simply ignored Margaret, and
once Dulinor and Strephon were out of the way offered her an Arch-Duchy
with even more self-governance than was customary before the war. Then
marry one of her daughters or something.

--
Rupert Boleyn <xxxxxx@gmail.com>
Chief Assistant to the Assistant Chief